What Happened to the Lines On Solo Cups?

It’s unlikely you’ve never seen the classic Solo cup. The iconic plastic party cups have long been a common fixture at social gatherings and backyard barbecues. These cups were red on the outside and white on the inside, they held 18 ounces of liquid, and they featured three horizontal lines at on the outside — one near the bottom, one roughly in the middle and one near the top. I’m using the past tense because you may have noticed Solo cups no longer sport those iconic lines.

Read on to find out what happened to the lines on Solo cups and what they actually meant.

What Happened to the Lines on Solo Cups?

According to the Solo website, Solo cups no longer have lines, as they were phased out. The company has also updated the colors and cup sizes; the 18-ounce ones come in red, blue, teal, green and clear, and smaller cups that hold only nine ounces also are now available.

What Do the Lines on a Solo Cup Mean?

Plenty of people still have the traditional Solo cups with lines stashed in their cupboards (and there are any number of knockoffs on the market). So, what is the meaning of the lines? Here’s the explanation: According to Solo’s website: “Our original 18 oz SOLO Cup featured lines that roughly equaled 1, 5 and 12 ounces.” That’s it…mystery solved.

Of course, that begs the next question: “What are the lines intended to measure?” They are party cups, so it’s widely believed (and reasonable to assume) that they were intended to measure alcohol. The bottom line is about equal to a shot glass, the second line corresponds to an average wine glass and the top line is the same volume as a bottle or can of beer.

However, Solo had a broader purpose for putting the lines on the cups, and they weren’t actually explicitly to measure out drinks. “These lines mean something different for everyone!” the Solo FAQ page says. “For some, it means a responsible pour at their next tailgate. For others, it means a more secure grip as they man the grill at the BBQ. And for our littler fans, it means they can stack and unstack our cups into a pyramid without them sticking together.”

Surprising Ways to Use a Solo Cup

The fact that the lines on a Solo cup correspond to actual measurements makes them useful in the kitchen and even in the bathroom. If you are able to get your hands on any Solo cups with the lines o them, here are some ways that people use them (along with hacks I use myself).

• Measuring mouthwash: The one-ounce line on the bottom perfectly demarcates the amount of mouthwash needed to freshen breath and kill bacteria.
• Flavoring milk: When you want to turn your boring white milk into something more interesting using chocolate or strawberry flavoring, but you don’t want to overdo it, simply pour in the flavoring to the level of the bottom line, fill the cup with milk, stir and enjoy.
• Making lemonade: Squeeze fresh lemons until the juice hits the bottom line, fill the cup with water to the top line, add sugar, honey or maple syrup to taste, and stir. When I do this, it makes a drink tart enough to enjoy without making my cheeks pucker.
• Cooking rice: When boiling rice on the stove, you need just enough water to soften the grain without making it mushy. I’ve found the lines on a Solo cup to be perfectly calibrated for this. Fill the cup with white, brown or wild rice to the middle line and pour it into a sauce pan. Fill the cup to the top line with water if you’re cooking white or brown rice, and fill it all the way to the brim for wild rice. Add the water to the rice to make a perfect single serving. Repeat the measurements as needed for additional servings.

FAQ

Are Solo cups dishwasher safe?

Solo cups are washable; and, yes, you can even put them in the dishwasher. If you have any of the traditional ones with lines, and you like the idea of using them for measuring, don’t throw them away. Remember, the new ones don’t have lines.

Sources

• Solo: Frequently Asked Questions; (2025)
• Mayo Clinic: Nutrition and healthy eating; (2025)

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