Tiger MKB-T361 vs MKB-T481: 12 oz or 16 oz Carbonated Bottle?

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Short answer: Get the Tiger MKB-T361 (12 oz, $38.99 at Tiger’s U.S. store) if you want the smallest, lightest bottle for a can-size drink: it is 7.83 in tall and weighs about 0.19 kg (0.4 lb) empty. Get the MKB-T481 (16 oz, $40.99) if you want a third more drink and slightly better ratings (154°F vs 145°F after 6 hours hot, 47°F vs 49°F cold) in a bottle that is 1.74 in taller and about 30 g heavier. Both carry hot, cold and carbonated drinks, and they share the same BubbleLogic screw-top lid, 1.7 in mouth and dishwasher-safe parts.

How we compare: every spec in this article comes from Tiger’s official pages (starting with Tiger USA’s MKB-T page and Tiger Japan’s MKB-T page), all listed under Sources below. We don’t run hands-on tests, and if a spec isn’t published, we say so. Last updated: October 2026.

Check price: Tiger MKB-T361 (12 oz)

Check price: Tiger MKB-T481 (16 oz)

Tiger Corporation is an Osaka-based maker of rice cookers, kettles and vacuum bottles. The MKB-T, which Tiger calls the “Vacuum Insulated Carbonated Bottle,” is a slim stainless mug-style bottle with a handled screw-top lid. Many insulated bottles warn against carbonated drinks. This one is built for them: Tiger says you can carry soda, sparkling water, beer or a highball, and also hot drinks in winter. It comes in three sizes, the MKB-T361 (12 oz), MKB-T481 (16 oz) and MKB-T601 (20 oz). All three are 2.6 in wide and share the same lid design, so choosing between the two smaller ones comes down to how much you drink, bag height and a few degrees of insulation.

Quick Comparison Table

Spec	Tiger MKB-T361	Tiger MKB-T481
Capacity	0.36 L / 12 oz	0.48 L / 16 oz
Height with lid	7.83 in (19.9 cm)	9.57 in (24.3 cm)
Body height (no lid)	5.87 in (14.9 cm)	7.56 in (19.2 cm)
Width x depth	2.60 x 2.60 in (6.6 x 6.6 cm)	Same
Empty weight	Approx. 0.19 kg (0.4 lb)	Approx. 0.22 kg (0.5 lb)
Mouth opening	1.7 in (4.3 cm)	Same
Heat retention, 1 hour	185°F (85°C) or more	186°F (86°C) or more
Heat retention, 6 hours	145°F (63°C) or more	154°F (68°C) or more
Cold retention, 6 hours	49°F (9°C) or less	47°F (8°C) or less
Drinks	Hot, cold and carbonated	Same
Lid	Screw-top BubbleLogic stopper with slanted handle	Same design
Dishwasher	Lid, body and gasket	Same
Colors (U.S. store)	Pearl White, Pearl Black, Clear Copper	Pearl White, Pearl Black, Clear Copper, Clear Green, Clear Red
Made in	Viet Nam	Viet Nam
Tiger U.S. store price	$38.99	$40.99
Japan store price (tax incl.)	¥4,620	¥4,840

Specs from Tiger’s U.S. and Japanese MKB-T pages (tiger-corporation.com); U.S. prices from Tiger’s U.S. online store (us-store.tiger-corporation.com) and yen prices from Tiger’s Japanese online store, checked October 30, 2026. Tiger’s ratings use 203°F (95°C) hot water or 39°F (4°C) cold water, with the bottle filled, upright, in a 68°F (20°C) room. On Tiger’s U.S. store, all colors listed for both sizes were in stock.

Key differences at a glance

Capacity: 12 oz (0.36 L) vs 16 oz (0.48 L), a third more in the MKB-T481.
Height: 7.83 in vs 9.57 in with the lid (19.9 vs 24.3 cm). The width is the same, 2.60 in (6.6 cm).
Weight: about 0.19 kg vs 0.22 kg empty, a 30 g (about 1 oz) difference.
Insulation: after 6 hours, 145°F vs 154°F hot and 49°F vs 47°F cold. The bigger bottle holds temperature a little better.
Colors: three for the MKB-T361, five for the MKB-T481 (adds Clear Green and Clear Red).
Price: $38.99 vs $40.99 at Tiger’s U.S. store, $2 more for the larger size.
Same on both: hot, cold and carbonated use, BubbleLogic stopper with a gas-release mechanism and safety valve, Super Clean Plus interior, 1.7 in mouth, slanted handle, dishwasher-safe parts, made in Viet Nam.

