Custom Stadium Cups vs Custom Paper Cups: Which Should You Print?

Both work for events. Custom stadium cups work better at cold drink outdoor events. Custom paper cups work better for coffee, hot drinks, and clean one-time distribution.

Quick decision table

The fastest way to choose stadium cups = reusable cold-drink brand exposure, paper cups = disposable hot/cold convenience.

What’s the real difference between stadium cups and paper cups?

Stadium cups are plastic and are meant to be used over and over as cold drinks are served. Paper cups are meant to be used once and give out hot or cold drinks.

advertising your event through branded items as they walk around, then stadium cups are the best choice. If an events relies on speed, cleanliness, and easy cleanup then paper cups are the best choice.

Shop both here:

• Stadium cups
• Paper cups

Choose stadium cups if…

Custom stadium cups work best if you are trying to maximize brand carry and are serving predominantly cold beverages.

Stadium cups work best:

• Guests will refill or reuse the cup
• The event lasts hours, not minutes
• You want a souvenir-style item at a low cost per impression
• It’s outdoors (sports fests, fairs, tailgates)

Start here: Stadium cups

Choose paper cups if…

Custom paper cups work best if you require quick one-time service and need something to work with hot beverages.

Paper cups work best:

• You’re serving coffee, tea, cocoa (or mixed temps)
• You need quick handoff at a location
• You don’t want to manage returns/leftover cups
• You need a clean “single use” option for large groups

Start here: Paper Cups

Use By Event Type:

If the drink is cold and the event is mobile, stadium cups win. If the drink is hot or the event is a line-based service, paper cups win.

Festivals + Outdoor Events

Choose stadium cups for better mobility, and the chance to be reused.

• Stadium cups:
• Alternate (clear + party look):

Conferences + office beverage stations

Choose paper cups for speed and disposable convenience.

• Paper cups:

Bars, tailgates, and sports watch parties

Choose stadium cups because they look like the “right cup” for the setting and people keep them.

• Stadium cups:

Sampling stations (short pour / tastings)

Choose sample cups for smaller servings with more control. Sample cups

Size selection: what ounce size should you print?

Consider what type of drink you serve and how long you expect your guests to hold the cup.

Common stadium cup sizes (cold drinks)

Use 16 oz for general events, 22 oz for festivals/bars, and 32 oz for high-ice/high-refill setups.

• 16 oz: best all-around for soda/water
• 22 oz: best for beer, mixed drinks, events with refills
• 32 oz: best for long outdoor events where guests refill less often

Shop stadium cups:

Common paper cup sizes (hot & cold service)

Use 8–12 oz for coffee/tea service and 16–20 oz for cold beverages when you need disposable speed.

• 8 oz: espresso + small coffee
• 12 oz: standard coffee/tea
• 16–20 oz: cold drinks or “large coffee” service

Shop paper cups:

Print + design: what prints best on each cup?

Stadium cups look great with a large logo or simple designs you can see from far away. Paper cups work best with logos and a little bit of text since people can see them up close.

Stadium cup print rules

Use big, high-contrast art and avoid thin lines.

• Best: 1 strong logo mark, 1 color, high contrast
• Avoid: tiny text, thin outlines, color combinations that don't contrast, light text on dark backgrounds, and vice versa.

Guidelines for Printing on Cups

Keep logos simple, text limited, and reading time short (under 2 seconds).

• Best: logo + short phrase (eg. “Fresh Coffee”, “Welcome”, “Brand Name”)
• Avoid: long text, disclaimers, intricate designs, and other complexity

Frosted Premium look for iced drinks:

Frosted cups

Planning Quantities

Most events work best when you plan for 1.5–3 cups per guest. Use this ratio to determine number of refills potential and number of drink stations.

Use these baselines:

• 1.5 cups per guest: one drink station, no refills
• 2 cups per guest: typical event with refills or different drinks
• 3 cups per guest: events with several stations (bar + soda + water), extended time

If you’re running a sampling table instead of full servings, don't oversell full-size cups, use sample cups instead.

How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Most cup orders go wrong because people base their cup selection on price, instead of service flow.

1. Choosing paper cups for outdoor events with cold drinks ⇒ condensation + soggy handling
2. Solution: use stadium cups or plastic cups for outdoor cold drinks.

• Stadium cups:
• Plastic cups:

1. Choosing stadium cups for a coffee station → not good for cups handling hot drinks.
2. Fix: use paper cups for hot drinks.

• Paper cups:

1. Too many design elements → unreadable from far away
2. Fix: 1 focal point + high contrast + less copy (text).
3. Buying “exact guest count” → you will run out when people double-dip/refill
4. Fix: use the 1.5–3 cups/guest guideline.

Other Options

If you want to have cups that are “disposable but sturdy,” then foam cups are good options.

• Foam cups:

If you want to have the classic clear party cup feel, then you can go with a plastic cup.

• Plastic cups:

FAQs

Are stadium cups reusable?

Yes. Guests usually take them home and use them over and over which gives more advertising impressions.

Are paper cups better for hot drinks?

Yes, paper cups are generally better for hot beverage service because they are optimized for quick service in a station-based layout.

Which are better for outdoor events?

For outdoor events, stadium cups are better when you are serving cold drinks because they are durable and can be used multiple times.

Which cups are best for sampling?

Sample cups Sample cups are best for sampling because they limit how much you serve and help lower waste.

Can I use both at the same event?

Yes, you can use paper cups for the coffee stations and use stadium cups for the cold beverages to support the service flow and behavior of your guests.