Custom Double Wall Paper Cups

Sizes and Lids

Common sizes run from small espresso cups to large takeaway lattes. Cup sizes are usually given in ounces, with each size taking a matching lid diameter. Make sure your lids match the cup rim, as a loose lid is one of the most common customer complaints. We can supply matching lids or advise on compatible sizes if you already have a lid supplier.

Many cafés use three sizes: a small cup for flat whites and cortados, a regular for lattes and cappuccinos, and a large for those who want more. Keeping two sizes on the same lid diameter simplifies stock.

Check your coffee machine and service area. Taller cups may not fit under every group head, and some cafés need a slightly shorter cup for their machine. If you know the clearance, tell us when you ask for a quote.

Matching lids are part of the experience. A well fitting sip lid with a clear click stops leaks, while a loose lid leads to spills and complaints. Always test a lid with the cup before ordering in volume. Espresso and cortado sizes are covered on our 6 oz cups for espresso page.

Printing Your Cups

The outer wall of a double wall cup is printed in full colour or spot colours, all the way around. Designs that wrap around the cup work well, as do bold logos repeated on opposite sides so the brand is visible whichever way the customer holds it. A smooth outer wall takes print well and shows colours cleanly.

Kraft-look outer walls give a natural café appearance with one or two dark inks, while white outer walls suit bright brand colours. Matt finishes look understated and feel soft; gloss gives a brighter look. Avoid placing important text too close to the rim or base, where the cup tapers and the print curves.

Cups are seen in many places: in customers' hands on the street, on office desks and in social media photos. A design that works at a glance, with a strong logo and a simple pattern, gives you the most visibility.

If you want to promote a loyalty scheme or an app, a short line or QR code on the cup reaches every takeaway customer. How inks sit on cup board is shown in our print options compared guide.

Ripple Wall or Double Wall

Ripple wall cups use a corrugated outer layer and offer similar insulation with a textured grip. Double wall cups have a smooth outer layer and a cleaner printed surface. Both remove the need for a sleeve. Choose ripple if you like the textured feel and grip, and double wall if you want a smooth, premium look for your print.

If you are moving from single wall cups with sleeves, try both styles with your regular customers. The difference in feel is noticeable, and preferences vary.

Some cafés use both: double wall cups for regular takeaway drinks and ripple cups for a premium or signature range. Either way, the cups can share a design so the brand stays consistent.

Both styles take the same lid sizes in most cases, so switching between them does not usually mean changing lids. Cafés that stay with single wall cups can add our coffee cup sleeves for single wall cups instead.

Ordering Tips for Cafés

Estimate your weekly cup use by size and order enough to cover several weeks, with some buffer for busy periods. Cups nest tightly and store well, but they still take up space in a small café. Tell us your storage limits and we can suggest a sensible order quantity.

Ask for food-contact grade board when you order; it is available on request. If you sell iced drinks too, a single wall cold cup or clear cup is usually a better choice than a double wall cup.

Keep an eye on stock levels before busy periods, when takeaway trade often rises. Reordering early avoids running out of printed cups and falling back on plain ones. Orders of four or more drinks leave the counter in our cup carriers for takeaway rounds.

Count Your Daily Cups by Size Before You Order

The right double wall order starts with your till, not the catalogue. Look at a typical week and count how many 8 oz, 12 oz and 16 oz drinks you serve, because the split between sizes decides the quantity of each cup and whether a size is worth printing at all. Most cafés find one size carries two thirds of the trade and print that one first. Then check the lids you already stock, because double wall cups share lid diameters with single wall cups and there is no need to change them. Artwork wraps around the cup, so send a vector logo and a colour, and the free proof shows the print wrapped on each size with the seam marked. A custom quote comes by email within one working day and low minimums are quoted per job. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after you approve the proof, and cartons of nested cups arrive on free tracked UK mainland delivery. Smaller serves that use the same lids are on our 90 mm cups that share lids page.