Disposable soup cups come in different sizes and types, so choosing the right one for your menu isn’t always straightforward. You’ll need to consider factors such as portion size, order volume, material, and what your customers prefer.
According to a study, Americans eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup each year; choosing the right disposable soup cup can make a big difference in keeping portions consistent, preventing spills, and giving customers a convenient experience.
In this guide, we’ll break down the most common disposable soup cup options and help you choose the right one for your business.
Common Soup Cup Sizes and What They're Best For
The size of the cup you choose has a lot to do with the type of soup on your menu and how customers order. Here are the sizes most restaurants and cafes work with:
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8 oz cups: the smallest of the bunch, these work well for kids' portions, side servings, or a "cup of the day" that pairs with a sandwich or salad combo. If you sell miso or a light broth as a starter, this size fits the bill.
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10 oz cups: sit between a side and a full lunch portion. They're useful for smaller lunch specials, appetizers, or when you want an in-between option that doesn't feel too small.
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12 oz cups: the standard "cup of soup" size in most delis and cafes. This is the go-to for lunch combos and soup-and-sandwich pairings.
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16 oz cups: what most people picture when they hear the word "bowl." Chowders, chilis, stews, and heartier soups fit best in this size, and it's the right choice when soup is the main course.
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20 oz cups: for bigger appetites. Ramen, pho, and noodle-heavy soups need the extra room so nothing spills over when you add toppings or garnishes.
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32 oz cups: quart-sized and made for family meals, catering orders, or shops that sell soup by the quart for customers to take home.
Standardizing on two or three sizes is usually enough. It keeps your inventory simple, reduces lid mix-ups, and speeds up the pack station during a lunch rush.
The Main Types of Disposable Soup Cups
Not every soup cup is built the same. The material you pick affects heat retention, leak resistance, and how the cup looks when it lands in a customer's hands.
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Double-poly paper cups: the workhorse of the industry. They have a poly lining on both the inside and outside, which keeps hot broth from soaking through and stops the cup from getting soggy. A helpful bonus is that cups labeled as "yogurt/soup" cups are built to handle both cold and hot, so a frozen yogurt shop can use the same cup for its soup menu without stocking two separate items.
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Polypropylene (PP) plastic containers: microwave-safe and hold up well when customers reheat leftovers at home. Some styles are see-through too, which helps for grab-and-go coolers where the customer wants to see what's inside.
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Kraft paper cups: have a natural, unbleached look. They read as more eco-friendly to customers and photograph well on social media, which is worth thinking about if your brand leans that way.
Foam cups used to dominate the market, but a lot of cities have banned them, and customers have moved on. Most operators today skip them entirely.
What to Check Before You Place a Bulk Order
Buying disposable cups in bulk is a real investment, so here are the things to check before ordering in bulk:
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Lid fit: cups and lids are measured in millimeters at the rim (90mm, 98mm, and 127mm are common sizes). Always order lids from the same supplier as the cups, and confirm the mm size, because a lid that's even slightly off will leak.
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Heat rating: for hot soup, look for double-poly paper or PP. Cold cups made from PET are not built to hold hot liquids and can warp on contact.
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Practical fill: a "16 oz" cup only holds 16 oz filled to the brim, which you should never do with soup. Plan on filling most cups about three-quarters full so the lid seals cleanly and nothing sloshes in transit.
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Case count: cases usually come in 500 or 1,000 units. Match your order to weekly volume so you're not tying up storage space or running out mid-week.
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Reorder consistency: small differences between production batches can throw off your lid fit. Stick with one supplier once you find cups that work.
How Branding Helps Turn Custom Printed Soup Cups into a Marketing Tool
Why Branded Soup Cups Work
A plain white cup does the job. A branded cup does the job and reminds every customer who they bought from.
Adding your logo, tagline, or a small design turns a single-use cup into cheap, repeated brand exposure, especially when the customer walks around the office with it or posts a picture on Instagram.
The Catch with Custom Printing
The catch with custom printing is usually the design work. Most shops don't have a designer on staff, and hiring one for a single cup order isn't practical.
Conclusion
Picking the right disposable soup cup means matching the size to your menu, choosing a material that holds hot liquid without warping, and pairing every cup with the right lid. Get those calls right, and your to-go program runs smoother.
Carryout Supplies stocks soup cups in every standard size, all with matching lids, plus free in-house design if you want your logo printed on them. Head over to browse what fits your menu.
