Introduction
One of the first products I sold through print-on-demand (POD) when I started in eCommerce is mugs. I started with basic white ceramic ones, but I quickly learned there are many other options out there. Each has its own pros and cons, but you should be able to find styles that work for your shop.
The two main categories of print-on-demand mugs are ceramic and stainless steel. Designing for most styles is pretty forgiving and easy to do.
Some of the options here might also be called a tumbler, glass, or stein. I have found one or two glass ones, but they’re not as common.
The mug and tumbler examples you see here are mostly from Printful with a few options from Printify and Gooten sprinkled in. Read on for my reviews and product specs.
This post is a work in progress that I will update over time. I haven’t sold or purchased samples for every type available – and will try to make it clear which comments are based on my personal experience.
I’ve linked some of the images to listings on my etsy shop, Quirky Neighbor.
Ceramic Mugs
Classic White
These styles are by far the most common I see out there. They are a glossy white with a handle. I’ve seen the handle shape described as either a “C” or a “D” shape – guess it just depends on whether you see the side of the mug as part of it.
Variations
Based on what I’ve found, there’s two basic variations – i.e., two different sizes. I haven’t found any notable style differences between suppliers. In fact, I’ve received mugs from two different POD vendors where they both used the same brand of mug blank.
- 11 ounce (325 ml)
- Completely straight sides with no foot
- Diameter (outer): 3 3/8″
- Height: 3 13/16″
- 15 ounce (444 ml)
- Completely straight sides with a small foot
- Diameter (outer): 3 3/8″
- Height: 4 5/8″
Pros
- Popular product – everyone needs something to hold their drinks.
- Easy care for the customer: dishwasher and microwave safe. I’ve put mine through the dishwasher many times without any degradation to the designs.
- Predictable results when designing for them. The glossy white base and nature of the ceramic surface mean you get good color reproduction and clear text.
Cons
- Highly competitive product category. It can be hard to stand out in the marketplace.
- The competition means margins can be very narrow. It’s all about volume!
- Breakage during shipping. It’s a fact of life with a ceramic product. Get samples to see how your supplier packages the mugs. It might be worth paying slightly more for better packaging if it means less breakage. That being said, I’ve only had one customer order arrive broken and the supplier send out a replacement within 24 hours.
Accent or Two-Tone
The mugs I’ve seen called accent, two-tone, or combo are styles where the exterior body is white while the interior and the handle are a contrast color. They are same sizes and shapes as the classic white mugs:
- 11 ounce (325 ml)
- Completely straight sides with no foot
- Diameter: 3 3/8″
- Height: 4 5/8″
- 15 ounce (444 ml) –> NOTE: Zazzle (which is a direct-to-consumer model) is the only place so far that I’ve found the larger size
- Completely straight sides with a small foot
- Diameter: 3 3/8″
- Height: 4 5/8″
Interestingly, based on the samples I’ve received, the exterior body is more of an off-white as compared to the classic mugs.
The contrast colors available will vary by size and supplier, but these are what I’ve found so far:
- Black
- Blue (medium-light and navy)
- Yellow
- Red
- Green (lime and forest)
- Pink
- Orange
- Maroon
Pros
- A bit different from the classic white mugs. Will stand out more easily.
- Easy care for the customer: dishwasher and microwave safe.
- While not the bright white of the classic mugs, you should still get predictable results when designing for them.
- Some POD vendors actually supply the color codes for the accent colors if you want to exactly match your design to the accent.
Cons
- Same breakage concerns since a ceramic product.
- Could be a bit more challenging to design for since you need to take into account the accent color. Unless using all true neutrals, you might need a different design for each accent variation.
- Only one size available so far at most suppliers.
Black
These mugs are a glossy black in the same sizes and shapes as the classic white.
Variations
- 11 ounce (325 ml)
- Completely straight sides with no foot
- Diameter: 3 3/8″
- Height: 3 13/16″
- 15 ounce (444 ml)
- Completely straight sides with a small foot
- Diameter: 3 3/8″
- Height: 4 5/8″
I had to try a couple different suppliers to get a good sample (the first one shipped multiple broken mugs – bad packaging – so I gave up on them). So at the moment I’ve only managed to try out one design! I can tell already that designing for the black base will require some getting used to. But I like the more dramatic look.
Pros
- A bit different from the classic white mugs. Should stand out a more easily.
- Easy care for the customer: dishwasher and microwave safe.
- Multiple sizes available.
Cons
- Same breakage concerns since a ceramic product.
- Will have to design specifically for the black background. Probably won’t be able to reuse a lot of existing designs.
- More limited supplier options.
Latte Style
The so-called latte style is actually one of my favorites. It’s a bit more graceful looking than the standard styles discussed above, and I think it is very appealing to certain market segments.
These have a slightly flared shape, tapering from the top to the bottom. The handles have more of an ear shape. This option comes in a glossy white inside and outside.
Variations
The smaller size is by far the more common that I’ve found for true POD, but the larger size is out there.
- 12 ounce (355 ml)
- Diameter (at top): 3.5″ (9 cm)
- Height: 4″ (10.2 cm)
- 17 ounce (502 ml)
- Diameter (at top): 3.5: (9 cm)
- Height: 6″ (15.2 cm)
Pros
- A distinctive profile that should stand out in the marketplace.
- Easy care for the customer: dishwasher and microwave safe. I’ve put mine through the dishwasher many times without any problems.
- Multiple sizes available, although the larger is harder to find for true POD.
Cons
- Same breakage concerns since a ceramic product.
