Paper Cups With Lids

The Lid Decides How Far a Drink Can Travel

A paper cup without a lid is fine for a drink finished at the counter. Once the drink goes through a drive-thru window, onto a delivery driver's front seat or across a parking lot, the lid does most of the work. It holds heat in, keeps ice from sloshing out, stops dust and rain, and tells the customer the drink was handled with care. Buying paper cups with lids as one order means each lid is made for its cup's rim, so you don't end up with a carton of lids that almost fit.

We make the cups in 4 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz and 24 oz, in single, double or ripple wall, from 210 to 350 gsm food-grade virgin paper. Lids come as dome, flat, sip and straw-slot styles in clear PET, white PS or black PP plastic, all BPA-free. Cups are printed with your design; lids can be clear, white or black to match.

Matching the Lid to the Drink and the Trip

Lid choice depends on two questions: what is in the cup, and how far it goes. Here is a guide:

Black lids hide coffee stains around the sip hole, which is why many cafes choose them for hot drinks. Clear lids show off cold drinks and toppings. White lids give a clean, neutral look on white cups.

Splash guards, tear tabs and reclosable openings are add-ons worth considering for drive-thru and delivery. A tear tab keeps the drink sealed until the customer opens it, and a reclosable opening lets them close it again in the car.

If you are moving away from plastic, our plastic-free paper coffee cup lids fit standard rims and can be ordered alongside these cups.

Sizes, Including the Small Ones

A 12 oz cup is the most common medium for coffee in the US, with 16 oz as the large. Cold drinks often run bigger, to 20 or 24 oz, since ice takes up space. At the small end, a 6 oz or 8 oz cup with a lid is useful for kids' drinks, short coffees and tasting portions at events.

The 6 oz size is one of the more requested small cups with lids, since it sits between espresso and a standard small. For more about that size and its lids, see the 6 oz paper cups page.

For wall type, single wall cups paired with a sip lid suit quick hot drinks and anything cold. Double wall cups keep hands comfortable with hot drinks without a sleeve. Ripple wall gives the most grip and insulation. A leak-proof base and a rolled rim come standard, so lids seat firmly.

Designing Cups That Look Good With a Lid On

Once a lid is on, the top quarter-inch of the cup is covered. Plan the design around that:

• Keep logos and text below the lid line so nothing gets cut off.
• Choose a lid color that works with your print. Black lids suit dark or bold cup designs; white lids suit bright, clean ones.
• Repeat your logo on two sides so it faces out in a drink carrier.
• Add a QR code or handle low on the cup, where it is easy to scan on a table.
• Choose a moisture-resistant finish on cold-drink cups, so condensation does not spot the print.

Cups are printed in CMYK or PMS with offset or flexographic printing. Gloss, matte and spot UV finishes are available. Transparent or opaque lid finishes let you set the look on top.

Running Cups and Lids at the Counter

Store cups and lids together by size, with lid bins labeled and placed right next to their cups. Mixing up 12 and 16 oz lids is the most common cause of spills at a busy counter. Keep cartons dry and off the floor, since damp board can loosen the lid fit.

Press lids on all the way around until they click. For delivery, put lidded cups in a carrier or cup holder so they stay upright in the bag.

If you prefer a heavier board and a matched set for a mixed menu of drinks and foods, see our cardboard cups with lids, which cover soda, ice cream and sides as well as coffee.

Ordering Paper Cups and Lids

1. List the drinks you sell and the sizes for each.
2. Pick a wall type for each cup size and a lid style, material and color.
3. Send your logo and any messaging for the cups.
4. Approve the proof, and request free samples to test lid fit with your drinks.
5. Production takes 4 to 6 business days after approval. Shipping is free to the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.

The minimum order is 100 units, with volume discounts as you scale. Cups and lids can be ordered in different quantities if you go through one faster than the other.