Single wall paper cups are the workhorse of the coffee counter: one layer of paper, a rolled rim, a coating inside, and a print that carries your brand. They cost less than double wall builds, stack tighter in storage, and suit most espresso serves. This guide covers what to decide before you order - size, rim, coating, print - and the details buyers most often get wrong.
Single wall is the right build when the drink is small, hot and finished fast: espresso, cortado, flat white, tea. For 12-16 oz drinks held for a long walk, either move to double wall or plan a corrugated sleeve - a single wall cup at that size gets too hot to hold bare-handed.
• Espresso bars: 4 oz and 6 oz single wall cups cover most of the menu.
• Cafe takeaways: 8 oz and 12 oz single wall, plus sleeves for hot lattes.
• Offices and events: 8 oz single wall for water, tea and batch brew.
Cup size is quoted in ounces, but lids are matched by rim diameter in millimetres. The two common rims are 80 mm and 90 mm - they look almost identical and do not interchange. Measure a cup you already use, or tell us the drink and we recommend the size. Getting the rim right is the single cheapest way to avoid a wasted order.
| Size | Typical drink | Common rim |
| 4 oz | Espresso, tasting flights | 62 mm / 80 mm |
| 8 oz | Flat white, cappuccino | 80 mm |
| 12 oz | Latte, tea, batch brew | 90 mm |
| 16 oz | Large hot drinks (use a sleeve) | 90 mm |
The inner coating is what makes paper cup-like. Hot drink cups are usually lined with PE; aqueous (water-based) and PLA coating options are available for buyers with specific end-of-life or compliance requirements. Tell us the drink type and your market's rules, and we match the lining option - we do not make coating claims on your behalf; verification documents come from the production files with your order.
• One- or two-colour logos read cleanly on both white and kraft bodies.
• Full-wrap art suits larger cups; keep text clear of the rim and seam.
• Design on our die-cut template so the logo lands inside the safe area.
• MOQ starts from 5,000 pcs per design; a mock-up is returned within 24 hours.
MOQ starts from 5,000 pcs per design, confirmed in the quotation. Starting with one or two sizes keeps the first order simple.
Up to about 10-12 oz, most customers hold them comfortably. Above that, plan double wall or a corrugated sleeve - we supply both.
Sampling in about 7-10 days, production 15-25 days after artwork approval. Cups are produced in FDA- and ISO-certified facilities by our manufacturing partners. FOB Shantou base, CIF and DDP available on request.
Send us your sizes (or a cup you use today), your logo and the drink menu, and we reply with a build recommendation, quotation and mock-up within 24 hours. Contact Anna Cai, Export Manager: [email protected]. Browse the range on our single wall paper cups page.
