When I scoop the batter into the liner, as the liner sinks it folds a bit along one or two sides. It looks really sloppy and it's very frustrating. Is the liner too big? It's a standard size liner and I think a standard size pan. Help!

It's either too big a liner or the slope on the sides of the wells in the cupcake tin are at the wrong angle for that liner. Investigate some other liners or tins - whichever is cheaper for you to do but still gets you good results.

I've had that problem as well. I've found that if I place the liner over the hole, then push it down with a shot glass, then use a circular motion once you've hit bottom to ease the tension on the sides it helps to prevent buckling.

I've been having this same exact problem with the liners that have designs on them. I never had a problem when I bought the cheap plain ones from the grocery store, but with the cute ones I bought at the craft store, ugh. I've been pushing them down with my fingers, and if they buckle when I put the batter in I use a spoon to push it back against the walls.

Only a few come out of the oven with buckles again, but not bad.

I had this problem and was really frustrated because I loved the liners! I bought a new pan just because I needed a new one and the problem was solved, so the "holes" must be bigger.

Yeah, the thing about "standard", is it means something different to each company that makes it. Some liners are open more than others and some pans are sloped steeper than others. I have two large (24 cup) pans from different companies and while I love them both, it all depends on which liners I use.

I generally place my liners in the tin, then put a second tin the same size, on top of it. I've found it works well to "stretch" the liners to the same same as the tin.
HTH

I stopped buying decorated cupcake liners because of that problem plus the decorated liners don't really do anything since after baking the grease just removes the design and prettiness for the most part. I like the good ol cheap liners that come in the clear plastic cups - they keep the liners nice and tight so I always save them then if I do use decorated liners (since I have a huge stock of them that I barely use) I will place them in the clear cups so they "tighten up" and fit nicely into the muffin tins...liners shouldn't cause this much trouble though

Here's a hint I found out myself. If you leave the liners out of the container they come in, the stretch, the folds unfold. It causes the liners to become larger and therefore, wrinkle. Also if you "handle them wrong" either by pulling on them or in any way, "undoing" their pleating, that will make the stretch too. I have had my granddaughter put liners in for me and also my son-in-law and found that they evidently "loosen those pleats somehow" and it causes folds. I don't even press them into the wells, I just let them fall into the cup as they may, and it usually works out better.
I hope this is making sense to you guys, because it is hard to explain. I am still learning from experiernce.

similar to amaryllis, i do not push the liners into the tin. i've had the same problem with my liners buckling in one or two places, but since i have stopped pushing them into the tin the problem has almost completely resolved itself. i light place the liner over the tin, then pipe/scoop my batter, which will be heavy enough to push the liner into the tin, but usually does not buckle (i still get the odd one or two). and i also agree with amaryllis that handling them incorrectly can greatly increase the chance of a buckle. be very gentle when pulling them apart so as to not mess with their natural pleat. HTH! GL!

I "train" my cupcake liners into shape. I puchased a plastic container, a cylinder shape and I sit my cupcake papers in the container for a while. I usually remove them from the original package as soon as I get home. Using a plastic drinking cup will work too (the 16 oz size, throwaway cup) Just be sure you dont fill the cup too high or you will defeat the purpose. My cylinder is about 3 inches across and 7 inches high. It holds at least 150 cupcake liners. I tend to use a particular white liner, (unless I have a request for a decorated cup) that I buy at my local dollar store. It is slightly taller than an average cupcake liner, and is packaged in a square box. Putting them in the "trainer" for a while makes it "perfect" to use.

we don't press them down. try placing them in the pan an when you pipe your batter, the liner should ease into the pan beautifully. We measure each cupcake so we get a consistent look and we are guaranteed that the batter wont overflow and sometimes cause the liner to sink or fold