I’ve used reusable waters for over a decade now. Water bottle technology has advanced since then, although nothing mind-blowing has happened.
I’ve owned over 15 different water bottles from different brands and tested them thoroughly in my day-to-day life to see which one I would like best. Being able to fit into a cup holder is a trait that is non-negotiable.
I’ve taken them camping, backpacking, to the pool, the beach, the slopes, to school (undergrad and grad school), ultimate practice, tournaments. Pretty much everywhere.
It’s super awkward going on a trip, grabbing a water bottle that doesn’t fit into a cup holder, and having it on the floor or someone else hold it.
In this article, you’ll find all of our top recommendations for the best water bottles that fit in cup holders, so you no longer have to worry about that awkward moment.
Best Water Bottles That Fit In Cup Holders – Our Top Picks
Out of all of the water bottles I’ve used so far, these are the top ones that actually do fit inside cup holders.
Yeti 26oz Rambler: The Biggest Option That Fits
- DuraCoat Color that is built to last - no fading, peeling, or cracking here
- Leakproof TripleHaul Cap protects your truck cab or day pack from spills;...
- This Double-Wall Vacuum Insulated water bottle has the power to keep your...
Many 32 oz. water bottles cannot fit into standard cup holders, but the Yeti 26oz rambler is the next best thing. It fits into almost all cup holders, making it the ideal travel companion, especially for those hot, sunny summer months.
If you find yourself struggling to find a water bottle refill station, a bottle of this size is perfect. It holds 3.25 cups of water instead of the usual 2.625 cups in a typical 21 oz. bottle. It also fits ice cubes like a boss.
The longer you can go between refills, the less time you waste trying to find a water fountain or a refill station. This means more time to be with your friends, enjoy your time in nature, or for longer commutes and road trips.
The Yeti 26oz rambler also looks good in different colors. It comes available in pink, green, orange, grey, silver, blue, teal, white, and black.
This makes it easy to mix and match with your backpack, gym bag, shoes, whatever. You know, if you’re into that. Aren’t we all?
On top of being able to fit into a cup holder, this 26oz water bottle also is vacuum-sealed to keep colder beverages cold for many hours (more hours than you would care about).
Vacuum-sealing also prevents condensation from appearing on the outside of the bottle. Don’t worry about those water bottle sweat stains on your desk or notebooks.
This is my favorite water bottle that fits into a cup holder because I hate wasting time refilling water. It’s always disappointing to pick up your bottle, shake it around, only to hear nothing is sloshing inside. How disappointing.
Also, this is completely preferential, but instead of the insulated lid, you can also pick up the flip top straw lid. Now you can pick up your bottle from your cup holder and drink from it, all with one hand. No need to unscrew the top.
- When you need some water (or whatever cold drink suits you), all you have...
- The Straw Cap is leakproof and easy to carry with the TripleHaul Handle
- The Straw Cap is fitted with a wide straw opening so you get more to drink...
This bottle will most likely fit into your cup holder, but car cup holders vary in size. Make sure to perform some measurements to make sure. Another thing to note is that it doesn’t fit inside the cup holder perfectly.
The bottle does not sit flush to the bottom but rather floats in the middle of the cup holder. It may wobble if not lodged in properly.
Hydro Flask 24 oz. Standard Mouth Insulated Water Bottle: Slightly Smaller but More Customizable
- New Hydro Flask water bottle design does not feature a registered trademark...
- Hydro Flask insulated water bottle is dishwasher safe; Slip-free powder...
- Hydro Flask metal water bottles keep the coldest drinks icy cold and hot...
The Hydro Flask 24 oz. water bottle may not hold as much water as our first pick, but it has the benefit of being much more customizable. Alongside the colors that are available on their website, Hydro Flask also lets you pick the colors of each individual part.
You can change the strap color, the cap color, the bottle color, and the boot color. Make your own special concoction.
I’ve had this bottle for many years now, and it’s been amazing.
The bottle is the same diameter as their 21 oz. lineup. It’s just a bit taller and fits 3 full cups of water. The branding is simple and recognizable from afar.
The Hydro Flask is really easy to pick up and bring places because of their strap that is fully rotatable.
I’ve had ZERO troubles with it, even after it’s weathered some tough times with me. There are definitely some dents and scratches from countless drops throughout the years.
It has no condensation at all (even after some dents). I absolutely hate having to use a coaster for my water bottles, so no condensation and sweating is a huge bonus.
This also keeps liquids cold or hot for many many hours. Hydro Flask has a certain number they guarantee it to be cold or hot for, but I’ve never had to test it that long. Even while hitting the slopes, the liquid inside maintains its temperatures for an entire day.
At the beach under the heat rays, the water inside stays cold and refreshing.
However, there are some downsides.
The first one is that it may not fit full-sized ice cubes easily. If you like crushed ice? Go for it!
The standard size lid is a bit small, but it’s a must-have when you’re driving to prevent spillage when drinking.
Finding the Best Bottle For Your Cup Holder
Many cup holders are the same size. However, this can change from vehicle to vehicle due to different company policies, models, and years.
Finding the best bottle for you can depend on what you prioritize in a water bottle.
Don’t bother if a water bottle leaks.
There are bottles that just don’t make the cup for a variety of reasons. Haha did you get that?
Bottles that leak are an absolute no-no. I don’t want anything to potentially make my car more messy or dirty, and I don’t want that happening to you either. You never know when you’ll hit that outrageous bump on the road and oh, no water is sploshing inside that bottle. Hopefully, none of it comes out.
