Custom Containers

Cold Cup Boxes

Made-to-order cold Cup Boxes in single-wall pe-lined paperboard, printed to your artwork and cut to your dimensions.

Minimum order
100 units
Production
3–5 business days
Construction
paper cup
Delivery
US, UK, Canada, Australia

No obligation

Price it for service volumes

Name, email, phone and what you are packing and the volumes you run. Attach artwork if you have it. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.

The more detail you give, the more accurate the quote.

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PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP or ZIP. Up to 5 files, 10 MB each.

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    What cold cup boxes have to cope with

    Cold Cup Boxes hold a stack of nested cold cups, either for retail sale or for delivery to a service counter. That is the starting point for the specification, because nest the actual cups and measure that stack. Nesting depth varies with the taper and it is not something that can be calculated from the cup height.

    In service they are used for foodservice supply and cash-and-carry, where cartons are stacked on racking and opened progressively.

    Where cold cup boxes are actually used

    Cold Cup Boxes are specified for foodservice supply and cash-and-carry, where cartons are stacked on racking and opened progressively. Nest the actual cups and measure that stack. Nesting depth varies with the taper and it is not something that can be calculated from the cup height.

    • Foodservice supply and cash-and-carry, where cartons are stacked on racking and opened progressively
    • Coffee shops and cafés
    • Quick-service restaurants
    • Events and catering

    The substrate for cold cup boxes

    C-flute corrugated with an end-opening dieline, so cups can be drawn from one end without collapsing the carton.

    The options we would consider for this format are below; nest the actual cups and measure that stack. Nesting depth varies with the taper and it is not something that can be calculated from the cup height.

    • Single-wall PE-lined paperboard
    • Double-wall paperboard
    • PLA-lined compostable board
    • Ripple-wall board

    Printing cold cup boxes

    Print the count, size and lid compatibility on the end panel — that is the face that shows on a shelf of stacked cartons.

    Offset lithography, Flexography, Digital press are all available for this format. Run length usually decides which is cheapest: digital removes the plate cost on short quantities, offset and flexo overtake it at volume.

    Finishing cold cup boxes

    Print the count, size and lid compatibility on the end panel — that is the face that shows on a shelf of stacked cartons.

    Each finish below is a separate pass on the press or the finishing line, which is why they are quoted individually rather than bundled.

    • Matte outer
    • Gloss outer
    • Uncoated kraft outer
    • Soft-touch outer

    Sizing cold cup boxes

    Set by the nested stack height, which is far less than the cups added together — 50 nested 16 oz cups run around 20 in, not 50 cup heights.

    Send the contents rather than a box size. The carton is sized from a rough estimate of the stack rather than from a measured nested stack, so the count per carton is wrong.

    Holding cold cup boxes before service

    The stack telescopes out of the carton end in transit and the rims deform, which means the cups no longer seat properly in a lid.

    Paperboard also absorbs moisture from the air until it equalises with its surroundings. If stock sits more than about six weeks in unconditioned space, a moisture-resistant coating is worth its small premium.

    Preparing artwork

    Cup artwork is built on a fan-shaped dieline. Keep type at least 6 mm from the top rim and bottom curl, and expect slight distortion at the seam.

    Supply a print-ready PDF or vector file with fonts outlined and images at 300 dpi. Our prepress team checks every file before a proof is issued. The check that catches most files is type sitting too close to a crease, which is easier to move at layout than at proof.

    From enquiry to delivery

    Tell us what goes inside, how many you need and when. Those three answers are enough for us to specify and price the job properly.

    You approve the quote, we send the dieline, prepress proofs it, and production follows. The proof stage is where changes are still free.

    Checking it before you commit

    A plain structural sample is the cheapest way to find a fit problem — far cheaper than finding it across a full run.

    Sample costs are normally credited against the production order.

    Reference

    Cold Cup Boxes at a specification level

    ProductCold Cup Boxes
    CategoryCustom Containers
    ConstructionPaper cup
    LiningPE or PLA liquid barrier
    RimRolled rim, lid-compatible
    WallSingle, double or ripple wall
    MaterialsSingle-wall PE-lined paperboard, Double-wall paperboard, PLA-lined compostable board, Ripple-wall board
    PrintingOffset lithography, Flexography, Digital press
    FinishesMatte outer, Gloss outer, Uncoated kraft outer, Soft-touch outer
    Minimum orderMinimum order is 100 units on any format, and unit cost falls sharply as the quantity rises.
    Lead time3 to 5 business days after artwork approval
    ShippingAcross the US, UK, Canada and Australia

    Specification builder

    Specify Cold Cup Boxes in under a minute

    Set what you know, leave the rest. Everything here travels with your request, so nothing gets retyped.

