Comparison
Clear plastic cups that don't crack: PET or PS?
Updated
Short answer
For a clear cup that does not crack, buy PET (#1): it bends when you squeeze it and goes back to its shape. PS (#6) is stiff and clear, but it cracks or splits when you squeeze or drop it. Look for the number in the small triangle on the base. Oojami's clear cups are PET, with snap-on sip lids, 100 to a pack in 12, 16, 20 or 24 oz, and Oojami also sells a 12 oz round-bottom PET cup without lids.
PET, PS and PP side by side
| PET (#1) | PS (#6) | PP (#5) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How clear | Very clear | Very clear | Cloudy or frosted |
| Feel in the hand | Firm, bends a little | Stiff, hard | Soft, bends easily |
| When you squeeze it | Flexes, then goes back to shape | Cracks or splits | Bends and dents |
| When you drop it | Usually does not break | Can crack or break into pieces | Usually does not break |
| Common uses | Iced coffee cups, smoothie cups | Hard party cups, small tasting cups | Frosted cups, cups with a soft feel |
The short answer: PET is the clear plastic that does not crack easily. PS looks as clear, but it is brittle. PP rarely cracks, but it is not fully clear.
How to tell them apart
Look at the base. Most cups have a small triangle with a number in it: 1 is PET, 5 is PP, 6 is PS. A shop listing often names the material too.
Squeeze the empty cup. Hold it near the middle and press gently with your thumb and fingers.
- A PET cup gives a little and comes back to its shape. Squeeze hard and it can crease, but it does not split.
- A PS cup hardly moves. Press more and it can crack down the side or at the rim, often with a sharp sound.
- A PP cup bends a lot and feels soft, and the rim can fold.
Why a clear cup cracks
A cup cracks most often when it is PS, when the wall is thin, or when it gets a hard knock. Ice dropped into a cup from high up, a hard press to snap on a lid, and a fall onto a hard floor are the common causes.
Oojami's clear cups
Oojami's cups with sip lids are clear PET, BPA-free and recyclable. Each pack has 100 cups and 100 snap-on strawless sip lids. The lid's flap opens for sipping and closes to cut splashes. The cups are for cold drinks only: PET softens with heat.
| Size | Measurements from the listing |
|---|---|
| 12 oz | 3.7 in tall, 3.5 in lid, 2.4 in base |
| 16 oz | Not given |
| 20 oz | Not given |
| 24 oz | 6 3/8 in tall, 4 1/8 in top, 2 3/8 in base |
For iced coffee with a lid, the 16 or 20 oz cup leaves room for ice and milk. The 12 oz suits a small iced coffee, juice or soda. The 24 oz cup has a wide opening that takes a straw.
Clear or frosted
Clear cups show the color of the drink, the ice and any fruit. Guests can see what is in a cup. They also show water drops on the outside of a cold cup, and finger marks.
Frosted cups are usually PP. They hide water drops and finger marks, and they feel soft. But you cannot see the drink well.
Choose clear when the drink is part of what you serve: iced coffee, lemonade, a fruit drink or a layered drink. Choose frosted when you want to hide what is in the cup, or when you print a name or a logo on it.
Cups for layered drinks
A layered drink, such as an iced latte with milk at the bottom and coffee on top, shows best in a tall cup with clear sides. Pour the milk over ice first, then pour the coffee slowly over the ice. The 24 oz Oojami cup is 6 3/8 in tall, so there is room for the layers to show.
Round-bottom cups with lids
In shops, "round-bottom cups" often means U-shaped cups: cups with a curved base, sold with lids. Oojami's listing for its 16 oz cup with sip lids calls that cup U-shaped, and it comes with lids.
Oojami's round-bottom cup is a different product. It is a short, clear 12 oz PET cup with a flat base and a rolled rim, 100 to a pack. It comes without lids. The cups nest inside each other for storage. It is for cold drinks only.
If you need a lid, buy the cups with sip lids.
Other cups that can be the better buy
- Solo UltraClear: a well-known clear party cup that is easy to find in shops. A good buy for a party when you do not need lids. Check the pack for the material and for lids.
- GUSTO and Hefty Chill-To-Go: clear cold cups sold with lids. Compare the sizes and the type of lid: some come with flat lids and straws, not sip lids.
- Great Value: a store brand for clear cups. A good buy when you are already at the shop and need cups the same day.
- A reusable tumbler: the better buy for one person who has the same drink every day.
For how many cups a party needs, see our party cup guide.