By George Hu — July 4, 2026 — Salon Paper
Quick Reference: Cupstock (cup paper raw material) is available in five standard GSM grades: 170, 180, 190, 200, and 210 g/m². High-bulk uncoated cup paper for paper cup manufacturing. Key metrics include Taber stiffness (CD & MD), thickness, moisture, brightness, and edge wicking at 95°C hot water. All specifications conform to international ISO and Chinese GB/T test methods. Food safety compliant with GB 4806.8-2016.
Complete technical parameters across all five cupstock GSM grades.
| Test Item | Unit | Test Method | Margin | 170 GSM | 180 GSM | 190 GSM | 200 GSM | 210 GSM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance (GSM) | g/m² | ISO 536 / GB/T 451.2 | ±3% | 170 | 180 | 190 | 200 | 210 |
| Substance (24"×36" / 500) | lb | ISO 536 | ±3% | 104 | 111 | 117 | 123 | 129 |
| Thickness | μm | ISO 534 / GB/T 451.3 | ±3% | 277 | 288 | 309 | 340 | 363 |
| Thickness | pt | ISO 534 | ±3% | 10.7 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 12.6 | 14.1 |
| Taber Stiffness (15°) CD | mN⋅m | ISO 2493 / GB/T 22364 | Target | 2.65 | 3.02 | 3.64 | 4.44 | 5.47 |
| Taber Stiffness (15°) CD | mN⋅m | Min | 2.14 | 2.57 | 2.95 | 3.31 | 4.43 | |
| Taber Stiffness (15°) MD | mN⋅m | ISO 2493 / GB/T 22364 | Target | 5.09 | 5.40 | 6.74 | 8.40 | 9.38 |
| Taber Stiffness (15°) MD | mN⋅m | Min | 4.12 | 4.59 | 5.46 | 7.00 | 7.59 | |
| Moisture | % | ISO 287 / GB/T 462 | ±1.5 | 7.5 | ||||
| Brightness D65/10 – Top | % | ISO 2470-2 / GB/T 7974 | ≥ | 78.0 | ||||
| Squareness (Sheet) | mm | GB/T 451.1 | ≤ | 2.0 | ||||
| Size Deviation / Uneven End Face | mm | GB/T 451.1 | ≤ | 2.0 | ||||
| Edge Wicking (95°C hot water) | mm | GB/T 31905 (Distance Method) | ≤ | 5.0 | ||||
| Edge Wicking (95°C, weighing) | kg/m² | GB/T 31905 (Weighing Method) | ≤ | 1.5 | ||||
| Dirt 0.1–0.3 mm² | dot/m² | GB/T 1541 | ≤ | 40 | ||||
| Dirt 0.3–1.5 mm² | dot/m² | ≤ | 16 | |||||
| Dirt >1.5 mm² | dot/m² | ≤ | 4 (no black dirt >1.5mm² or large dirt >2.5mm²) | |||||
| Optical Brightening Agent (OBA) | — | GB 31604.47 | — | Negative | ||||
Choosing the right cupstock GSM for your application.
Best for: Cold beverage cups (8oz/240ml), small hot cups (6-8oz/180-240ml), sample cups, water cooler cups.
Features: Lightweight, cost-effective, suitable for PE/PLA coating. Lower stiffness but sufficient for small format cups. Taber stiffness CD ≈ 2.65–3.02 mN⋅m, MD ≈ 5.09–5.40 mN⋅m.
Typical thickness: 277–288 μm (10.7–11.3 pt)
Best for: Standard hot cups (12oz/350ml), general-purpose cold cups, vending machine cups.
Features: Balanced stiffness and cost. Good performance for most standard cup sizes. Taber stiffness CD ≈ 3.64 mN⋅m, MD ≈ 6.74 mN⋅m.
Typical thickness: 309 μm (12.0 pt)
Best for: Large hot cups (16-24oz/470-710ml), soup bowls, noodle cups, double-wall cups, premium branded cups.
Features: Highest stiffness for structural integrity in large-format containers. Superior hold during hot beverage service. Taber stiffness CD ≈ 4.44–5.47 mN⋅m, MD ≈ 8.40–9.38 mN⋅m.
Typical thickness: 340–363 μm (12.6–14.1 pt)
Cupstock is typically supplied as uncoated base paper and then coated during cup manufacturing. Common coating options include:
| Coating Type | Application | Temperature Range | Compostable | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE (Polyethylene) | One or both sides | Up to 100°C | No | Low |
| PLA (Polylactic Acid) | One or both sides | Up to 85°C | Yes (industrial) | Medium |
| Water-based Coating | One side | Up to 90°C | Yes | Medium-High |
| Format | Size | GSM Range | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet (Flat) | 787 × 1092 mm | 170–210 | Standard cup manufacturing |
| Sheet (Flat) | 889 × 1194 mm | 170–210 | Larger format / import standard |
| Jumbo Roll | Custom width | 170–210 | High-speed rotary cup machines |
| Slit Roll | Custom width | 170–210 | Specialized cup lines |
All cupstock paper supplied by Salon Paper meets the following food safety standards:
We provide full mill test reports and certificate of analysis (CoA) for each shipment. Contact us for samples, datasheets, and pricing.
Request Cupstock Spec Sheet →High-bulk cupstock is a type of cup paper raw material engineered with a higher thickness-to-weight ratio (bulk). This means it achieves greater stiffness and insulation with less fiber, making it more cost-effective while maintaining cup performance. Typical bulk level for high-bulk cupstock is above 1.6 cm³/g.
Choose based on your cup size and application: 170-180 GSM for cold/small cups (cost-efficient), 190 GSM for standard hot cups (balanced), 200-210 GSM for large cups and soup bowls (highest stiffness). Consider your cup forming machine’s requirements — some machines perform better with specific thickness ranges.
Edge wicking (also called infiltration or water edge penetration) measures how far 95°C hot water travels into the cut edge of the paperboard over a specified time. Standard requirement is ≤5mm. Low edge wicking is critical to prevent cup leakage, especially for hot beverages served in paper cups.
Cupstock quality is verified using international and Chinese national standards: ISO 536 for GSM, ISO 534 for thickness, ISO 2493 (Taber stiffness), ISO 287 (moisture), ISO 2470-2 (brightness), GB/T 31905 (edge wicking at 95°C), and GB/T 1541 (dirt count).
Uncoated cupstock is the base paper supplied to cup manufacturers who apply their own coating. PE-coated cup paper has a polyethylene layer pre-applied by the mill. Uncoated offers more flexibility in coating choice (PE, PLA, water-based), while pre-coated saves a production step for the cup maker.
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