Branded Cups UK: The Complete Buying Guide
Branded cups are reusable, UK-made polypropylene cups printed with your logo or artwork for festivals, stadiums, weddings and corporate events. They come in 330 ml to 1,100 ml sizes, in full-colour IML or single-colour print, from £0.33 per cup with a minimum order of 50. Every cup is UKCA marked and dishwasher-safe.
This is a buyer's guide, not a sales page. If you are specifying branded cups for an event or a brand activation, here is how the sizes, print methods, pricing and lead times actually work — from a manufacturer that has been printing them in the UK since 2017.
What counts as a "branded cup"
A branded cup is a reusable cup carrying your design as part of the cup itself, not a throwaway with a sticker. We mould ours from rigid polypropylene (PP) and print them in-house, so the branding is durable, washable and event-ready. The point is reach: a well-printed cup stays in someone's hand for hours and goes home in the bag afterwards, which is more than most promotional giveaways manage.
Print options: full-colour IML vs single-colour
How you print is the single biggest decision:
- Full-colour IML (in-mould labelling): the artwork is fused into the cup wall during moulding — edge-to-edge, photographic, and wash-proof. This is the festival-grade finish you see at major events. Best for sponsor branding, gradients and photography.
- Single-colour print: a cleaner budget route for a straightforward logo or wordmark, where cost matters more than a full wrap.
Both survive commercial dishwashers, which matters if the cups are reused across a multi-day event.
Sizes and specs
Every size is UKCA marked with the correct gauge line, dishwasher-safe and stackable for transport:
| Cup | Capacity | Material | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half pint | 330 ml (360 ml max fill) | PP, BPA-free | Wine, spirits, kids' events |
| Pint to line | 568 ml (legal pint) | PP, BPA-free | Beer, cider, general bar |
| Pint to brim | 600 ml | PP, BPA-free | Soft drinks, mixers |
| Two pint | 1,100 ml (32 oz) | PP, BPA-free | Festivals — fewer bar trips |
What branded cups cost
Pricing is per unit and improves with volume, from £0.33 per cup at scale with a minimum order of 50. As a guide, a full-colour half-pint starts at £1.42 each at 50 and a two-pint at £2.95 each at 50, both dropping steadily through the quantity breaks. There is no separate setup fee. The full per-size, per-quantity table is in the branded cup pricing and MOQ guide.
Artwork and turnaround
Send vector artwork (AI, EPS, PDF) or high-resolution files; we supply a print template for your chosen size and proof the design before anything runs. Standard production works to schedule, with 48–72hr express available on urgent jobs because everything is made in-house in the UK — no import lead times to wait on.
Where branded cups get used
The right cup depends on the occasion:
- Events and weddings — matching cups as favours, bar cups and keepsakes. See branded cups for events and weddings.
- Festivals and stadiums — reusable schemes with sponsor branding, usually two-pints to cut bar queues.
- Corporate and hospitality — launches, conferences and venue stock that keeps a logo visible for a full day.
Branded cups vs other promotional merchandise
Most promotional merch is glanced at once and drawered. A branded cup gets used — repeatedly, in public, at exactly the moment people are relaxed and social. For a straight comparison against pens, totes and the usual giveaways, see branded cups vs promotional merch.
Why buy from a UK manufacturer directly
Buying direct from the factory — rather than a reseller importing stock — means keener pricing, no import delays, and one team owning the moulding, printing and dispatch. We have done it from the UK since 2017, and we store and ship from here too. To see what that looks like in practice, the branded cups case studies show real event rollouts.
Frequently asked questions
What are branded cups made of?
Food-safe, BPA-free polypropylene (PP) — rigid, reusable, dishwasher-safe and UKCA marked.
What is the minimum order?
50 cups, with no separate setup fee. Unit price improves at each quantity break.
Full colour or single colour — which should I choose?
Full-colour IML for sponsor branding, photography or gradients; single-colour for a simple logo on a tighter budget.
How fast can I get branded cups?
Standard production runs to schedule, with 48–72hr express available on urgent orders, all UK-manufactured.
What sizes are available?
330 ml half pint, 568 ml pint, 600 ml pint-to-brim and 1,100 ml two pint.
Are they reusable and dishwasher-safe?
Yes — rigid PP built for repeated use and commercial dishwashers.