Best Car Cup Holder Expander Adapters for Your Large Water Bottles and Mugs
Do you ever feel like your car cup holders are just too small? They sure were for me. I could never find a way to fit my Yeti water bottle in them, so I’d have to just set it on the floor and hear it roll around every time I hit a bump. But then I found a solution: a car cup holder expander adapter. These nifty little gadgets fit inside your factory car cup holder and expand to accommodate your giant Yeti, Gatorade, Hydro Flask, Nalgene water bottles and giant coffee mugs too.
We tested all sorts of top car cup holder adapters out there, and our stand out pick was the Swigzy. This large cup holder insert has an extendable base which offers a snug fit for your beverage, and its sturdy construction—as well as the spill-resistant design—keeps your drinks safe no matter the bumps.
We also liked these top car cup holder insert adapters:
- Seven Sparta car cup holder expander for car
- Bottlepro adjustable cup holder adapter for cars
- PFCC large cup holder insert with adjustable base
- How to choose the best cup holder expander
- Seven Sparta Car Cup Holder Expander (2 Pack)
- Swigzy Car Cup extra large cup holder adapter
- BottlePro Adjustable Cup Holder Adapter for Cars
- Master Show Big Cup Holder for Car with Expandable Base
- PFCC Car Cup Holder Expander with Adjustable Base
- Joytutus extra large car cup holder adapter
- Smart Kup car cup holder for Hydro Flasks, Nalgene & other large bottles
- COMPARISON TABLE FOR BEST CAR CUP HOLDER EXPANDER ADAPTERS
How to choose the best cup holder expander
You know you want a large water bottle cup holder expander. Now you’re wondering how to choose the best one for your vehicle. First things first: consider the diameter and depth of your factory car cup holder. If your car’s cup holder is too shallow or narrow, it can be difficult to find a cup holder expander that will fit properly. Luckily, some of the best car cup holder expanders have adjustable heights and extendable bases so they can fit in pretty much any car cup holder.
Once you’ve chosen a size that fits your factory cup holder well, you want to make sure that your car cup holder expander is sturdy and durable. I recommend looking for models made from sturdy ABS plastic or metal material. Also check that you can quickly mount and detach it from the car —you want to be able to remove it from your car quickly and clean it regularly!
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Seven Sparta Car Cup Holder Expander (2 Pack)
This stylish car cup holder adapter’s base will expand or contract to fit into original cup holders of 2.5″-3.75″ diameter. Features a solid and thick plastic construction, with rubber tabs around the top of the cup holder to hold your bottle or mug firmly in place. This car cup holder expander is big enough for giant bottles, mugs, and thermos flasks and has a side slot for bottles or mugs with handles. With its 3’’ height, the adapter is deep enough to provide a great balance for your water bottle.
See the latest price of the Seven Sparta cupholder expanders at Amazon
Pros
- 2 pack large cup holder insert
- Stylish and sturdy design – cup portion of the car cup adapter expander upgraded to more solid metal material
Cons
- Some cars will not allow for two of these car cup expanders to be placed side by side.
- Rubber tabs at the top may grip your cup or bottle too snugly
Swigzy Car Cup extra large cup holder adapter
This best-selling car cupholder adapter works great with bottles and mugs of any size, from 20oz -40oz. Swigzy’s extendable base expands or shrinks (2.5”-3.75”) to fit tightly into all sizes of car cup holders including trucks, golf carts, motorcycles, boats, and RV’s. Thick rubber pads are placed on the base to firmly attach the adapter to your original car cup holder. This stable large cup holder insert features rubber taps at the top to firmly hold your bottle or mug in place, as well as a side slot for the handles on your coffee mugs. Swigzy’s quality, sturdy build, and stability in the car make it one of the most recommended brands of adjustable car cup holders on the market.
See the latest price of the Swigzy cup holder extender at Amazon
Pros
- You can choose between the standard-length or a long base version (for deeper car cup holders)
- Expandable base means it fits neatly into place in any vehicle’s cup holder
- Adjustable so you can fit two adapters side by side
Cons
- Some may find it rather bulky
You might also like: The Ledge, a uniquely designed cup holder expander that slips into the crack between your car door and window. It’s strong and deep enough to hold large Yeti cups, Hydro flasks, Big Gulps, and much more.
