Quick answer
For most tea-serving situations, you need both cups and lids, but the choice depends on whether you prioritize spill prevention or cost efficiency.
Why you might need both
The 16 oz Paper Cups are designed for hot tea and come with recognizable DAVIDsTEA branding, making them ideal for cafes or events where presentation matters. However, lids are sold separately, so you must decide if the added cost and spill protection are worth it for your setup.
If you serve tea for on-the-go customers or outdoor events, lids are essential to prevent spills. For stationary service where drinks are consumed immediately, cups alone may suffice, saving you the extra expense.
Cost and quantity considerations
A case of 384 cups costs USD 82.80, while a case of 1000 lids costs USD 37.00. The lid case provides more than double the quantity at less than half the price, which might seem like a better deal. However, you need to match lid quantity to cup usage—if you only use 384 cups, you'll have leftover lids unless you plan for future events.
The price per cup is roughly USD 0.22, and per lid is USD 0.037. Lids are significantly cheaper individually, but the total investment for a complete set (cups + lids) is USD 119.80 for 384 servings.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Spill prevention vs. cost: If you serve tea to-go or outdoors, lids are necessary to avoid messes. If you serve at a sit-down event, you can skip lids and save USD 37.00.
- Branding vs. neutrality: DAVIDsTEA-branded cups add recognition for your business. Lids are unbranded, so they don't reinforce your brand but keep the tea contained.
- Quantity mismatch: A case of cups (384) and a case of lids (1000) don't match. You'll have extra lids for future use, but it's a larger upfront investment. Consider buying multiple cup cases to use all lids, or start with one cup case and order lids later as needed.
Product facts at a glance
-
16 oz Paper Cups: A case of 384 recyclable 16 oz hot cups with teal DAVIDsTEA branding. The branding adds a professional touch for cafes or events, but you must buy lids separately, increasing total cost.
16 oz Paper Cups
-
Lids for 16 oz Paper Cups: A case of 1000 recyclable lids designed for 16 oz paper cups. Lids prevent spills during transport, but you get over 2.5 times more lids than cups in a case, so plan your quantities carefully to avoid waste.
Lids for 16 oz Paper Cups
Which option fits you?
Best for
- Cafes and events serving tea to-go where spill prevention is critical
- Businesses wanting branded cups for customer recognition
Not ideal for
- Budget-conscious setups where drinks are consumed on-site and spills are unlikely
- Single events where you need exactly matched cup and lid quantities without leftovers
