These handy adapters solve the problem by giving a sturdy base to carry your drink without risking a spill.
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Whether it’s water, coffee, or tea, everyone loves to have a drink on hand in order to quench their thirst. As a result, insulated steel drink containers like the Stanley Quencher, Yeti Rambler, and Hydro Flask have become very popular. These types of bottles and mugs make it very easy to transport beverages to work or school, with their vacuum-sealed insulation layer assisting to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold in any environment.
As handy as these products are, they create a new issue by often being too large for conventional vehicle cup holders. During their commute, drivers need to find another method of holding the container, or perhaps risk it tipping over and spilling liquid all over the car in transit. The adapters we recommend in this article aim to eliminate that issue by effectively sizing up the vehicle’s cup holder for use with larger containers.
For more recommendations on auto accessories, check out our pieces on Magsafe car mounts, portable jump starters, and car covers.
In the U.S., car cup holders typically come about two to three inches in diameter, made to hold drink containers up to 24 ounces—but steel tumblers tend to be much thicker in diameter than plain drink cups, and can come in sizes up to 40 ounces. When choosing a cup holder adapter, it’s important to make sure that the bottom end of the device will fit securely into your factory cup holder, while the top end should fit your drink container of choice.
Pay attention not only to the advertised volume, but also the true diameter dimension for the top and bottom. Depending on how your vehicle interior is designed, using an adapter may present clearance issues with neighboring cup holders or with center console features. Cup holders with square features or a lid mechanism may also be incompatible with these types of adapters.
Not all tumblers are designed exactly the same, and this can lead to size differences between containers that are advertised as the same volume. For instance, a 24-ounce Stanley Quencher may not be compatible with adapters that are designed for 24-ounce Yeti or Rtic tumblers. Plenty of these drink containers also come with a mug handle, and a compatible adapter will need a cut-out along the side in order to fit properly.
We kept an eye out for compatibility with brands like Stanley, Yeti, Hydro Flask, Rtic, Nalgene, and Camelbak. Whenever a product listing mentions compatibility with these common brands, we’ll be sure to let you know.
As an auto writer, I’ve spent over six years researching, testing, and reviewing various cars, as well as automotive related products. I also use these types of products regularly in day to day life.
For cup holder adapters, I’ve included a range of products that are meant to be compatible with the most popular drink options on the market, and near-universal fit to current vehicle cup holders. Other aspects taken into consideration during research are price, consumer reviews, and available warranties.
This car cup holder adapter uses a multitude of rubber fringes for its base so your tumbler can handle bumps in the road. A rubber coaster is also included on the inside, and compatibility is stated for most major brands, including Stanley, Yeti, Hydro Flask.
The rough semi-gloss black finish should also give the product some added resistance to scuffs and scratches over the long term. This design is perfectly suited for larger containers with wide diameters, along with space for a mug handle. For thinner and smaller bottles and mugs, other options may be better suited.
This car cup holder adapter is a simple and affordable option with a wide range of compatibility. The lower assembly of the adapter is adjustable to fit the cup holders in most vehicles, and the upper portion uses rubber flaps along the edges to hold your tumbler of choice snugly. An anti-slip rubber insert is also included for extra stability, plus there’s a mug handle cutout.
It’s well-suited for tumblers from a variety of brands, with sizes up to 40 ounces. The only drawback is that this cup holder is a bit bigger and taller than other options, and smaller drink containers may not fit well inside it.
If you have travel mugs from several brands, this car cup holder adapter is worth a look. It’s short and wide and includes multiple handle cutouts so that the mug can be set down at a variety of angles.
It’s compatible with Yeti, Rtic, Hydro Flask, and Camelbak mugs from 10 to 14 ounces, but any similarly sized mug that fits within the diameter should work.
This particular adapter isn’t recommended for tall or thin bottles, as the short outer walls may not provide enough security while cornering at speed. The finish is smooth with a semi-gloss black color.
This cup holder adapter is part of WeatherTech’s CupFone system, meaning that the base that sits in the cupholder is interchangeable with the brand’s other products, like car phone holders. It comes in three sizes are available, made for 14-, 20-, and 24-ounce mugs from brands including Yeti and Stanley.
Other highlights include a removable internal coaster, a flared top so you can easily remove your drink, and a mug handle cutout. Plus, it’s the sleekest car cup holder adapter in our lineup.
This car cup holder adapter comes with a built-in phone pocket, giving you a convenient place to store your device in addition to your tumbler. Two mug cutouts are included, so a mug can be seated in two possible positions.
It features a faux carbon fiber finish, which may suit your personal style, and the phone holder is a basic matte black. Another plus is that it’s flared at near the top of the mug handle, so you won’t have to struggle to pull it out.
This design favors larger containers between 32 and 40 ounces, so another product may work better for mugs and tumblers on the smaller side.
This option comes with two identical cup holder adapters—perfect for yourself and a passenger. The lower base is adjustable for a snug fit, and there’s a rubber tab at the top and a coaster to add stability.
The glossy black finish may be prone to showing scuffs over time, but the cup holder rim has a matte finish which will mitigate this issue.
The car cup holder has a mug handle cutout and offers compatibility across a wide variety of brands. It’s intended for large tumblers up to 40 ounces, so if you’re more of a mug user, you may want to opt for the model we tend to drink suited for tumblers up to 40 ounces, but a more compact adapter may be better for smaller sizes.
If you have an extensive collection of tumblers in your cabinet, this Gorilla Grip car cup holder adapter is ideal, as the top and bottom are both adjustable.
There are three plastic arms which extend or contract to suit a variety of tumbler sizes up to 48 ounces and five inches wide. On the flip side, it also accommodates tall and skinny steel water bottles.
Foam pads along the inside also add security and help dampen vibration. The adapter three-arm design means that no mug cutouts are included, but it still may be able to accommodate a mug handle as long as it is extended to a larger than minimum diameter.
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