Single Wall Paper Cups

One layer of board, used the right way

A single wall paper cup is the simplest cup there is: one layer of paperboard, formed into a cone-shaped tube, sealed at the seam, with a bottom disc and a rolled rim. Inside, a thin lining keeps liquid from soaking into the board. It is the cup most people picture when they think of a paper cup, and it is the most common cup in coffee shops, offices, events and vending machines for good reason. It is light, it stacks tightly, and it costs less than any insulated alternative.

The trade-off is heat. With only one layer, the outside of the cup gets about as hot as the drink inside. For a cold soda, water or iced tea that does not matter. For hot coffee carried a block or two, it does, which is why single wall cups and sleeves so often travel together. Knowing where single wall is enough, and where it is not, saves money without annoying customers.

Single wall against the other builds

If most of your drinks are hot and leave the building, compare this page with custom disposable hot cups, which are built specifically for heat.

Where single wall is the smart choice

• Cold drinks of any size. Soda, lemonade, iced tea and water do not need insulation, only a lining that resists moisture.
• Dine-in coffee. If the cup is set on a table or a saucer, single wall is fine.
• Office and vending machines. Drinks are carried a few steps and set on a desk.
• Events and sampling. High volume, short use, and cost matters.
• Hot drinks with a sleeve. A cardboard sleeve gives the insulation only when it is needed, and only on the cups that leave the shop.

Single wall is the wrong pick when you sell large hot drinks with no sleeve option, or when your brand promises a premium feel that a thin cup undercuts.

Board, lining and sizes

Single wall cups use board from about 210 to 320 gsm. Lighter board is fine for water and cold drinks; heavier board makes a hot cup stiffer and less likely to flex when filled. The inside lining is usually PE, and biodegradable options are available for buyers who want them. White board is the common base for printing; kraft board gives a natural brown look. Standard sizes run from 4 oz to 22 oz, covering espresso through extra-large iced drinks, and custom sizes can be made.

One practical benefit often overlooked: single wall cups nest much more tightly than double wall cups. A carton of single wall cups holds more cups in the same space, which matters in a small kitchen, a food truck or a coffee cart with almost no storage.

Before switching a whole menu to single wall, run a simple test. Fill a sample cup with your hottest drink, hand it to a member of staff and ask them to walk to the parking lot and back. If they reach for a napkin, that size needs a sleeve or a double wall build. Ten minutes of testing beats a month of complaints.

Printing a single wall cup

The smooth outer surface of a single wall cup is a good printing base. CMYK reproduces photos and illustrations; PMS nails brand colors exactly. Gloss gives bright color and wipes clean, matte gives a soft, modern look, and spot UV picks out a logo. If you plan to use a sleeve, design with it in mind: keep the logo above the sleeve band, or treat the sleeve as a second printed surface and carry a promotion on it. Printed paper beverage sleeves can be designed alongside the cup so both look like one piece. You can also print several designs in one batch, for example one cup per season or per location, as long as each design meets the 100-cup minimum.

How the order works

1. Pick sizes, from 4 to 22 oz, or ask for a custom size.
2. Choose white or kraft board and the board weight for hot or cold use.
3. Send your artwork, or ask our team for free design help.
4. Choose your quantity from 100 cups, with volume discounts on larger runs.
5. Approve the proof. Cups are produced in 4 to 6 business days, with rush options available.

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