1. Capacity and Everyday Use

The MKB-T361 holds 0.36 L, about 12 oz, roughly one standard U.S. can. The MKB-T481 holds 0.48 L, about 16 oz, close to a pint. Tiger measures “actual capacity” with the stopper in place. Tiger doesn’t assign a size to a use, but the numbers suggest a simple split:

MKB-T361: one can of sparkling water or soda, a short coffee, a small bag, or a drink you’ll finish within an hour or two.
MKB-T481: a commute, a game or an afternoon out, or a pint-size drink you’ll sip over several hours.

Size matters more with carbonated drinks than with water. Tiger notes on its vacuum insulated products page that a drink “may lose carbonation easily” depending on use, such as when the contents are low in volume or hot. Each time you open the lid, the gas-release mechanism lets some CO₂ out. So a bottle you can fill and finish in a few openings may keep the fizz better than a bigger one that sits half empty. Japanese reviewers make the same point (see below).

2. Heat and Cold Retention

Both bottles use Tiger’s stainless steel double-wall vacuum construction, and Tiger says they keep drinks at a good drinking temperature for about 6 hours or more. The published ratings differ slightly by size:

Hot, after 1 hour: 185°F (85°C) or more vs 186°F (86°C) or more.
Hot, after 6 hours: 145°F (63°C) or more vs 154°F (68°C) or more.
Cold, after 6 hours: 49°F (9°C) or less vs 47°F (8°C) or less.

The bigger bottle holds a little more heat and cold because it holds more liquid, and the gap is clearest for hot drinks after 6 hours (9°F). For carbonated drinks, the cold rating matters most, since cold drinks hold CO₂ better, and there is only 2°F between the sizes. Tiger publishes no rating for how long the fizz lasts.

Hot-drink support is what sets the MKB-T apart: Tiger Japan’s page says these bottles “can now be used for hot drinks in addition to cold and carbonated drinks.” Tiger’s other carbonated line, the larger MTA-T (0.5 L to 1.5 L), is a separate bottle with a different screw lid.

3. The BubbleLogic Lid

The lid is what makes this a carbonated bottle. Tiger calls the stopper “BubbleLogic,” and both sizes have the same design:

Carbon dioxide release mechanism: when the lid is closed, gas stays sealed in. When you open it, the gas is let out first, so the drink doesn’t spray or splash, and Tiger says the lid opens with light force.
Safety valve: if the pressure inside rises to an abnormally high level, such as when the bottle heats up in a car in midsummer, the valve releases gas on its own so the lid doesn’t fly off and the drink doesn’t erupt.
Slanted handle: the handle on the lid is angled to fit the fingers and keep a full bottle steady when you carry it.

The lid screws on (Tiger Japan calls it a screw top), so it is not a one-push flip lid. Tiger doesn’t say on its product pages whether the bottle is leak-proof on its side. The mouth (caliber) is 1.7 in (4.3 cm) on both sizes.

4. Size, Weight and Carrying

Both bottles are 2.60 in (6.6 cm) wide, so the difference is all height: 7.83 in vs 9.57 in with the lid, or 5.87 in vs 7.56 in for the body alone. Tiger describes the MKB-T as a “slim mug-type bottle” that is light and fits in a bag.

Empty, they weigh about 0.19 kg and 0.22 kg. Water weighs about 1 g per ml, so by our estimate a full MKB-T361 weighs about 550 g (19 oz) and a full MKB-T481 about 700 g (25 oz). If your bag has a short side pocket, the 12 oz is the safer fit; Tiger doesn’t publish cup-holder fit, so compare the 2.6 in width with your holder.

5. Cleaning and Care

Tiger says the lid, main body and gasket are all safe for a dishwasher or dish dryer. The inside has Tiger’s Super Clean Plus finish, which Tiger says:

Smooths the inner surface, so carbonation escapes less easily than on an untreated surface
Makes stains and odors less likely to stick
Resists rust, so salty sports drinks are OK (Tiger asks you to rinse with water right after use)

Tiger doesn’t publish a parts count, but the stopper comes apart for washing. Japanese product-review site my-best counted five parts that need cleaning on the MKB-T481.

