Cup picker
Choose a bubble tea cup size
Match the cup to the drink style, topping height, lid type, and service plan before buying cases of boba cups and lids.
Good default for classic milk tea with tapioca pearls.
If you plan to seal cups, measure the outside rim before buying lids, film, or a sealer.
Choose the right bubble tea cup
Use the cup picker above as a quick planning check. It is built for home boba drinkers, pop-ups, and small shop owners comparing disposable boba cups, reusable cups, dome lids, and sealed-film setups.
For a normal first order, keep it simple:
| Use case | Practical cup choice | Lid choice |
|---|---|---|
| Classic milk tea with pearls | 16 oz clear PP or PET cup | Flat lid or sealed film |
| Fruit tea with ice | 24 oz clear PET cup | Flat lid |
| Cheese foam or whipped topping | 24 oz cup with extra headroom | Dome lid |
| Delivery or takeaway | PP or PET cup that matches your sealer | Sealed film |
| Home boba | 20-24 oz reusable cup | Wide reusable straw |
If you are opening a shop, choose the cup and lid before choosing a boba cup sealer machine. A sealer only works cleanly when the cup rim, cutter rim, and film roll match.
Bubble tea cup sizes
Most boba menus use a small set of sizes:
| Common size | Approximate volume | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| 12 oz | 350 ml | Kids drinks, samples, small hot teas |
| 16 oz | 500 ml | Classic milk tea, standard boba orders |
| 20 oz | 590 ml | Medium iced drinks, lighter topping orders |
| 24 oz | 700 ml | Fruit tea, slush, cheese foam, heavy ice |
| 32 oz | 950 ml | Jumbo drinks, usually less common |
A 16 oz cup is the easiest default for classic milk tea because the drink stays balanced after ice and pearls. A 24 oz cup works better when the drink needs space for fruit, foam, jelly, or a lot of ice.
Boba cups with lids
Boba cups with lids fall into three common groups:
| Lid type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat straw-slot lid | Standard cold drinks | Can spill if the drink is carried loose |
| Dome lid | Cheese foam, whipped cream, extra toppings | Uses more headroom and more plastic |
| Sealed film | Delivery, takeaway, poke-through straw service | Requires matching film, cup rim, and sealer |
If you are buying bubble tea cups with lids online, check that the case includes the lids. Many restaurant-supply listings sell cups and lids separately, and a lid from one cup family may not fit another.
Cup materials
PET and PP are the two most common disposable plastic materials for cold boba cups. PLA, paper, glass, and stainless steel can also work, but each has tradeoffs.
| Material | Best use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PET plastic | Clear cold drinks | Very clear, common for fruit tea and display drinks |
| PP plastic | Sealed-film milk tea cups | Often used with cup sealers and cold drink counters |
| PLA compostable plastic | Cold drinks where commercial composting is available | Check local compost rules before claiming it is compostable |
| Paper cups | Hot tea or lower-plastic service | Harder to show drink layers and may need a compatible lining |
| Glass or stainless steel | Home use and dine-in | Reusable, heavier, and not always accepted for takeaway |
Do not assume “eco-friendly” means easy to dispose of. Compostable cups usually need the right local facility, and recyclable cups still need to be clean enough for the recycling stream in your area.
Shop buying checklist
Before ordering a full case of boba tea cups, check:
- Cup volume: 16 oz, 20 oz, 24 oz, or another house size.
- Rim diameter: measure the outside rim in millimeters.
- Lid system: flat lid, dome lid, or sealed film.
- Straw fit: pearls need a wide boba straw.
- Cup material: PET, PP, PLA, paper, glass, or reusable metal.
- Drink style: milk tea, fruit tea, slush, foam, or hot tea.
- Storage space: cases of cups and lids take more room than they look like online.
- Supplier continuity: make sure replacement lids, cups, and film are easy to reorder.
For a small shop, the lowest-risk setup is one standard milk-tea cup, one larger fruit-tea cup, one matching straw size, and one supplier that can keep the matching lids or sealing film in stock.
Home bubble tea cups
For home boba, skip disposable cases unless you are hosting a party. A 20 oz or 24 oz reusable cup with a wide straw is easier to wash, easier to store, and large enough for pearls plus ice.
Glass looks better for photos, but stainless steel keeps drinks colder. If you use a sealed-lid style at home, keep pointed boba straws nearby so tapioca pearls do not clog the straw.
Frequently asked questions
What size are bubble tea cups?
Most bubble tea cups are 16 oz or 24 oz. A 16 oz cup is common for classic milk tea, while 24 oz is common for fruit tea, slush, cheese foam, and drinks with extra ice or toppings.
What size cup is best for boba?
A 16 oz cup is the best default for milk tea with tapioca pearls. Choose 24 oz when the drink has fruit tea, slush, cheese foam, whipped topping, extra ice, or several toppings.
What are boba cups made of?
Boba cups are usually PET plastic, PP plastic, PLA compostable plastic, paper, glass, or stainless steel. PET is clear and common for cold drinks. PP is common for sealed-film service. Reusable glass or stainless steel is better for home use.
Do bubble tea cups need special lids?
Yes, bubble tea cups need lids that match the rim diameter and drink style. Flat lids work for standard drinks, dome lids work for tall toppings, and sealed film works for takeaway if the cup and film match the cup sealer.
Are boba cups with lids sold together?
Sometimes. Many restaurant-supply listings sell cups and lids separately, so check the case details before ordering. A 95mm lid, for example, will not reliably fit every 16 oz cup.
What cup should I use for cheese foam boba?
Use a 24 oz cup with a dome lid for cheese foam boba. The extra headroom protects the foam and keeps the lid from pressing into the topping.
Can you use paper cups for bubble tea?
Paper cups can work for hot tea and some cold drinks, but they hide the drink layers and need a lining that can handle liquid. If you plan to seal paper cups, confirm that the cup, film, and sealer are compatible.
What is the difference between boba cups and normal plastic cups?
Boba cups are usually wider and paired with wide straws, flat lids, dome lids, or sealing film. Normal plastic cups can work for simple iced tea, but they may not fit tapioca pearls, sealed-film machines, or tall toppings.