BottlePro Adjustable Cup Holder Adapter for Cars
BottlePro does not have an extendable base, but its clever 3-ring base design makes it adaptable to fit in most standard cup holders. Included is a neoprene sleeve that is wrapped around the car cup adapter’s base to ensure a snug fit, while also protecting it from scratches and damage. This car cup holder expander is great for giant water bottles of up to 3.8‘’ diameter such as 32-40oz Hydro Flasks, Iron Flasks, Takeyas, and Nalgenes.
See the latest price of the BottlePro adjustable cup holder adapter at Amazon
Pros
- The three-ring base design makes it super easy to install in your car cup holder
- Car cup holder adapter includes a neoprene sleeve for a snug fit to keep your drink from tipping over.
Cons
- This design may not work with tapered factory car cup holders.
- Also not compatible with 14 ounce YETI mugs.
Master Show Big Cup Holder for Car with Expandable Base
This car cup holder adapter expands from 2.5 inches to 3.75 inches to give nice, snug fit for your favorite large mugs and water bottles. The expandable base lets you fit the adjustable cup holder into most cars, and it can even be positioned off-center so you can use both factory cup holders! Plus, it has a U-shaped slot that keeps mugs firmly in place and rubber tabs that stabilize the cup holder to reduce noise while driving.
See the latest price of the Master Show cup holder adapter at Amazon
Pros:
- You have the option to sit in the car cup holder expansion kit off centered so two cup holder expanders can fit side by side
- Sturdy and durable build with ABS material
Cons:
- Some users found this cup holder for large water bottles bigger than expected
- does not work in some cars rav4; mini; Subaru outback; Mazda 3; 2005 Chevy Colorado; 2015 Lexus RX350.
PFCC Car Cup Holder Expander with Adjustable Base
You can use this top cup holder adapter on all sorts of automotive cup holders – thanks to its adjustable base that expands and retracts to fit factory carcup holders. We like its sturdy, solid build, and the removable rubber tabs around the top of the cup holder that hold the cup firmly in place. This car cup holder for larger bottles will snugly grip your 32-40 oz. water bottles and mugs.
You might also like: This same product in an attractive orange color. Also comes in a pack of two.
Pros
- Can comfortably fit nicely side-by-side in most cars
- Removable rubber tabs at the top for larger bottles and cups
- Expandable base fits most standard cars’ cup holders
Cons
- If you have giant water bottles or large cups, you can remove the rubber tabs at the top for a free fit. Or else the bottles may be hard to remove.
Joytutus extra large car cup holder adapter
This cup holder adapter is designed to fit inside any cup holder with a diameter of 2.75-3.25 inches. Once installed, you can use it to secure any of the popular water bottle brands of 18-40oz. Your water bottle is not likely to topple over, thanks to the 3.8’’ height of this extender, which also has a cut-out for cups that have handles. The bottom is equipped with a rubber pad to effectively protect the cup and eliminate rattling.
See the latest price of the Joytutus car cup holder insert at Amazon
Pros
- Tall sides are high enough so your tall bottle will not topple out
- Removable rubber tabs if you find it hard to remove your cup or bottle
- Comes with a rubber pad/coaster to prevent cup rattling noise
Cons
- Not compatible with Yeti 14oz Mug
- Also not compatible with a couple of cars (detailed on the product page)
Smart Kup car cup holder for Hydro Flasks, Nalgene & other large bottles
This mid-range car cup holder adapter has a tapered base that fits in most car cup holders, even the smaller ones. The 3’’ upper cup height prevents your water bottle from toppling over, while the 1’’ cut out on the side is for your containers that have handles. Large enough for 32-40 0z m water bottles, the car cup holder adapter for large cups is available in black or charcoal. Overall, a solid pick if you are looking for an affordable adjustable cup holder.
Pros:
- Car cup holder insert for larger bottle available in two colors; mint and black
- Easy to install
- Can hold extra large Hydroflasks, Yetis and Bubbas
Cons
- Will not fit car cup holders with a diameter of more than 3.2 inches
You might also like: Smart Flask car cup holder insert which is pretty similar to the Smart Kup except that it has a foam rubber sleeve that wraps around the base for a snugger fit. You want this extra car cup holder reducer feature if your car cup holder is on the larger side. I also liked this multi-use Stand-Bi car cup holder expander with phone holder spot.
