16 oz Paper Cups

The large that earns the margin

A 16 oz cup holds a full US pint, two cups or about 475 ml. On most coffee shop menus it is the "large", and for many businesses it is the most profitable cup they sell. Customers who upsize from 12 to 16 oz pay noticeably more, while the extra cost of milk, ice and the cup itself is small. That makes the 16 oz cup worth branding properly, because it is the one customers carry around the longest and the one they choose when they are happy to spend.

This size is also the backbone of iced drinks. Iced lattes, cold brew, iced tea, lemonade, smoothies and frappé-style blended drinks all need room for ice, and 16 oz is where most of them land. Juice bars, smoothie shops, bubble tea stores and summer food trucks often stock more 16 oz cups than anything else.

A practical tip if you are setting up a new menu: show all three cup sizes on the counter, filled, next to the register. Customers who can see the difference between a medium and a large are more willing to step up, and the large cup with your logo on it does the selling for you. It also helps staff answer the "how big is the large?" question without guessing.

Planning for ice, foam and toppings

The number on the cup is the total volume, not what the customer drinks. Ice can take up a third or more of a cold cup, and whipped cream or foam needs headroom too. Use this rough guide when you build recipes around a 16 oz cup:

If your drinks are mostly thick shakes or loaded iced coffees and you keep running out of room, our larger 20 oz paper cups are worth adding as an extra-large tier.

Paper for hot drinks, paper for cold

A hot 16 oz cup needs a heat-resistant inner lining and board stiff enough not to flex when a full pint of coffee is gripped near the top. Double wall or ripple wall is common here, because a large hot drink is held for a long time. A cold 16 oz cup faces a different problem: condensation. Moisture beads on the outside of an iced drink, and a cup with no outer coating can soften. Cold cups are coated on both sides, and a gloss finish helps shed water.

If you sell both, you can still use one design. Many shops print a hot cup and a cold cup from the same artwork, so the brand stays consistent whether the customer orders a cappuccino in January or an iced mocha in July. Kraft and white boards are both available, along with recyclable and biodegradable options and soy- or vegetable-based inks.

Designing the biggest canvas on your counter

A 16 oz cup offers the tallest print area of your regular sizes, which gives you room to do more than drop a logo on it.

• Tell a short story. A line about your roaster, your farm partner or your neighborhood fits comfortably on the back of the cup.
• Use a pattern band. A repeating pattern around the base frames the logo above it and still looks good when a hand covers part of the cup.
• Think about the photo. Iced drinks get photographed far more than hot ones. Strong contrast and a clear logo read well on a phone screen.
• Add a QR code. There is room on a large cup for a code that links to your loyalty app or online menu.
• Match the sleeve. If you use custom printed coffee sleeves, keep key artwork above the sleeve line.

Matte finishes look smart on hot cups; gloss tends to suit cold cups and bright smoothie brands. Spot UV can highlight a logo or a pattern on either.

Handling large cups on a busy shift

Large cups tip more easily on a pickup counter, especially iced drinks with a top-heavy dome lid. Use a cup carrier for any order of two or more, and keep the large cups at the end of the bar nearest the hand-off. For drive-thru windows, a carrier also stops drinks from sliding around in the car. Printed paper coffee cup holders keep large drinks upright and add one more branded touch.

Steps to order

1. List the drinks you will pour and decide if you need hot cups, cold cups or both.
2. Pick wall type and board, then your finish.
3. Send artwork files, or ask for free design help.
4. Choose quantities from 100 cups each. Volume discounts apply.
5. Approve the proof. Production takes 4 to 6 business days, with rush options for launches.

Free samples are available before a full run, and shipping is free to the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.