Paper Cup Sizes in the UK: Ounces, Millilitres and Rims

Why cup sizes confuse people

Paper cups are sold in ounces, menus are planned in millilitres and lids are made to fit a rim measured in millimetres. Three units for one cup is enough to trip anyone up.

On top of that, the ounce on a cup is a rounded label rather than an exact measure. Two cups both sold as 12oz can hold slightly different amounts and have different rims.

This guide pulls it together. It gives approximate millilitres for each size, typical rim widths and the drinks that usually go in each one.

It also explains where sizes cause problems in practice. Most sizing mistakes come from mixing up those three units, not from choosing the wrong drink.

The full size chart

The table covers our standard range from 2oz to 20oz. Capacities are approximate and measured to the brim, so the amount you actually serve will be a little lower.

Rim widths are typical figures for each size. Exact rims vary by cup build, so we confirm yours on the quote before lids are matched.

Use the usual drinks column as a starting point rather than a rule. Your recipes and serving style decide where each drink sits.

UK and US ounces are not the same

A UK fluid ounce is about 28.4ml, while a US fluid ounce is about 29.6ml. The gap is small on one ounce but grows on a big cup.

Cup makers on both sides of the Atlantic use the same size names, so the label is best treated as a size band rather than a precise volume. That is why you will see 8oz cups listed anywhere from about 227ml to about 240ml.

If an exact serve matters to you, measure it. Fill a sample cup to the level you would serve and pour it into a measuring jug.

The same applies to cups bought from different suppliers. Two 8oz cups from two makers can differ by a few millilitres, so stick with one source if consistency matters.

The coffee ladder: small, regular and large

Most UK coffee shops sell three main sizes. Small is usually 8oz, regular is 12oz and large is 16oz, with 4oz added for espresso.

Speciality cafés sometimes shift everything down a step. They pour flat whites and cortados into 6oz cups and treat 8oz as the regular, which keeps the coffee stronger.

Whichever ladder you choose, keep it consistent. Customers notice when a regular in one branch looks bigger than a regular in another.

If you are starting with only one size, make it the regular. A 12oz paper cup for regular coffees usually outsells every other size on a café menu.

• 4oz: espresso and doppio
• 6oz: cortado and flat white
• 8oz: small cappuccino and tea
• 12oz: regular latte and americano
• 16oz: large latte and iced coffee

Sizes for cold drinks and events

Cold drinks follow a slightly different pattern. Ice takes up space, so an iced coffee usually moves up a size compared with the hot version.

For squash, water and juice at events, 9oz is the common choice because it holds a generous pour without waste. Smoothie bars and shake shops tend to work at 16oz and 20oz, often with a tall milkshake cup and dome lid for thick drinks.

At the other end, water coolers in offices usually take 7oz or 9oz cups. Dental practices and bathrooms use cups as small as 3oz.

Children's parties often use 7oz or 9oz cups for squash. Small hands manage them better than a tall 12oz cup, and less gets spilt.

For tasting stands and sample tables, 2oz and 3oz cups hold about 57ml and 85ml, enough for a sip or two without waste.

Why rim size matters more than you think

Lids fit a rim, not a capacity. A lid made for an 80mm rim will not sit on a 90mm cup, however both are labelled.

Several sizes often share a rim. In many ranges 12oz, 16oz and 20oz all use a 90mm rim, so one lid covers three cups, which is why some buyers order 90mm paper cups by rim width rather than by ounce.

Fewer lid types means less stock and fewer mistakes at a busy counter. It is worth planning your size range around shared rims where you can.

How to work out the right size

You can size a whole menu in about half an hour with a jug and a list of drinks. These steps work for hot and cold drinks alike.

If you want a second opinion, our team gives free design help and will check your size plan before quoting.

Once your list is ready, send your size plan for a quote and we price each size on its own line.

1. Write down every drink you sell and how it is made.
2. Measure the finished volume of each drink in millilitres.
3. Add about 10 to 15 percent for foam, ice or toppings.
4. Match each drink to the smallest cup in the chart that holds that total.
5. Group drinks so you use as few sizes as possible.
6. Check which of your chosen sizes can share a rim and a lid.

Size and print area

A bigger cup gives you more room for artwork. A 12oz or 16oz cup has space for a logo, a pattern and a line of contact detail, while a 2oz cup really only fits a logo.

Because paper cups taper, artwork sits on a curved template that changes with each size. If you order several sizes, ask for your design resized for each one rather than stretched.

Our guide to designing a printed coffee cup explains templates and safe areas in more detail.

Very small cups also have a short wall, so keep any text large. A line that reads clearly on a 12oz cup can become a blur on a 2oz taster.

Mistakes people make with sizes

The most common is ordering every size on the chart. Most cafés need three or four, and each extra size adds another lid and another stock pile.

The second is forgetting ice. A 12oz iced latte made with plenty of ice can overflow a 12oz cup, so many cafés use 16oz paper cups for iced drinks instead.

The third is ordering lids before the rim is confirmed. Always match lids to the exact cups you receive.

Finally, think about storage. Big cups take up more shelf space in their sleeves, so a back room that holds plenty of 8oz stock may struggle with the same number of 20oz cups.

Ordering cups in the sizes you need

Every size from 2oz to 20oz can be printed with your logo, and other sizes are priced on request. Cups start from £0.25 each, with the exact figure set in a written quote.

Your free digital proof shows each size separately, and production takes 4 to 6 working days after you approve it. Tracked delivery takes 2 to 3 working days and is free anywhere in the UK.

You can browse every capacity on our paper cups by size page and compare the drinks each one suits.