6. Price and Where to Buy

At Tiger’s U.S. online store, the MKB-T361 is $38.99 and the MKB-T481 is $40.99. On October 30, 2026, the 12 oz was in stock in Pearl White, Pearl Black and Clear Copper, and the 16 oz in Pearl White, Pearl Black, Clear Copper, Clear Green and Clear Red. That works out to about $3.25 per ounce for the 12 oz and $2.56 per ounce for the 16 oz. For $2 more, the MKB-T481 is the better value per ounce if you’ll use the extra room.

The third size: MKB-T601

Model	Capacity	Height with lid	Empty weight	Heat, 6 h	Cold, 6 h	U.S. store price
MKB-T361	12 oz / 0.36 L	7.83 in	0.19 kg	145°F+	49°F or less	$38.99
MKB-T481	16 oz / 0.48 L	9.57 in	0.22 kg	154°F+	47°F or less	$40.99
MKB-T601	20 oz / 0.6 L	11.22 in	0.24 kg	159°F+	45°F or less	$43.99

Specs from Tiger USA’s MKB-T page; prices from Tiger’s U.S. online store, checked October 30, 2026. The MKB-T601 was listed in Clear Copper, Clear Green, Pearl Black and Clear Red on the U.S. store (all in stock); Pearl White was not listed there for the 20 oz.

The MKB-T601 (20 oz) is the pick if you want the most drink and the best ratings, but at 11.22 in tall it is a tall bottle for a bag. A Japanese reviewer who first planned to buy the 0.6 L chose the 0.48 L after seeing the 28.5 cm height in person. Check the MKB-T601 on Amazon. For a plain insulated bottle (not for carbonated drinks) with a one-touch lid, see our Zojirushi SD-KA60H vs SD-KA75H guide.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Tiger MKB-T361 (12 oz) if you:

Want the shortest, lightest option: 7.83 in tall, about 0.19 kg empty
Usually carry one can of sparkling water or soda
Finish your drink in a short time, so the fizz doesn’t fade in a half-empty bottle
Carry a small bag

Choose the Tiger MKB-T481 (16 oz) if you:

Want a pint-size drink or fewer refills
Carry hot drinks for most of a day (154°F vs 145°F after 6 hours)
Want more color choices (Clear Green and Clear Red are 16 oz and 20 oz only)
Want the better price per ounce for $2 more

A View from Japan

In Japan, the MKB-T is sold as the 真空断熱炭酸ボトル (“vacuum insulated carbonated bottle”), with the tagline “hot, cold, and even carbonated is OK!” Tiger Japan’s page suggests beer and highballs in summer and hot drinks in winter, and the specs are the same as the U.S. page. Tiger’s Japanese online store sells the 0.36 L for ¥4,620, the 0.48 L for ¥4,840 and the 0.6 L for ¥5,280, tax included.

Japan also has a 100th anniversary version, the MKB-T036 / T048 / T060, with the same specs in calmer Stone Black, Lake Blue and Eaglet White colors and higher suggested retail prices. Tiger Japan says its earlier carbonated bottle line, the MTA-T, won nine awards in Japan, including from Nikkei Trendy and DIME.

Item	Japan (Tiger official)
Japanese name	真空断熱炭酸ボトル (“vacuum insulated carbonated bottle”), MKB-T361 / T481 / T601
Tagline	ホットもコールドも、炭酸だってOK！ (“Hot, cold, and even carbonated is OK!”)
Lid type (Japanese page)	炭酸対応スクリュートップ (screw top for carbonated drinks)
Tiger Japan online store price (tax incl.)	0.36 L ¥4,620; 0.48 L ¥4,840; 0.6 L ¥5,280
Japan-only 100th anniversary version	MKB-T036 / T048 / T060: same specs, Stone Black, Lake Blue and Eaglet White; suggested retail ¥8,250 / ¥8,800 / ¥9,350 (tax incl.)
Uses Tiger suggests	Cold drinks, beer and highballs in summer, hot drinks in winter (follow local alcohol laws)
Spare parts	Tiger Japan’s product page links to a separate store for 消耗品 (consumable parts)

Japanese names, prices and details from Tiger Japan’s MKB-T pages and its Japanese online store (tiger-corporation.com), checked October 30, 2026. Prices include Japanese consumption tax.