The only time I would consider a water bottle that leaks is if it’s a straw lid. Straw lids are much more convenient to drink from, but they don’t insulate the bottle as well or are leakproof.
How to Measure Your Cup Holder
But after determining the bottle doesn’t leak, there are other factors to really consider the fit.
Get your measuring tape because it’s time to get started.
You’ll want the diameter of your cup holder at the narrowest (usually the very bottom) and at the largest diameter (at the top) to see what range of water bottles you can fit into it.
Get this measurement in centimeters and inches, just so you’ll have the information ready when you go shopping around.
The other measurement you might want is the depth of the cup holder. Measure it from the bottom to the opening for the height of the cup holder.
How to Determine if A Bottle Will Fit
Now that you have all these measurements written down somewhere, it’s time to look around.
Go to a water bottle manufacturer’s website and select on a few bottles you want to check.
Look for where the bottle’s diameter, width, and height are stated. It will look like 11″ x 3 3/8″ or something similar. This means that the bottle is 11 inches high by 3 and 3/8 inches in width (or diameter) because the bottom is round.
Compare the 3 3/8″ to the measurements that you measured.
If it falls within the range, it will fit within, although it may not sit flush at the bottom.
If wobble is a concern of yours, then choose a bottle that will fit the smallest measurement of your cup holder.
If you want to get a bottle that is bigger than your range, then consider getting a cup holder extender.
Consider Getting A Cup Holder Extender
If you absolutely need a larger size bottle than your cup holder can fit, there are cup holder extenders that can adapt your cup holder to fit much larger bottles.
It may not be that stylish in your car, but it’ll open up a lot of doors when it comes to the water bottle world. Never be ashamed of being hydrated.
Cup holder extenders can be found in a variety of places, but I tend to just order online. It would be nice to just be able to go to any store and pick one up, but this is a niche item.
Not only will this make your car able to fit larger bottles, but you can also fit larger coffee mugs or large Starbucks drinks.
I don’t mind having one as long as it’s not too obtrusive. They are very simple things to purchase, and you can throw them somewhere else when not in use if you think they’re ugly.
This is one that we recommend getting.
- Compatible with 32/40 Ounce Hydro Flasks, Iron Flasks, Takeyas, Simple...
- Adjustable base that securely fits the majority of cup holders. This simple...
- Soft Fit foam sleeve included with every BottlePro (not pictured, but trust...
With a cup holder extender, you now have the option of choosing 32 oz. or 40oz bottles. This brings 3.25 cups to 4 cups or even 5 cups into one bottle.
Choosing The Right Bottle Type
Our top recommendations happen to be insulated stainless steel water bottles because, throughout the years, I’ve come to love how they keep the water very refreshing over long hours and the lack of condensation.
However, there are other water bottles out there such as reusable plastic water bottles, sports bottles, protein shaker cups, glass bottles, and many more.
Durability and How Long It’ll Last
If you’re prone to accidents or find yourself dropping a lot of things, glass bottles or metal bottles may be something you’ll find to avoid.
Metal bottles don’t break easily, but they dent quickly. Single-walled metal bottles may even bust open if the fall is hard enough.
Double-walled metal bottles are more durable, but they can also sustain injuries. Deeper dents in a double-walled metal bottle can cause the vacuum-seal to not work properly. This can cause condensation on your bottles.
If you want a bottle that won’t break from a fall, plastic bottles may be the best option, such as Nalgene bottles, which are known to sustain through anything.
- The original. The trailblazer. The Sir Edmund of water bottles. Nalgene's...
- For Your Everyday Adventures! Take your Nalgene bottle to the gym, office,...
- This Nalgene water bottle is completely leak proof, made of virtually...
On top of that, they’re also super lightweight and perfect for sports or backpacking.
The lid makes it easy to clip-on to any bad for easy carrying if your backpack doesn’t have a water bottle pocket.
Looks and Appearances
Some bottles have more designs than others.
Plastic bottles tend to be see-through, while metal bottles tend to have more designs and colors available.
Alongside that, many brands of insulated water bottles come with accessories such as rubber boots, colorful caps, and straps or carrying cases to hold your bottle in.
Convenient and good-looking.
Hot and Cold Liquids
Temperature control may be something you want to prioritize if you find yourself in cold or hot climates but you prefer your water a certain temperature.
For this, a stainless steel insulated water bottle is the best option.
This is what I prefer to use because I like my water refreshing, every time.
If this isn’t something that matters, maybe consider plastic or single-walled metal bottles for a lighter weight and more budget-friendly option.
Size of Your Bottle
Size matters when you want to travel with your bottle.
Smaller bottles means lighter weight, but it holds less water.
Larger bottles have a hard time fitting into cup holders and backpacks, but they hold a lot more water.
Do you want to prioritize portability or more water?
This is all preferential, and I can only tell you what I prefer.
I prefer more water, even though it’s heavier.
Conclusion
When it comes to looking for water bottles that fit cup holders, it is really hard to find any 32 oz. bottles that will fit.
This can be a huge point of frustration, especially if you’re like me and drink a lot of water and still feel thirsty all the time.
One thing I’ve found to be really helpful is to get a cup holder extender. If that’s not an option, then the Yeti 26oz Rambler is the biggest bottle I’ve used that will actually fit a normal-sized cup holder.
I have a compact car, and I can attest to that.
Other than that, the majority of 24 oz. and 21 oz. water bottles will fit without much concern at all.
Now all someone needs to do is create a large bottle that does fit cup holders, wouldn’t that be the dream?
And if you like refreshing cold water,
stay frosty.