12oz Paper Cups
The most ordered UK takeaway size, around 10.5oz usable.
Specification & quote
Paper Cup Sizes
16oz Paper Cups
16oz is where hot and cold drink service overlaps. It is the large hot cup and, for most cafés, the standard iced one.
It also gives the largest print area that still gets fully seen — beyond this the cup is wide enough that a hand hides more of the design.
- Cut to your own product, not a stock size
- Board, print and finish confirmed in writing
- Delivered across the UK on national carriers
Short enquiry
Quote for This Product
Tell us the quantity and any date you are working to. We reply with the board, print and finish, plus the minimum order quantity and lead time.
Design Your Own
Design Your 16oz Paper Cups
Pick a colour, put your name on it, and see how the idea reads before you ask anyone for a price. It is a sketch rather than a manufacturing proof — the real shape is cut from the product you already serve.
Sleeve colour
Finish
A printed sleeve brands a plain cup you already buy, which is why a single site usually reaches for one before it reaches for a printed cup.
Carry this into the full designerThe full page adds the size, board, print and quantity, then sends the whole specification over in one go. Nothing is committed to at any point.
Hot Use Against Cold Use at This Size
| Hot 16oz | Cold 16oz | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | Double wall or a sleeve is close to essential | Single wall is fine |
| Lid | Sip lid | Flat or domed lid, often with a straw slot |
| Board | Standard hot cup lining | Needs to cope with condensation |
| Sleeve | For heat | For grip on a sweating cup |
| Holding time | Usually under 20 minutes | Often an hour or more |
Cafés serving both frequently use different cups rather than one 16oz for everything.
Weight Becomes Noticeable
A full 16oz drink is a substantial weight in one hand, and the cup wall has to resist being squeezed while carrying it.
Thin single-wall cups at this size can deform enough to pop a lid, which is the practical argument for a heavier construction rather than comfort alone.
For iced service, sleeves that keep grip on a sweating cold cup solve the slipperiness rather than the temperature.
Ordering, Artwork and Delivery
Getting a Quote
Tell us the volume you pour and whether you need matching lids. We reply with a written specification, the minimum order quantity and the lead time for your job.
Artwork
Cup blanks are a curved fan, so we supply a template to design on. Full file requirements are set out in our artwork guidelines.
Turnaround
Lead times depend on the print method, run length and press schedule, so we confirm yours on the quote rather than publishing a single figure.
Delivery in the UK
Orders are dispatched on national carriers to any UK address. Seedelivery information for how dates are given.
16oz Paper Cups: Common Questions
Can one 16oz cup serve both hot and cold?
It can, and plenty of sites do it to reduce stock lines. The compromise is that a hot-specified cup is heavier than a cold drink needs, and a cold-specified one may be uncomfortable with a very hot drink.
Is the print area much bigger than 12oz?
Noticeably, yes. It is also the point where a hand starts covering proportionally less of the cup, so designs get seen more completely than on smaller sizes.
Can one 16oz cup serve hot and cold?
It can, and plenty of sites do it to reduce stock lines. The compromise is a hot-specified cup being heavier than cold service needs.
Does a full 16oz cup deform?
Thin single-wall cups can, enough to pop a lid. That is the practical argument for a heavier construction rather than comfort alone.
What lid does an iced 16oz take?
Usually a flat or domed lid with a straw slot rather than a sip lid. Confirm the rim rather than the volume.
Do we need a sleeve at 16oz?
With a hot drink on a single wall, almost certainly. With a cold drink, a sleeve is for grip on a sweating cup rather than heat.
What is the usable volume?
Around 14oz with headspace. Carrying a full 16oz drink without a lid is not realistic, so allow for one.
Is this the right size for iced coffee?
It is the standard iced size for most UK cafés, and larger than most hot drinks need, which is why it straddles both.
Can we order 12oz and 16oz together?
Yes, and running them in one job shares the setup. Whether they share a lid depends on the rim rather than the volume.
Can we run one 16oz design for hot and cold?
Yes, though a hot-specified cup is heavier than cold service needs. Tell us the split and we will advise.
Prefer to Talk It Through?
Sizing questions are usually quicker on the phone, especially if you have the product in front of you.
