Stadium Cup Sizes & Quantity Planning Guide (12 oz vs 16 oz vs 22 oz vs 32 oz)

People love custom stadium cups because they feel sturdy, can hold ice, and get reused! They keep your logo in someone’s hand much longer than a one-and-done cup. In most situations, 16 oz is the best stadium cup size, 22 oz is best for bars and beer pours, 32 oz is best for refills and souvenir value, and 12 oz is best for tastings and small pours.

What is a stadium cup?

Stadium cups are usually custom, reusable plastic cups that come in larger sizes. They are ideal for events with extended drink carrying and where refills are expected.

Stadium cups are a good option for tailgates, sporting events, concerts, bars, festivals, and corporate events because of their good price, size and durability.

These are stadium cup options that are more 'standard' and may have greater variety in sizes.

Stadium cup sizes: What each size is best for

Choose size based on the Drink type, Ice and Duration.

Keeping in mind that sizes may vary per product, always check the exact ounce capacity on the item page.

12 oz stadium cups

Best for Sampling, Tastings and Short Pours.

Use 12 oz best when there is a goal to have a quick distribution and want to control the portion (sampling tables, 'sip-and-walk' tastings, brand demos).

If your whole activation is sample first, also think of

16 oz stadium cups

Best All-around choice for mixed events (Soda, Water, Cocktails with Ice).

16 oz is the 'safe' default as it fits the most beverages and is the most common size. It is a good choice when there is no way to predict the type of beverage to fill it.

22 oz stadium cups

Best for Bars, Breweries and Drink Specials where Guests Expect a Bigger Pour.

22 oz is a common 'upgrade' size for beer pours, mixed drinks and events where the cup should feel like a value item.

32 oz Stadium Cups

Best for refills, long outdoor events, and souvenir-style reuse.

Pick stadium cups in 32 oz for events where the goal is to carry it all day. Think festivals and summer events, stadium tailgates, and family days.

Quick decision table: pick your size in 20 seconds

Use this table when you need a fast, logical selection without overthinking it.

Stadium cups vs other cup categories: when NOT to use stadium cups

Paper cups will give you the look and feel of an echo/coffee shop without the commitment to an event.

• Foam cups give the option of an insulated cup and a softer feel.
• Frosted plastic cups give a sleek aesthetic, perfect for weddings and other events.

How many custom stadium cups should you order?

• For seated, service events, the average is 1-2 cups per person, and for events where guests can walk and order at the bar, feel free to go a little heavier and aim for 2-3 cups per person
• For corporate events where people will drink a little and then drink water, aim for 1-1.5 cups per person
• For tailgates, sports events, or festivals where it's likely guests will refill, aim for 2 cups per person
• For bar events with drink specials and a high turnaround, go for 2-3 cups per person
• For sampling events, aim for 1 cup per sample. Alternatively, you can use sample cups.

10-15% extra should cover your staff, breakage, late arrivals, and those who want an extra cup. If the cup is designed to be a keepsake, especially 32 oz, go higher.

What to print on stadium cups (to make it easy to read at events)

Easy to Max stadium cup designs are bold, high contrast, and readable at a distance of 3-6 feet

Condensation, staked cups, and the event lighting all make it harder to read because of this.

Works the best

• Very large logos are best for brand recognition in photos
• Event name and date (if it’s a recurring event)
• QR code (as long as the QR code is large enough to scan and not wrapped over a seam)
• 1-2 ink colors for high clarity (full colors are acceptable if the design looks good)

Tips On Designing Stadium Cups

The primary message should always be where it’s visible when the cup is in someone’s hand.

• Centered Front Print: Great for photos. Ideal for brand recognition.
• Wrap Around Print: Ideal for a logo that isn’t very detailed and coverage.
• Two-sided Approach: I like to do a logo on one side, and the event URL or hashtag on the other.

Overused Stadium Cup ideas

Uninspired Filling Increases Topical Authority. Reduces buyer trust.

1. Doing a sizes page and not immediately naming a default best size (this is called a default or recommended size).2. Not correlating listing sizes to use cases (sizes are only relevant to drink type + event flow).
2. Ice omission (ice affects true capacity and guest satisfaction).
3. Overwhelming the design section with fluff instead of the readability rules.
4. Not providing the correct link to the adjacent category alternatives (paper/foam/frosted/sample).

FAQs

What stadium cup sizes are most popular?

"16 oz is the best size, and most commonly used for water, soda, and cocktails".

Should I choose a 22 oz over 16 oz for bars?

Sure, 22 oz would be better for bars and breweries, since patrons expect a bigger pour, and more beer with refills".

When is it best to select 32 oz Stadium Cups?

"Select 32 oz stadium cups when refills are expected, and it is a keepsake cup (like festivals, outdoor events, tailgates) and it is a sentimental cup".

Are stadium cups better than regular plastic cups?

"Stadium cups are better when their durability and long-term use is taken into consideration". "Standard plastic cups are better when you need a bigger variety of cup sizes".

Is it a good idea to use sample cups for stadium cup sampling?

Only if the sample is a “full drink". If it is a mini pour, then "sample cups are better and more efficient with less waste".

What if I want to spend a little more for stadium cup to look a little more premium?

You would use plastic frosted cups, where the visual style matters" (such as for events, parties, and more upscale promotions).

If I am expecting 100 guests, how many cups should I order?

The breakdown is somewhere between 150-300 cups at a 1.5-3 per person ratio. The amount is based on how many refills. Also, it's best to add 15-20 percent for a buffer.

What size is best for corporate brand awareness events?

16 oz is perfect for corporate events. It is suitable for both water and soft drinks and is easy to hold.