Paper vs Plastic Lids for Takeaway Soup Containers
Bernard ColganLast Updated: October 28, 2026
Quick Summary
Use a paper lid for everyday soup at the counter and on short delivery runs. Use a plastic lid for thin, brothy soups and longer delivery runs, where you need the tighter snap-fit seal. On our Spiritpak range the plastic lid is also the cheaper one: 5.8c a lid on 16oz against 8.1c for paper, both + VAT.
- Paper lids: white, recyclable when clean and dry, standard seal.
- Plastic lids: clear PP, snap-fit, tighter seal, contents visible.
- Lids are sized to the container: 8oz and 12oz share a lid, 16oz has its own, 26oz and 32oz share a lid.
- Order before 1pm, shipped at 2pm the same day from Dublin 12.
In this guide
- Paper or plastic soup lids: which should you use?
- How do paper and plastic soup lids compare?
- What does each soup lid cost per portion?
- When is a paper lid the right call?
- When should you switch to a plastic lid?
- Which lid fits which Spiritpak soup container?
- How do you stop soup leaking in a delivery bag?
- Can you recycle paper and plastic soup lids?
- How do you order soup lids from us?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Paper or plastic soup lids: which should you use?
Comparing paper vs plastic lids for takeaway soup containers comes down to two things: how runny the soup is and how far it travels. A paper lid does the job for a thick soup going from the counter to a desk down the road. A plastic lid is the safer bet for broth, ramen-style soups and delivery orders that spend 20 minutes in a bag on a bike.
A simple setup that works: paper lids as standard, plus a case of plastic lids for delivery orders. If you are still picking container sizes, start with our soup container sizes guide first, then come back to choose the lid.
How do paper and plastic soup lids compare?
A paper lid is a white paperboard lid that presses onto the rim. A plastic lid is a clear polypropylene (PP) lid that snaps onto the rim and grips it mechanically. Both fit the same Spiritpak soup containers, so you can switch between them without changing your cups.
Feature |
Paper lid |
Plastic lid |
|---|---|---|
Material |
Paperboard, white |
PP plastic, clear |
Seal |
Standard |
Tighter snap-fit |
Best for |
Thick soups, counter service, short delivery |
Thin soups, broths, longer delivery |
See the soup? |
No |
Yes |
Recycling |
Paper stream when clean and dry |
Plastic stream, check locally |
Cost per lid (16oz) |
8.1c + VAT |
5.8c + VAT |
Case size |
500 |
500 |
Our 16oz paper and 16oz plastic lids are both vented, so steam can get out. That stops the lid lifting and stops condensation dripping back in and thinning the soup.
What does each soup lid cost per portion?
On the Spiritpak range the plastic lid costs less than the paper lid at every size. All prices are per case of 500 lids, ex VAT.
Fits container |
Paper lid |
Plastic lid |
|---|---|---|
8oz and 12oz |
€35.99 + VAT (7.2c a lid) |
€25.99 + VAT (5.2c a lid) |
16oz |
€40.50 + VAT (8.1c a lid) |
€28.99 + VAT (5.8c a lid) |
26oz and 32oz |
€55.99 + VAT (11.2c a lid) |
€36.50 + VAT (7.3c a lid) |
On 16oz, a café going through 1,000 soups a month would pay €23.02 + VAT more a month for paper lids. That is the price of the paper look and the paper recycling stream. For some businesses it is worth it, for others it is not.
When is a paper lid the right call?
Pick paper when the soup is thick, the trip is short and you want the whole pack to look and bin as paper.
- Thick soups and chowders. Vegetable, potato and leek or chowder sit still in the cup, so a standard seal is enough.
- Counter and walk-in trade. The customer carries it upright and eats it within minutes.
- Paper-first branding. If your cups, bags and napkins are all paper, a white paper lid keeps the look consistent.
- Recycling. Our paper lids are listed as recyclable when clean and dry, so the customer is not left separating plastic from paper.
When should you switch to a plastic lid?
Switch to plastic when the soup is thin or the journey is long. The snap-fit grips the rim, so the lid is less likely to lift when a bag is tilted or set down hard.
- Broths, consommé and noodle soups. Thin liquid finds any gap. A tighter seal matters more than the look.
- Delivery apps and longer runs. Soup that sits in a courier bag for a while needs the stronger seal.
- Busy handovers. The clear lid lets staff and drivers check the order without opening it.
- Tighter margins. At 5.2c to 7.3c a lid + VAT, plastic is the cheaper lid at every size.
The trade-off: a paper cup with a plastic lid has to be split before recycling, and it does not fit a fully paper-based look.
Which lid fits which Spiritpak soup container?
Spiritpak soup lids are sized to the rim, so the size on the lid has to match the cup. 8oz and 12oz containers share one lid. 16oz has its own lid and does not take the 8/12oz or 26/32oz lids. 26oz and 32oz share one lid.
If you want to skip the matching, buy a combi case with cups and lids together, like the 16oz Spiritpak container and plastic lid combi or the 16oz Spiritpak container and paper lid combi, both 250 of each per case. The full size chart is in our soup containers and deli pots guide.
How do you stop soup leaking in a delivery bag?
No lid fixes an overfilled cup. Leave a finger's width at the top, press the lid on all the way round and run your thumb along the rim to check it is seated. Pack the soup upright beside something flat. Use a vented lid for hot soup so steam does not push the lid up.
If you change lids, test one filled cup in a delivery bag before you switch the whole kitchen over.
Can you recycle paper and plastic soup lids?
Our paper lids are listed as recyclable when clean and dry. Plastic PP lids go in the plastic stream where your collector accepts them, so check locally. A paper cup with a plastic lid needs splitting first. For bin rules on compostable packaging, see brown bin or green bin, and for a wider look at materials, bagasse vs kraft vs plastic containers.
How do you order soup lids from us?
All the lids above are in stock in our Dublin 12 warehouse. Order before 1pm and it's shipped at 2pm the same day. You can also call and collect from Unit 4, Naas Road Ind. Park, Dublin 12.
Not sure which lid fits your cups? Ring us on 01 443 3964 and you'll get a real person who knows the range. DiscountTillRolls.ie has been supplying Irish cafés, delis and takeaways since 2007.
See the full range of cups, combis and lids in our Soup Containers collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are paper lids OK for hot takeaway soup?
Yes. Our Spiritpak paper lids are made for hot soup. The 16oz paper lid is vented, so steam escapes and the lid stays put. For thin, brothy soups on longer delivery runs, a plastic lid gives a tighter seal.
Do plastic lids stop takeaway soup leaking?
They cut the risk. A plastic lid snaps onto the rim and grips it tighter than a paper lid, so it is less likely to lift in a delivery bag. It will not save an overfilled cup, so leave a finger's width at the top.
Are paper soup lids recyclable in Ireland?
Our paper soup lids are listed as recyclable when clean and dry. Plastic lids go in the plastic stream where your collector accepts them. A paper cup with a plastic lid needs splitting before it goes in the bin.
Which soup lid fits which Spiritpak container?
8oz and 12oz Spiritpak containers share one lid. 16oz has its own lid. 26oz and 32oz share one lid. Each size comes in paper or plastic. Not sure? Ring us on 01 443 3964.
Are plastic soup lids cheaper than paper lids?
On our Spiritpak range, yes. A 16oz plastic lid works out at 5.8c + VAT against 8.1c + VAT for paper, in cases of 500. On 8oz and 12oz it is 5.2c against 7.2c, and on 26oz and 32oz it is 7.3c against 11.2c.
