Printed Paper Milkshake Cups for Shake Bars and Diners

Who orders milkshake cups

Shake bars and American-style diners are the obvious buyers. For them, the cup is part of the product, and a well printed one shows up in every photo a customer posts.

Dessert parlours, waffle houses and ice cream shops also sell shakes alongside their main menu. A matching cup ties the drink to the rest of the counter.

Burger restaurants often add a shake to a meal deal. A printed cup there needs to look good beside a burger box and a fries scoop.

Pop-up stands at summer events use them too. A tall branded cup helps a small kiosk look like an established shake brand from the first day.

• Milkshake and shake bars
• American diners and burger joints
• Dessert parlours and waffle houses
• Ice cream shops adding shakes
• Seaside kiosks and food trucks

Sizes for a shake menu

Shakes are filling, so most menus run regular, large and extra large. A 12oz cup is a sensible regular, while 16oz is the size most people choose.

A 20oz cup works for sharing shakes or freak shakes loaded with sweets and cream. Leave room at the top for anything piled above the rim.

If you want to compare cup volumes in more detail, see our page on 16oz paper cups. Other sizes outside 12oz to 20oz can be priced on request.

Why double wall suits shakes

A milkshake is very cold and thick, so it sits in the cup for a while. In a single wall cup the outside can turn damp and chilly to hold.

A double wall cup adds a second layer of board around the outside. It keeps fingers drier and stops the printed surface from going soft.

Our guide to double wall cups explains the build in more detail. Single wall is still available if your shakes are served and drunk quickly at the table.

Lids, straws and toppings

The lid decides how much you can pile on top. A dome lid leaves space for whipped cream, sauce and sprinkles without squashing them.

Flat lids suit plain shakes and keep cups stackable in a carrier. Either way, the straw hole needs to be wide enough for a thick shake to come through.

Choose the lid after the cup size, as the two must fit exactly. Our page on paper cup lids that fit covers the main styles.

• Dome lid for cream and sauce
• Flat lid for plain or kids' shakes
• Straw hole sized for thick shakes
• Lid matched to your exact cup size

Designs that sell shakes

Milkshake cups are a chance to be playful. Retro diner graphics, cartoon mascots, cow print and bold stripes all suit the drink.

Some brands print a different colour for each flavour, which helps staff hand over orders without mixing them up. Pink for strawberry and brown for chocolate is easy for everyone to remember.

Keep the logo in the upper half of the cup. Hands usually wrap around the lower half, and a sleeve or carrier can cover the base. Bright white board makes neon pinks and blues stand out, which suits the classic shake bar look.

Seasonal and limited shakes

Seasonal shakes bring people back, and a special cup makes them feel worth buying. A spooky Halloween shake in an orange and black cup is easy to promote on social media.

Easter shakes suit pastel cups, and Valentine's specials suit red or pink. Keep these runs short and use your main cup for the rest of the year.

Plan seasonal cups a few weeks ahead so you are not rushing artwork at the last minute. That gives time for proof changes and production. A limited cup also gives regulars a reason to post a photo, which helps sell the shake for you.

From idea to printed cup

Milkshake orders are often full wrap designs, so the proof stage matters. You will see exactly how the artwork wraps round the cup before we print.

If you only have a rough idea, our team can help shape it into print-ready artwork. You can also test your logo on a cup with our online milkshake cup preview.

1. Choose your sizes and wall type
2. Upload your shake artwork as AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, PNG or JPG
3. We lay it out on each cup size
4. A free digital proof lands in your inbox
5. We adjust until you approve
6. Cups are made in 4 to 6 working days

Carrying shakes for takeaway and delivery

Shakes are heavy and easy to tip, so takeaway orders need a carrier. A two or four cup carrier keeps them upright in a delivery bag.

Dome lids sit taller than flat ones, so check the carrier height before a busy weekend. Our printed cup carriers can be ordered with your shake cups.

Delivery drivers also appreciate a lid that clicks firmly. A loose lid on a thick shake is the most common cause of a spill complaint. Test a full cup with its lid in your carrier before a launch weekend.

Mistakes with milkshake cups

The most frequent error is ordering lids that do not fit the cup. Always order cups and lids together and check the size on the proof.

Another is choosing a cup that is too small for a loaded shake. Toppings take up space, so size up if you serve freak shakes.

Some shops also print small text near the base. It gets hidden by hands and carriers, so it is wasted print.

Finally, think about colour against the shake itself. Thick brown chocolate can smear around the rim, so darker rim colours hide drips better than pure white.

Price, timing and returns

Printed milkshake cups start from £0.25 per cup, and your written quote confirms the exact price. Double wall and full wrap print will affect the figure.

After you approve the proof, production takes 4 to 6 working days, and tracked delivery takes 2 to 3 more. Shipping costs nothing to the UK.

Ready to price your menu sizes? Request a milkshake cup quote and tell us your sizes and lid style.

Board and lining questions

Shake bars often ask about food contact first. Food-contact board can be supplied on request for every size.

Recyclable lining options can also be quoted on request. Ask about them when you send your sizes, and we will include them in the quote.

If any cups arrive damaged or misprinted, send photos within 10 days. We will reprint or refund those cups for you.