Professional ice cream tubs provide a convenient way to serve frozen desserts for takeaway or immediate consumption. Paper tubs are easy for customers to hold and can be used across ice cream parlours, dessert counters, cafés, kiosks, events and mobile catering.

Stephensons stocks ice cream containers in several sizes and designs, including plain white paper tubs, colourful seasonal and swirl designs, and selected lined tubs with compatible clear domed lids.

Ice Cream Tub Size Guide

These serving suggestions are a practical starting point rather than fixed scoop quantities. Different scoop sizes, soft-serve portions, toppings and dessert styles can substantially change how much product fits comfortably into each tub.

How to Choose Ice Cream Tubs

• Choose the portion size: Match the tub capacity to the serving sizes offered on your menu.
• Allow space for toppings: Sauces, sprinkles, fruit and other toppings may require a larger tub than the ice cream portion alone.
• Consider takeaway lids: Where customers will transport desserts, select a tub with a compatible lid where available.
• Think about presentation: Plain white tubs create a simple appearance, while colourful designs can add visual impact to dessert service.
• Standardise your portions: Using consistent tub and scoop sizes can help staff serve more consistent portions.
• Check compatibility: Lids are designed for specific tubs and sizes, so always confirm compatibility before ordering.

Paper Ice Cream Tubs

Paper ice cream tubs are a familiar format for serving scooped ice cream and frozen desserts. Their round shape makes them suitable for scooping directly into the container and provides space for sauces, sprinkles and other toppings.

The Stephensons range includes plain white paper tubs alongside colourful designs, allowing businesses to choose packaging that suits their service and presentation style.

Plain White Ice Cream Tubs

Plain white paper ice cream tubs offer a simple and versatile presentation that works across ice cream parlours, cafés, restaurants, hotels, events and catering operations.

White tubs are particularly useful where operators want the dessert itself to provide the colour and visual focus, or where a neutral packaging style is preferred across several flavours.

Colourful & Printed Ice Cream Tubs

Colourful ice cream tubs can create a more playful presentation for dessert counters and seasonal service. The current Stephensons range includes Traditional Swirl and Mixed Summer designs in several sizes and colours.

Using different colours or designs across portion sizes can also make the finished range visually distinctive, although exact designs and availability may change over time.

Go-Chill Ice Cream Tubs & Lids

The Go-Chill range includes PE-lined paper ice cream tubs in popular takeaway sizes, with compatible clear rPET domed lids available for selected tubs.

A domed lid provides additional space above the rim of the container, which can be useful for ice cream, soft serve and frozen desserts with toppings. Always match the lid to the exact corresponding tub size.

Ice Cream Tubs with Lids

Lidded ice cream tubs are particularly useful where desserts need to be carried away rather than eaten immediately at the counter.

Selected tubs within the Stephensons range have corresponding clear domed lids. Because lid fit varies by product, the tub and lid descriptions should be checked carefully before ordering.

Ice Cream Tubs for Frozen Yoghurt

Paper dessert tubs are also well suited to frozen yoghurt, including both portioned and self-serve concepts. Larger tubs can provide additional room for fruit, sauces, granola, confectionery and other toppings.

Frozen yoghurt operators should choose tub sizes around their actual portion or pricing system and test the filled weight of a typical serving before finalising the packaging range.

Ice Cream Tubs for Gelato

Gelato can be served in the same compact paper tub format as traditional ice cream. Businesses offering multiple scoop sizes can use different tub capacities to create clear serving options for customers.

Where gelato is served with toppings or several flavours in one portion, allow enough room for attractive presentation without overfilling the container.

Ice Cream Tubs for Sorbet

Sorbet can also be served in disposable paper ice cream tubs, making the same packaging range useful for businesses offering a wider selection of frozen desserts.

Ice Cream Tubs for Soft Serve

Ice cream tubs provide an alternative to cones for soft-serve desserts and can be particularly useful for portions with sauces, sprinkles or other toppings.

When serving a tall soft-serve swirl, consider both the tub capacity and the height of the finished dessert, particularly if a domed takeaway lid will be used.

Portion Control for Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts

Standardising ice cream tub sizes can help businesses create clearer portion options and make serving more consistent across different members of staff.

Portion control is particularly important for premium ice cream, gelato and frozen yoghurt where ingredient and topping costs can quickly increase as serving sizes grow.

For the most accurate control, combine a defined tub size with a consistent scoop, portioner or measured soft-serve portion.

Ice Cream Packaging for Takeaway & Delivery

For desserts being carried away from the premises, consider how long the product is likely to remain outside controlled frozen storage. A suitable lid can help protect the dessert during short-distance carrying, but packaging alone does not prevent frozen products from melting.

Businesses offering frozen desserts for delivery should assess the complete process, including preparation time, packaging, insulated transportation and expected journey duration.

Ice Cream Tubs for Events & Mobile Catering

Disposable ice cream tubs are practical for festivals, outdoor events, kiosks, food trucks and mobile dessert traders because they are compact and quick to serve.

Operators expecting high-volume service can simplify their counter setup by limiting the number of tub sizes and assigning a clear portion to each one.

Suitable for Ice Cream & Dessert Service

• Ice cream parlours
• Frozen yoghurt shops
• Gelaterias and dessert shops
• Cafés and coffee shops
• Restaurants and pubs
• Hotels and leisure venues
• Food trucks and mobile caterers
• Festivals and outdoor events
• Kiosks and concessions
• Event and contract caterers

Related Food-to-Go Packaging

Explore our wider sandwich shop and grab-and-go packaging range, or browse food and drink takeaway packaging for cups, containers, bags, napkins and other food-to-go essentials.

Ice Cream Tub FAQs

What size ice cream tub should I use?

The right size depends on your portion, scoop size and toppings. As a general guide, 4oz suits smaller portions, 6oz provides more room for standard servings and toppings, while 8oz is useful for larger desserts.

How many scoops fit in a 4oz ice cream tub?

There is no fixed number because commercial ice cream scoops vary considerably in size. A 4oz tub is generally suited to smaller portions, but businesses should test it using their actual scoop.

What is a 6oz ice cream tub used for?

A 6oz tub provides more capacity than a smaller 4oz portion and can be useful for standard servings, multiple flavours or desserts with toppings.

What is an 8oz ice cream tub suitable for?

An 8oz tub is suited to larger servings, frozen yoghurt and desserts with additional toppings. Exact capacity varies between products, so check the individual specification.

Can ice cream tubs be used for frozen yoghurt?

Yes. Paper ice cream tubs are also suitable for serving frozen yoghurt, subject to the individual product specification.

Can ice cream tubs be used for gelato?

Yes. Paper tubs provide a practical serving format for gelato, with different capacities allowing businesses to offer several portion sizes.

Can ice cream tubs be used for soft serve?

Yes. Tubs are useful for soft-serve portions, particularly where customers want sauces or toppings that would be difficult to serve in a cone.

Can I buy ice cream tubs with lids?

Selected tubs in the Stephensons range have compatible clear domed lids. Always check the exact tub and lid combination because lids are not universally interchangeable.

Are ice cream tubs useful for portion control?

Yes. Using defined tub sizes alongside consistent scoops or serving methods can help create more repeatable portions and make menu sizing clearer.

Which ice cream tub is best for toppings?

Choose a tub that leaves enough space above the main portion for sauces, fruit, sprinkles or other toppings. A larger tub or compatible domed lid may be useful for heavily topped desserts.