Japanese reviewers often say the bottle opens with a strong “pssht,” like a fresh soda bottle, and that sparkling water still has fizz after several hours, though it fades the more you open it and the emptier the bottle gets. They praise the cold retention, the light weight and the fact that it doesn’t sweat in a bag, and many use it to carry beer to festivals or sports games. On the downside, several say the screw lid is less handy than a one-touch lid, that there are many parts to wash and the small gasket is hard to remove, and that a little liquid can come out when opening a carbonated drink. One reviewer found the bottle tall for its capacity because of the handle, and said a 500 ml beer can left about 50 ml over in the 0.48 L size. Japanese review site my-best measured about 66°C after 6 hours hot and about 11°C after 6 hours cold for the MKB-T481, starting from slightly different water temperatures than Tiger’s test. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

Tiger MKB-T361 vs MKB-T481: Frequently Asked Questions

Should I get the Tiger MKB-T361 or MKB-T481?

Get the MKB-T361 (12 oz, $38.99 at Tiger’s U.S. store) if you want the shortest, lightest bottle: 7.83 in tall and about 0.19 kg empty, and you’ll finish your drink in an hour or two. Get the MKB-T481 (16 oz, $40.99) if you want a third more drink and slightly better ratings: 154°F vs 145°F after 6 hours hot, and 47°F vs 49°F after 6 hours cold. It is 1.74 in taller and about 30 g heavier. The lid, width, mouth and features are the same.

Can the Tiger MKB-T really carry soda, sparkling water and beer?

Yes. Tiger says the MKB-T is made for hot, cold and carbonated drinks, and it names beer and highballs as examples. Its BubbleLogic stopper lets the gas out first when you open it, to keep the drink from spraying, and a safety valve releases gas if the pressure gets abnormally high, for example in a hot car. Tiger asks you to follow your local laws when carrying alcohol.

Can I put hot coffee or tea in it?

Yes. Tiger rates the MKB-T for hot drinks as well as cold and carbonated ones. After 6 hours, Tiger rates the MKB-T361 at 145°F (63°C) or more and the MKB-T481 at 154°F (68°C) or more, starting from 203°F (95°C) water. Tiger notes that a carbonated drink loses fizz more easily when it is hot or when the bottle is low.

Is the Tiger MKB-T dishwasher safe?

Yes. Tiger says the lid, main body and gasket are all safe for a dishwasher or dish dryer.

Can I put sports drinks in it?

Yes. Tiger says the Super Clean Plus interior is rust-resistant, so salty sports drinks are OK. Tiger asks you to rinse the bottle with water right after use.

Will a 12 oz or 16 oz can fit?

Tiger doesn’t say. On paper, a 12 fl oz can (355 ml) is just under the MKB-T361’s 360 ml capacity, and a 16 fl oz can (473 ml) is just under the MKB-T481’s 480 ml, but foam takes up room when you pour. Tiger measures capacity with the stopper in place. One Japanese reviewer noted that a 500 ml Japanese beer can left about 50 ml over in the 480 ml bottle.

Is the MKB-T036 the same as the MKB-T361?

They have the same published specs. The MKB-T036 / T048 / T060 is a Japan-market 100th anniversary version in Stone Black, Lake Blue and Eaglet White. The MKB-T361 / T481 / T601 is the version Tiger sells in the U.S.

Is there a bigger size?

Yes, the MKB-T601 (20 oz, 0.6 L, $43.99 at Tiger’s U.S. store). It is 11.22 in tall with the lid, weighs about 0.24 kg and has the best ratings of the three: 159°F or more after 6 hours hot and 45°F or less after 6 hours cold.

Check current listings

Amazon search results for “Tiger carbonated bottle” often mix the MKB-T with Tiger’s larger MTA-T carbonated bottles, regular Tiger travel mugs and bottles (MMJ, MMZ, MCT and others), the Japan-only MKB-T036 / T048 / T060, and spare lids or gaskets. Check that the listing says MKB-T361 or MKB-T481 (for example MKB-T361DB or MKB-T481GB) before you buy.