Paper Cup Sizes: 8oz, 12oz, 16oz & 20oz Explained
Not sure which cup size fits your menu? This guide breaks down four popular paper cup sizes for cafés, restaurants, food trucks, and events across Canada — and what each one is best for.
Compare All Four Sizes
Memo Cups produces single-wall and double-wall paper cups in four core sizes. The 8oz cup uses an 80mm lid, while the 12oz, 16oz, and 20oz cups use a 90mm lid.
Espresso drinks, cortados, hot chocolate, kids' drinks, and tasting samples.
Lattes, cappuccinos, drip coffee, hot tea, and most everyday café orders.
Large lattes, drip coffee to-go, iced drinks, soups, and event service.
Cold brew, iced tea, lemonades, smoothies, and extra-large to-go drinks.
8oz Paper Cups
The 8oz cup is the standard for espresso-based drinks where the ratio of coffee to milk matters. Cortados, macchiatos, flat whites, and small cappuccinos all sit comfortably in an 8oz cup. It's also the go-to size for kids' hot chocolate and tasting flights.
Pairs with an 80mm lid.
12oz Paper Cups
The 12oz cup is the workhorse of most Canadian cafés. It fits a standard latte, cappuccino, drip coffee, or hot tea — and it's the size customers reach for most often. If you're only printing one cup size to start, this is usually the one.
Pairs with a 90mm lid.
16oz Paper Cups
The 16oz cup is built for large drinks — big lattes, drip coffee to-go, iced beverages, and soups. It's also a popular choice for event caterers serving hot drinks at conferences, weddings, and markets.
Pairs with a 90mm lid.
20oz Paper Cups
The 20oz cup gives customers extra room for cold brew, iced tea, lemonade, smoothies, and other high-volume drinks. It also works well for extra-large hot beverages and busy venues where generous serving sizes are expected.
Pairs with a 90mm lid.
Lids & Sleeves
Every Memo cup has a matching lid and optional sleeve. The 80mm lid fits the 8oz cup, while the 90mm lid fits the 12oz, 16oz, and 20oz cups — so you only need to stock two lid sizes to cover all four cups. Sleeves are available plain or custom-printed with your brand.
How to Choose the Right Size for Your Business
- Specialty café — start with 8oz and 12oz to cover espresso drinks and standard lattes
- Drip coffee shop or roaster — 12oz and 16oz cover most to-go orders
- Food truck or quick-serve — 12oz is the safest single-size choice
- Event caterer — 12oz for hot drinks, with 16oz and 20oz for larger cold drinks
- Brewery taproom or restaurant — 16oz and 20oz work well for high-volume beverages
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