PET vs PP: two plastics cover almost every cold drink cup. They look similar in a quote sheet and behave very differently in hand - one is glass-clear and rigid, the other tolerates heat and squeezing. Picking by drink, not by price, is what keeps complaints down and reorders up.
| Property | PET | PP |
| Clarity | Glass-clear, glossy | Translucent to milky |
| Rigidity | High - crisp in hand | Softer, more flexible |
| Cold performance | Excellent | Good; can stiffen in freezers |
| Heat tolerance | Low - drinks only | High - suits warm fills |
| Typical drinks | Iced coffee, smoothies, fruit tea | Bubble tea, milk tea, warm drinks |
• Drinks sold on looks: layered iced coffees, fruit teas, matcha lattes.
• Print-heavy designs - PET's clarity and gloss make one-colour logos pop.
• Premium counters where cup feel is part of the brand.
• Warm or hot fills and heat-sealing applications.
• Delivery-heavy menus - PP flexes instead of cracking in transit.
• Budget-driven high-volume programs where clarity is secondary.
| Menu item | Material | Typical size |
| Iced americano / latte | PET | 12-16 oz |
| Bubble tea with toppings | PP | 16-22 oz |
| Smoothies and acai | PET | 12-16 oz |
| Warm milk teas | PP | 12-16 oz |
Sizes run 8-24 oz with matching flat, dome and straw-slot lids. MOQ from 5,000 pcs per size; cups are produced in FDA- and ISO-certified facilities by our manufacturing partners.
Both print well. PET's clear, glossy wall suits single-colour logos; PP suits solid coverage. Send the design and we recommend the material on the mock-up.
Yes - mixed SKUs consolidate into one shipment. MOQ counts per size, from 5,000 pcs per size.
Most pick PP for warm milk teas and PET for fruit-tea lines - many shops run both. We match material per drink on request.
Send us your menu and volumes, and we will match material, size and lid per drink - quotation and mock-up within 24 hours. Contact Anna Cai, Export Manager: [email protected]. See the range on our custom cold drink cups page.
