Coffee Cup Sizes and Lids: Which Lid Fits Which Cup?
The most common mistake when buying disposable coffee cups is ordering the cup and forgetting the lid, or ordering a lid that does not fit. Lids are made for a cup size, so the safest way to order is cup and lid together. Here is how the sizes line up.
Cup sizes at a glance
- 4oz espresso: espresso, macchiato and tasters. We stock 4oz white espresso cups with matching 4oz lids.
- 8oz: a small flat white or cappuccino, and a common size for hot chocolate. We stock 8oz black ripple cups, with white 8oz lids.
- 12oz: the standard regular latte or americano size. We stock 12oz white single wall cups and 12oz black ripple cups, with 12oz lids.
- 16oz: a large drink. Our brown sleeves for 12 and 16oz cups are sold together, and our 16oz cups for cold drinks are the smoothie and milkshake cups.
Browse all of them in coffee cups, lids and sleeves.
Single wall or ripple?
A single wall cup is one layer of paper, cheaper, and best paired with a sleeve for hot drinks. A ripple (or double wall) cup has an outer textured layer that insulates the hand, so you do not need a sleeve. Ripple cups feel more premium and suit busy hot-drink counters; single wall suits high volume at a lower cost.
Sleeves and holders
Brown cup sleeves are sold in two sizes: 6 and 8oz, and 12 and 16oz. If you sell two or four drinks at a time, cup holders (2-cup and 4-cup) save spills and make the order easier to carry.
Cold drinks and smoothies
For iced coffee, smoothies and milkshakes, use clear cups with dome lids rather than hot cups. Smoothie and milkshake cups come in 12oz and 16oz with matching lids, and our straws include paper and compostable styles.
Print your own brand
Cups and sleeves are the most seen items in a café. If you want your logo on them, see bespoke printing; you can start with a printed sleeve, which is the lowest-cost way to brand a drink.
How many to order
Cups come in cases of 500 or 1000. A useful rule is to count what you sell in a normal week and order enough for a month, then reorder from your account in one click. Free UK delivery, and orders by 4pm Monday to Friday go the same day.