Printed cups are the dream for many cafes, but they're not the only way to brand your drinks. Custom cup sleeves put your logo on every coffee for a fraction of the cost, and they work with the plain cups you already buy.

Why sleeves are a smart first step

  • Lower cost per drink. Sleeves cost much less than fully printed cups.
  • One design fits several sizes. The same sleeve can fit more than one cup size.
  • Stock cups stay flexible. Keep buying plain cups from your usual supplier and brand them with a sleeve.
  • They insulate. Customers can hold a hot drink comfortably.

At the time of writing, our custom coffee cup sleeves start at around 11 cents each at 1,000 sleeves, and drop below 9 cents each at larger quantities.

Choose the right size

Sleeves are made to fit cup rim sizes. Standard sleeves fit common 12–20 oz paper hot cups. Before ordering:

  1. Check the rim diameter of the cups you use (90 mm and 98 mm are common).
  2. Choose the sleeve made for that rim.
  3. Test-fit if you use more than one cup size.

If you use 16 oz cups, simple hot cup sleeves are an easy add-on.

Get creative with die-cut sleeves

A die-cut shaped sleeve has a custom-shaped top edge, so your logo, a mascot or a seasonal graphic rises above the line. It's a small detail that makes people look twice, and it gets photographed.

Ideas:

  • A cat's ears for a cat cafe
  • Mountain peaks for an outdoorsy brand
  • Snowflakes or pumpkins for seasonal menus

Design tips for sleeves

  1. Make the logo big and centred on the front panel.
  2. Use the whole wrap. Add a tagline, your Instagram handle or a QR code to your menu on the back.
  3. Go bold. A sleeve is small and seen in motion, so strong colour and simple shapes work best.
  4. Try seasonal designs. Because sleeves are cheaper than cups, you can run a holiday or summer design without committing to a full cup reprint.

When to move to printed cups

Sleeves are perfect while you're growing. Many cafes move to fully printed cups when they want a cleaner look, sell lots of iced drinks (which don't need sleeves), or reach volumes where printed cups make sense. Double wall cups like our compostable double wall cups are insulated, so they don't need a sleeve at all.

The takeaway

Custom sleeves are one of the most cost-effective ways to brand every hot drink. Match the sleeve to your cup rim, design something bold, and consider a die-cut shape or seasonal design to stand out.