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Best Styrofoam Cooler Boxes For Backyard Gatherings
Modified: December 6, 2023
Keep calm and keep cool with a styrofoam cooler full of your favorite drinks! Here are the best styrofoam coolers that will keep your backyard party going.
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As family gatherings and general get-togethers are slowly but surely becoming more prevalent in this pandemic, it’s time to break out your styrofoam cooler and have a barbecue party! We say styrofoam cooler because how else are you going to keep your beverages cool without those white, squeaky containers? If you need a reliable, quick, and easy chill fix for your backyard jamboree, read on! We have gathered the best styrofoam coolers that will keep drinks cold and your food fresh all day.
Who Should Buy a Styrofoam Cooler?
There are a lot of different types of coolers out in the market now. So, why should you choose a styrofoam cooler? Well, there are a lot of reasons why a styrofoam cooler is ideal for your gatherings. First and foremost, it’s cheap! Getting a styrofoam cooler is one of the cheapest ways to keep your ice from melting throughout the entire day. It’s also incredibly lightweight and can pack a lot of your frozen essentials in a safe and compact space.
If you want an affordable and hassle-free cooler, go for a styrofoam cooler. It’s a great outdoor storage solution that convenient for hiking trips too. You should know, however, to only buy a styrofoam cooler if you need it for a short period and want to dispose of it after.
Read more: What Is an Air Cooler
Pros and Cons of a Styrofoam Cooler
It’s important to educate yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of buying a styrofoam cooler. Styrofoam is an excellent insulator because it’s made of polystyrene, which is 80% air. However, there’s more to them than this. Here are the pros and cons you need to consider before buying one.
Pros
- They are affordable.
- They’re widely available.
- They’re very lightweight, even in large sizes.
- They come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Cons
- It can only retain ice life for 1 to 2 days.
- Styrofoam can easily break.
- It’s non-biodegradable, which is bad for the environment.
Aside from the environmental impact, the pros outweigh the cons. However, it would still depend on how you eventually dispose of them. You can reduce their environmental detriment by recycling them. Styrofoam coolers can be instrumental to DIY projects and be resurrected to create fun outdoor furniture. If you no longer need an ice cooler, you can go ahead and transform them into a cabinet or even a DIY storage bench — anything’s possible, go crazy with creativity!
Best Styrofoam Cooler Boxes For Your Backyard
Let’s get you ready for a great backyard party with the best styrofoam cooler boxes to keep you and your drinks cool. Here are the top five coolers with huge DIY potential that you shouldn’t miss out on:
In the styrofoam cooler game, Polar Tech is one of the household names. If you’re preparing to deliver a large shipment of frozen goods, the Polar Tech 266C Thermo Chill Insulated Styrofoam Carton is the cooler for you. It features a 1.5 inch-thick wall that provides superior insulation to keep frozen meat at its ideal temperature while ensuring safe transport.
Key Features
- Snug-fit lid
- Seamless molded body
- Mailer box included
Specifications
- Exterior dimensions: 22 inches x 15 inches x 19 inches
- Interior dimensions: 19 inches x 12 inches x 16 inches
- 1.5 inches wall thickness
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- Can contain the product’s temperature inside
- Has a lot of space
- Great for shipping frozen food
Cons
- Bit fragile bottom part
- Size is slightly different than advertised
If you’re in charge of the drinks for the barbecue party, you’ll need a reliable styrofoam cooler that can fit a lot of cans. Look no further from the 28QT Styrofoam Ice Chest! It boasts a 24 can capacity, so you can be sure you’ll have enough cold drinks for everyone. Keep the celebration going and the drinks coming with this dependable styrofoam cooler by your side.
