Kraft Paper Cups With Your Own Print

Who orders kraft paper cups

Kraft cups sell to businesses that want their packaging to look earthy and unfussy. Farm shops, delis and market traders like that the brown board matches paper bags and string-tied parcels they already use.

Event caterers order them too, because one cup design can serve tea at breakfast and squash in the afternoon. Bakeries use the small sizes for tasters on the counter.

Cafés with a rustic fit-out often switch to kraft once they notice how white cups look against reclaimed wood and exposed brick. The brown cup simply blends into the room better.

• Farm shops and delis serving drinks to go
• Street food and market stalls
• Wedding and garden party caterers
• Bakeries handing out free tasters
• Offices that want a natural look in the kitchen

How kraft differs from white board

White board reflects light, so printed colours look bright and true. Brown board absorbs some of that light, so the same ink looks darker and warmer once it is printed.

That is not a fault. It is the reason people choose kraft, and good kraft designs are built around it rather than fighting it.

If your brand depends on a precise pale shade, our white paper cups printed in full colour will hold it better.

Sizes that suit kraft cups

Most kraft orders fall between 4oz and 16oz. A 4oz cup holds about 114ml and works for samples or an espresso, while 8oz (227ml) covers a small tea or flat white.

The 12oz cup at 341ml is the everyday takeaway size in most UK cafés. A 16oz cup holds 455ml and is the one to pick for iced drinks and smoothies.

We can also quote 2oz up to 20oz, and other sizes on request, if your menu needs something unusual.

If you sell both tasters and full drinks, ordering two sizes with the same artwork keeps the counter consistent. Our UK paper cup size guide lists the millilitre figure for every size we print.

Single, double or ripple wall in kraft

A single wall kraft cup is light and cheap to store, and it is fine for cold drinks or with a sleeve for hot ones. Double wall adds a second layer of board, so customers can hold a hot drink without burning their fingers.

Ripple wall has a fluted outer layer that grips well and looks rustic in brown. Our guide to choosing single or double wall walks through the trade-offs in more detail.

Brown double wall cups feel sturdy in the hand, which suits a premium hot chocolate or a long chai. Single wall kraft is the better buy for chilled lemonade, iced tea and water at a summer fair.

Designing artwork for brown board

Keep the design simple and let the brown do part of the work. A single dark colour with your logo and website often looks more confident on kraft than a busy full colour layout.

We print in CMYK or Pantone, on one side, two sides or a full wrap. Send AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, PNG or JPG files and our team will help with layout for free.

1. Pick one or two dark ink colours from your brand
2. Decide whether the logo sits on one side or wraps round
3. Leave clear brown space around the logo so it breathes
4. Send your file and check the free digital proof
5. Ask for changes until the proof looks right

Lids, sleeves and carriers for kraft cups

Black lids look sharp on brown board, while white lids give a softer, café style finish. Match the lid to the rim size of your cup, not just the ounce size, because two 12oz cups from different ranges can have different rims.

A plain or printed sleeve helps single wall cups with hot drinks. Browse our printed sleeves for hot cups if you want the sleeve branded too.

Using kraft cups at events and markets

Outdoor events are where kraft cups earn their place. They look at home on a wooden trestle table, and a stack of them on a stall is easy to read from a distance if the logo is bold.

For a one day event, print the event name and date alongside your logo. For a regular market pitch, keep the design timeless so leftover stock is still useful next month.

Brown cups also hide the small scuffs that come from being packed into a van and set up in a field. White cups show every mark, while kraft keeps looking tidy through a long day of service.

Kraft cups, kraft coffee cups and brown cups

We sell three brown looking cups, and they are easy to confuse. This page covers general kraft cups for any drink or small food, printed with whatever design you like.

Our kraft coffee cups are set up around hot drinks, with lid and sleeve choices geared to a coffee counter. Brown paper cups may use white board printed in a brown shade, which gives a smoother, more even finish than natural kraft.

If you are torn, tell us what you mainly serve and we will point you at the right one in your quote.

Recycling and food contact questions

Kraft board looks natural, but every cup still needs a lining so it can hold liquid. Ask about our recyclable lining options when you get your quote, and we will explain which one fits your drinks.

Food-contact board is also available on request for cups used with food samples. You can read more in our guide to recyclable paper cups, which covers what local collections tend to accept.

Common mistakes with kraft cup orders

Most problems come from treating kraft like white board. Checking your proof with the brown background in mind saves a lot of disappointment.

If you are unsure, our team can mock up two versions on the proof so you can compare them side by side. You can start an order with your logo and mention both ideas.

• Choosing pale pastel inks that vanish on brown
• Using thin script fonts that break up on textured board
• Expecting yellow or orange to look as bright as on white
• Ordering lids by ounce size without checking the rim
• Printing a date on stock meant to last months

From proof to delivery

Once you approve your proof, production takes 4 to 6 working days. Tracked delivery then takes 2 to 3 working days and is free anywhere in the UK.

Prices start from £0.25 per cup and are confirmed in your written quote. If a misprint or damage turns up, report it within 10 days with photos and we will reprint or refund.