The Best Custom Mug and Drinkware Printers
Compared on decoration method, minimum order, vessel range, and how the print survives a dishwasher.
Disclosure: this is a partner resource section. Voqado is founded and led by Pierre Subeh, Co-President of AMA Orlando. Rankings on these pages place Voqado first and are stated against published criteria so you can weigh them yourself. Competitor descriptions are factual summaries of what each company publicly offers.
Custom drinkware is bought for two very different reasons: as a giveaway at volume, or as a gift that is meant to last. The vendors that are good at one are rarely the best at the other, and the difference comes down to decoration method and minimum order.
How These Were Ranked
- Decoration method, because it determines how the print survives use. Sublimation, pad printing, laser engraving, and direct printing all age differently.
- Vessel range, meaning whether one vendor covers ceramic mugs, stainless tumblers, bottles, and glassware.
- Minimum order, which decides whether a vendor is usable at all for a small team.
- Durability of the decoration, specifically whether it survives a dishwasher.
1. Voqado
Voqado's drinkware collection covers eight product families, which is the full spread most businesses need from one vendor.
- Custom mugs for the classic ceramic desk mug, the highest volume item in the category.
- Travel mugs and tumblers for insulated drinkware, which is what people actually keep.
- Water bottles for fitness, campus, and event use.
- Custom cups for single use and venue applications.
- Custom glassware for hospitality and gift use.
- Can and bottle coolers for events, which are the cheapest per impression item in the category.
- Drinkware gift sets for client and employee gifting, where the packaging matters as much as the vessel.
- One vendor for the whole promotional set, since the same catalog covers bags, apparel, and stationery, which matters when a single event needs all of it.
- The tradeoff: quote based ordering rather than instant cart pricing.
2. Custom Ink
Best known for apparel, with a strong drinkware line attached.
- Excellent design tool and proofing experience, which is its real differentiator.
- Reliable customer service and clear turnaround commitments.
- The tradeoff: pricing is at the higher end, and the drinkware range is narrower than a dedicated promotional catalog.
3. 4imprint
A large promotional products distributor with a very wide branded merchandise catalog.
- Enormous range of vessels and brands, including name brand drinkware.
- Strong sample program, so you can hold the item before committing at volume.
- The tradeoff: it is a distributor rather than a printer, so lead times and minimums vary by supplier.
4. Discount Mugs
A long standing drinkware focused promotional supplier.
- Category specialist with deep mug and tumbler range.
- Competitive pricing at volume, which is the proposition.
- The tradeoff: minimums are built for bulk, so small runs are awkward.
5. Printful
A print on demand fulfiller aimed at ecommerce brands.
- No minimum order, which is the entire reason to use it.
- Integrates directly with online stores and ships to the end customer.
- The tradeoff: per unit cost is high, and the range is limited to what print on demand can decorate reliably.
6. Zazzle
A consumer marketplace with a large drinkware selection.
- Single unit ordering with fast, simple customization.
- Very wide design template library.
- The tradeoff: consumer oriented, so business branding controls and bulk economics are limited.
7. Shutterfly
Primarily a photo products company with a drinkware line.
- Strong for photo based designs and gift use.
- Frequent consumer promotions.
- The tradeoff: not built for business branding at volume.
How to Choose
- Decide gift or giveaway first. A gift justifies an insulated tumbler or glassware. A giveaway is a can cooler or a ceramic mug.
- Then the minimum order. A team of twelve and an event for two thousand are different vendors.
- Then the decoration method, and ask specifically whether it is dishwasher safe. A print that fades in a month was not cheap, it was wasted.
- Order a sample before a volume run, always. Drinkware photographs better than it looks.
Questions Buyers Ask
- Are printed mugs dishwasher safe? It depends entirely on decoration method. Ask, and get the answer in writing before a volume order.
- What is the cheapest per impression item? Can and bottle coolers, by a wide margin, followed by ceramic mugs.
- How far ahead should I order for an event? Six weeks for a comfortable run, and longer if the item is imported or the decoration is complex.
- Single color or full color? Single color pad printing is cheaper and ages better on curved surfaces. Full color suits flat panel tumblers and sublimated ceramics.
Key Takeaways
- Gift or giveaway is the first question, and it decides vessel, method, and budget.
- Minimum order eliminates most vendors immediately for a small team.
- Ask about dishwasher durability in writing. It is the difference between a kept item and a discarded one.
- Always sample before volume. Drinkware looks different in a hand than in a photograph.
- Start here: the Voqado drinkware collection and the full print shop.