Key Features
- 24 can room capacity
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 37.1 inches x 17.8 inches x 46.5 inches
- 28 qt capacity
Pros
- Keeps ice frozen for a long time
- Durable
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Size is smaller in person
- Bit flimsy lid
Another quality styrofoam cooler from Polar Tech is the 205C Thermo Chill Insulated Styrofoam Cooler. It’s a portable cooler perfect for keeping smaller food items and climate-controlled medicine cool and safe. If you prefer chilling solo on your patio, keep your Coca-Cola cans and beer inside these cute but well-insulated coolers, and you’ll have cold drinks all night long without going to and fro from your kitchen.
Key Features
- 2 coolers with compact fit lids
- Seamless molded body
- Mailer box included
Specifications
- Exterior dimensions 10 inches x 9 inches x 8.25 inches
- Interior dimensions: 6 inches (L) x 5 inches (W) x 6.5 inches (D)
- 1.25 inches thick
Pros
- Durable and sturdy material
- Provides excellent insulation
- Good for shipping temperature-sensitive items
Cons
- Can be too small
- Leaks water when the ice melts
Keep your food fresh until it hits the grill with these Thermo Chill Overnite Styrofoam Containers. This two-pack styrofoam cooler, is sure to provide you room for all your backyard grill needs. If you want to send your friends the spoils of your barbecue Sunday, these coolers can also keep them secured for transport.
Key Features
- 2 styrofoam coolers with a tight-fitting lid
Specifications
- Exterior dimensions: 11.75 inches x 11.75 inches x 5.625 inches
- Interior dimensions: 10.25 inches x 10.25 inches x 4 inches
Pros
- Fits inside USPS flat rate boxes
- Sturdy and thick
- Lightweight
- Keeps frozen items cold for up to two days
Cons
- Smaller than expected
- Poor delivery packaging
The Polar Tech 227C Thermo Chill Insulated Carton is the best styrofoam cooler if your outdoor feast is not until the end of a lengthy road trip. This cooler can keep your food and drinks cold for hours. It features a compact fitting lid that ensures everything inside is properly insulated and cool.
Key Features
- Seamless molded body
- Snug-fit lid
- Mailer box included
Specifications
- Exterior dimensions: 15 inches x 13 inches x 10 inches
- Interior dimensions: 12 inches x 10 inches x 7 inches
- 1-inch wall thickness
Pros
- Well-insulated
- Durable and sturdy
- Spacious
- High-quality material
- Keeps things frozen for over 24 hours
Cons
- Exterior dimensions are slightly bigger
How to Recycle Styrofoam Coolers
When your backyard gathering is finished and you no longer need your styrofoam cooler, don’t throw them out yet! There are a lot of ways you can upcycle a styrofoam cooler. Here are some cool DIY ideas you can try:
Read more: How To Clean Air Cooler
Mini Ottoman
A styrofoam cooler is just about the size of a small stool or chair that can seat a single person or child. You can transform your styrofoam cooler into a cute ottoman by hot-gluing some fabric and foam onto the lid to make it more comfortable to sit on. If you have a child, it can be a nice seat for them when your patio furniture is full of adults.
Cat Shelter
Keep your furry friends safe and warm during cold nights with a DIY shelter. Styrofoam is an excellent material for a makeshift cat shelter, thanks to its insulation properties that will provide sufficient warmth to stray cats who don’t have a home. Cut a small opening at the side of the cooler to make a doorway, and furnish with hay and blankets to make it cozier.
Planter Box
Create a planter box out of your old styrofoam coolers and start the garden of your dreams! Styrofoam is sturdy enough to support the weight of soil and can form a solid foundation for a flower bed. Just cut some holes below for drainage, and begin potting your favorite indoor plants.
Upscale Backyard Drinks Cooler
If you like having a cooler in your backyard, but don’t want the white styrofoam look to clash with your patio aesthetic, try upscaling it with a few DIY tricks. You can build a box surrounding it that will mask the styrofoam exterior using pallet wood or lumber to create a rustic cooler that is great for campfire nights.
With that being said, we hope you find the best styrofoam cooler from the list above. If you want more reliable outdoor storage, check out our best waterproof outdoor storage box picks to keep the party going no matter what.
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