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COMPARISON TABLE FOR BEST CAR CUP HOLDER EXPANDER ADAPTERS
Top Extra Large Cup Holder Adapters | Height | Extendable base | Compatibility | Not compatible with |
Swigzy Car Cup Holder Expander Adapter | 3.75” | 2.6″-3.8″ | 20-40oz bottles: Hydro Flasks 18-40oz, Yeti 20/26/30 oz, Nalgenes 30/32/38/48 oz, Camelbak 20-40oz, Takeya 17-40oz, Klean Kanteens 16-40oz, Healthy Human 16-40oz, RTIC 20-40oz large cup holder insert | Rambler 14 oz Mug |
Seven Sparta cup holder for a car | 3.7” | 2.5″-3.75″ | Yeti 20/26/30oz, Hydro Flasks 32/40oz, Nalgenes 30/32/38/48oz, Camelbak 32/40oz car cup holder insert adapter | Rambler 14 oz Mug/Rav4; Mini |
Joytutus Cup Holder Expander | 3.9” | No | Hydro Flasks 18oz/40oz, Hydro Cell 16oz-40oz, Nalgenes 16oz/48oz, Yeti Ramblers 12oz-36oz, Klean Kanteens 18oz-40oz, Contigo 21oz, Takeya 32oz-40oz, Healthy Human 32oz-40oz, Gatorade 32oz | Yeti 14oz mug, Volvo xc90, 2021 Lexus GX460, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Outback, 2016 Toyota RAV4 |
Smart Kup drink holders for cars | 3” | No. | 32/40 oz Hydro Flask, 40 oz 50/50 Flask, Nalgene bottle 32 oz, Gatorades | Car cup holders with a diameter of more than 3.2 inches |
BottlePro car coffee cup holder | 3” | No | 32/40 Ounce Hydro Flasks, Iron Flasks, Takeyas, Simple Modern, Nalgene, Klean Kanteen, Thermoflasks, Fifty Fifty, 36 ounce YETI Ramblers | 20/30 YETI Ramblers and 14 ounce YETI mugs. |
What is the standard cup holder size in cars?
This differs from vehicle to vehicle, but on average, a standard cup holder has an overall diameter of 3.15”. The diameter of the cup hole is on average 2.675’’ diameter, while the depth is 2.25”. These dimensions can hardly fit large mugs or water bottles, hence the need for car cup holder insert adapters.
What do you do if your car cup holder is too small or too big?
Have you ever tried to fit a cup or mug into your car cup holder, only to find that it’s either too small or too big? If so, you’re not alone. While the standard size for a car cup holder is 3.5 inches, the actual sizes can vary from 3 to 5 inches depending on the manufacturer and model. That means your favorite travel mug may not fit in your car cup holder at all!
The solution: an adjustable car cup holder expander adapter. With this product, you can adjust the base of the adapter to fit any size car cup holder. The top part of of the adapter can be used to hold large water bottles, even if the base is compact enough to fit into smaller car cup holders. And on the rare occasion that you carry a small water bottle, the best car cup holder expander adapters have rubber tabs at the top to snugly hold your bottles or mugs.
Types of Car Cup Holders Expanders Adapters
There are many types of car cup holders for large bottles and mugs, but the most common type is console cup adapter. These expanders fit in your console cup holder then expand at the top to fit large bottles or mugs. However, there are other types of car cup holders for large bottles and mugs that fit in other parts of the car such as side pocket consoles, ledge expanders and even rotating expanders.
For instance, this side pocket console squeezes between your center console and your car seat. Its two cup holders can fit both large and small bottles and cans. Then there is the Ledge cup holder car expander that slots into the gap between your car door and the window. However, if you are looking for a Yeti cup holder or a hydro flask cup holder, the console option might be the best fit for you.
And if you’re looking for a simple way to add more cup holders to your vehicle, there are car cup expanders for that too! Like this innovative Paper Crane cup holder expander that rotates out to hold up to four cups at a time.
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