- The flared shape adds challenges to the design process. Your graphic file will be a rectangle but will be distorted when being printed to fit the shape of the mug. I’ve found they stretch along the top edge, so any distortion will become greater from bottom to top.
- More limited supplier options.
“Magic” or Color Changing
A bit of a novelty item, these mugs appear black when empty or holding a cold beverage. The body turns white when you fill it with a hot drink revealing the design.
I’ve not tried these yet, so my comments are based on supplier specifications and instructions plus information I’ve gathered from other sites.
The variations available are highly vendor specific. I’ve found both glossy and matte finishes, but the matte option solely in the 11 ounce size. So far I’ve located the 15 ounce size only in a glossy finish for POD. But otherwise the size and shape options are the same as for the classic white mugs.
Variations
- 11 ounce (325 ml)
- Completely straight sides with no foot
- Diameter: 3 3/8″
- Height: 3 13/16″
- 15 ounce (444 ml)
- Completely straight sides with a small foot
- Diameter: 3 3/8″
- Height: 4 5/8″
Pros
- A fun novelty item. Some great marketing opportunities for the right designs.
- Multiple sizes and finishes available.
Cons
- Same breakage concerns since a ceramic product.
- Not safe for the microwave or dishwasher.
- I’ve heard it can be challenging to come up with effective designs. You apparently need to avoid stark black or white because they can “ghost” spoiling the color changing effect. I suspect you would need to experiment a bit.
Other Specialty Styles
The last broad category of ceramic mugs is what I would consider novelty or specialty styles. I haven’t tried any of these yet but will update as I do so.
- Ceramic beer steins
- Set of two mugs with heart-shaped handles
- Mug shaped so the body and handle together form a heart
Stainless Steel Mugs and Tumblers
Insulated and Travel
There’s a number of styles in this category. I’ve tried two specific items so far, and I think they’re a decent representation of the broader offerings. I’ll update as I try more.
Insulated Travel Mug
This particular model has a slightly tapered shape. The plastic lid seals well and has a flip top opening for drinking. I find it fits perfectly in my car’s cup holder, which we all know is critical lol!
- Capacity: 15 ounces (440 ml)
- Diameter (at top): 3.15″ (8 cm)
- Height: 7.09″ (18 cm)
Pros
- Dishwasher safe, which is not the case with all insulated mugs and tumblers.
- Very leak resistant in my experience.
- Sturdy and functional.
- Printing around the entire mug diameter and well as edge-to-edge from top to bottom. Also see the cons.
Cons
- Not safe for the microwave.
- Design challenges because
- The tapered shape means your graphic will be distorted to fit around it.
- The design goes all the way around so you will have a seam in the back. This might or might not be a problem depending on your layout.
Tumbler
The distinction with this style is that the sides are straight in the smaller size, so it has a chunkier profile than the travel mug above. The larger size has a very slight taper. I’ve found this particular option in 10 oz and 20 oz sizes.
The lid is clear plastic that fits tightly but is only spill resistant, not spill proof. This is because there’s nothing to seal the opening for drinking. Not sure I understand this design choice, to be honest!
Variations
- 10 ounce (300 ml)
- Completely straight sides with no foot
- Diameter: 3.35: (8.5 cm)
- Height: 4.6″ (11.7 cm)
- 20 ounce (590 ml)
- Slightly tapered profile
- Diameter (top): 3.39″ (8.6 cm)
- Height: 6.78″ (17.2 cm)
Pros
- Dishwasher safe, which is not the case with all insulated mugs and tumblers.
- Sturdy and functional.
- Printing around the entire mug diameter and well as edge-to-edge from top to bottom. Also see the cons.
Cons
- Not safe for the microwave.
- Not spill proof.
- Design challenges because
- The tapered shape of the larger size means your graphic will be distorted to fit around it.
- Because the design goes all the way around you will have a seam in the back. This might or might not be a problem.
Camp Style
I’ve seen this option referred to as a camp or enamel mug. It’s made of a single layer of stainless steel with a defined lip and small, rolled-edge handle. The body and handle are a bright white enamel finish while the lip is silver.
It’s a sort of squat shape with a 12 ounce capacity. I’m not a huge fan of the style, but I’m considering putting together some designs geared toward campers or folks who are just enjoying their backyard fire pits this fall and winter.
But I definitely need to practice! My first effort wound up badly placed because of an error I made in the layout.
- Capacity: 12 oz (355 ml)
- Diameter: 3.54″ (9 cm)
- Height: 3.14″ (8 cm)
Pros
- A nice alternative to the ceramic mugs.
- Good for kids since they’re very sturdy with a smaller handle. I can see the enamel finish on stainless steel being a good marketing point as compared to plastic drink ware for parents concerned about that issue.
- Nice color reproduction because of the bright white finish.
Cons
- Not safe for the microwave or dishwasher.
- Not insulated, which could be a concern for some customers with hot drinks.
- Because the proportions are so different from other mugs, you will need designs specifically for this style.
- Some customers might find the smallish handle uncomfortable for larger hands.
Glass Mugs, Steins, and Tumblers
I’ll admit that I haven’t tried any of these items yet that I’ve found. You’ll see updates here as I check out new options. I have included some options that I’ve found only on Zazzle so far, even though they use more of a direct-to-consumer model. I continue my search for more sources!
My hesitation with these styles is that I prefer etching on glass. These are printed. I would definitely get some samples and put them through the dishwasher a bunch before offering them in my shop.
Here’s some of what I’ve found out there:
- Glass pint glasses/tumblers (multiple suppliers)
- Frosted glass mug (10 oz)
- Frosted glass mug (16 oz) that looks more like a beer stein to me