    • 100-unit minimum
    • 3–5 day production
    • Free dieline
    • No obligation
    Approximation only — proportions, colour family and finish character. Not a colour proof, and the panel shown is a placeholder, not your artwork.
    Packaging type
    Box style
    Quantity
    Colour
    Material
    Printing
    Finish

    Drop files or browse

    Up to 5 files, 10 MB each.

      Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity.

      What you get

      Why buyers specify this format

      Sized to the contents

      Set by the nested stack height, which is far less than the cups added together — 50 nested 16 oz cups run around 20 in, not 50 cup heights.

      The failure we design out

      The stack telescopes out of the carton end in transit and the rims deform, which means the cups no longer seat properly in a lid.

      What it is specified for

      Specified for foodservice supply and cash-and-carry, where cartons are stacked on racking and opened progressively.

      The detail that matters

      Nest the actual cups and measure that stack. Nesting depth varies with the taper and it is not something that can be calculated from the cup height.

      This format sits in our custom containers range, alongside 2 other made-to-order formats.

      Answers

      Ordering cold cup boxes: the usual questions

      Specification, minimums and lead times for cold cup boxes.

      How do I work out how many cups fit in a carton?

      Nest a stack and measure it — the taper means nesting depth is only a fraction of the cup height, and it differs between cup designs. Send us a nested stack of the actual cups and we will size the carton and confirm the count per case.

      Are these food-contact compliant?

      We specify food-contact compliant boards and inks where the pack touches food directly. Tell us whether contact is direct or through a liner for cold cup boxes, because it changes which stocks are available to you.

      How do you stop grease showing through?

      A grease-resistant coating or a greaseproof liner. Untreated board will always strike through eventually with hot, oily food — that is a property of the material rather than a quality fault, and it is inexpensive to design out.

      Will these survive cold storage?

      With the right adhesive, yes. Standard carton glue becomes brittle in sustained cold and a seam that is sound at room temperature can crack when handled cold. A cold-tolerant adhesive costs very little and prevents it.

      Are these suitable for hot and cold drinks?

      The wall construction and the lining differ between the two. A cup specified for hot service will sweat with a cold drink, and a cold cup will not insulate. Tell us which service you need, or both if you want a single stock item.

      Can you hold the specification for repeat orders?

      Yes. Once a first run is approved we hold the board, structure, dimensions, print method and finishes against your account, so a reorder references the same specification exactly rather than being re-derived. The board and coating are held together, so a reorder cannot quietly arrive on a stock with different grease resistance.

      Do you offer recycled or recyclable options?

      Recycled grades are available across most of the substrates we run for paper cups. Recycled content, kerbside recyclability and certified compostability are three different claims though, so tell us which one you intend to print.

      What file format should I send artwork in?

      A print-ready PDF or a vector file, with fonts outlined and any raster images at 300 dpi at final size. We supply the dieline to design onto, and prepress checks bleed, safe area and crease clearance before issuing a proof. The dieline we supply carries the crease positions, so keeping type clear of a crease is easier to solve at layout than at proof.

      What is the minimum order for cold cup boxes?

      A flat 100 units on any format. Most paper cups in this range are quoted from 100 units upward because unit cost falls sharply above that, but the minimum exists so you can validate a structure first.

      How long do cold cup boxes take to produce?

      3 to 5 business days after artwork approval, plus freight. Paper cup runs with applied finishes can take longer because each finish is a separate pass, and we confirm a firm date in writing with the quote.

      What do cold cup boxes cost?

      Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. For this format the biggest levers are quantity, print route, board grade and how many finishing passes are involved. We quote each element separately so you can see where the money is going. Finishing passes are the lever buyers most often underestimate: each one is a separate run through the line.

      Can I see a sample first?

      Yes. We can send a plain unprinted sample so you can check the fit and structure, or a printed prototype for colour and finish. Sample costs are normally credited against the production order. Worth running a few through your actual line rather than checking them by hand: fill speed and hot contents find fit problems that a desk check does not.

      Next step

      Start on Cold Cup Boxes

      Send the fill size and the volumes you run. We reply with a full specification and a written price, usually within one business day.