Custom Printed PP Plastic Cups — America's Most Popular Cold Cup, 250 MOQ

PP combines the most important attributes for cold-drink brand operators: BPA-free by chemistry, recyclable #5, crack-resistant under impact, frozen-drink compatible, and available in the widest size range (9oz–32oz). Printed colors appear bold and saturated due to PP's slight translucency. Cost-competitive pricing at volume makes it accessible for brand programs of any size.

PP has a naturally low surface energy — inks don't bond well to it without surface preparation. Corona treatment uses high-voltage electrical discharge to oxidize the PP surface, creating chemical bonding sites that allow screen-printing inks to adhere permanently. Without it, inks on PP can peel or chip within days of service. Every PP cup we print is corona-treated before any ink is applied — this step is standard and non-negotiable.

PP is rated to about 140°F — not suitable for hot coffee or tea. The cup can soften and deform above that temperature, creating a spill risk. For hot beverages, see our paper cups (200°F) or PS cups (175°F).

Yes. Polypropylene chemistry does not use bisphenol-A at any stage of production. PP is inherently BPA-free — no special formulation or certification required. All HT Printers PP cups are BPA-free and FDA compliant for cold food and beverage contact.

PP is a flexible, semi-crystalline plastic — it flexes under impact rather than fracturing. A filled PP cup dropped from table height will generally survive without cracking. This is a significant durability advantage over PS rigid cups in high-traffic venues like stadiums, gyms, and fast-casual restaurants.

Yes — PP is recycling code #5. Curbside acceptance of #5 varies by municipality. Availability has been improving in recent years. For eco-committed brands, check local recycling program coverage for your target markets before making #5 recyclability claims to customers.

Yes. PP remains flexible at cold temperatures and doesn't become brittle when in contact with frozen beverages. This makes PP a better choice than PS for slushies, frozen lemonade, frozen cocktails, and frosted drinks.

The largest size is 32oz — available only in PP among our plastic cold cup options. The full PP size range is 9oz, 12oz, 16oz, 20oz, 24oz, and 32oz.

PET is crystal-clear (glass-like transparency) while PP is semi-translucent. PET is better when the drink color is a visual brand feature. PP is better for opaque bold-color branding and is more crack-resistant. PET has better resistance to acidic and alcoholic drinks. PP is typically less expensive at equivalent volumes. Both are cold-drink-only materials.

Not always. PP's slight translucency is enough to make most solid colors appear bold without a white underbase. For light-colored designs requiring maximum opacity on the cup's translucent surface, a white underbase may be recommended — we flag this during the free artwork review included with every order.

MOQ is 250 units per design. Volume pricing steps down at 500, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000+ units. Each unique design has its own 250-unit MOQ.

Standard lead time is 7 business days from artwork approval. Rush production (3 business days) is available for a surcharge. Most US destinations receive orders within 1–3 business days after production via ground shipping.

Yes — Pantone color matching is available on orders of 500 units or more. For orders of 250 units, we match as closely as possible to your Pantone specification using our standard ink mixing system. The free digital proof shows the expected color before production begins.