Custom engraved tumblers in Atlanta: what to know before you order

If you want custom engraved tumblers in Atlanta, the method matters more than the brand of cup. A fiber laser mark on a powder-coated tumbler removes the coating down to bare steel, so the logo or name will not wash, peel or fade the way a print or a vinyl decal can. Pick the size that fits how the cup will be used, send a clean logo file, and order enough to hit the next price break.

Key takeaways

• Laser marking takes the powder coat off down to the steel. There is nothing on the surface to wear away.
• Printed and vinyl tumblers can look great on day one but usually show wear at the edges after enough washing and handling.
• The 20 oz tumbler is the everyday team gift, the 30 oz suits long shifts, and the 40 oz handled tumbler fits a cup holder.
• A vector logo file (SVG, PDF or AI) with one solid color gives the cleanest mark.
• Prices drop at 10, 25, 50 and 100 or more, and there is no order minimum.
• Every order gets an emailed proof before anything is marked.

Laser marking, printing or vinyl: which lasts on a tumbler?

There are three common ways to put a logo on a powder-coated tumbler, and they behave very differently over time.

Vinyl decals are cut from adhesive film and stuck on. They are cheap and come in any color, but they sit on top of the cup. Edges catch on dish racks and car cup holders, and a dishwasher speeds up the lifting. Once a corner goes, the rest tends to follow.

Printing (UV printing or similar) puts ink on top of the coating. It can do full color and photos, which neither of the other methods can. The tradeoff is that it is still a layer on the surface, and it can scuff or fade with heavy use.

Laser marking works the other way. Instead of adding something, the laser removes the powder coat in the shape of your design and exposes the stainless steel underneath. The mark is the cup itself, so there is nothing to peel, chip off or wash away. The result is one color: the bright steel against whatever coat color you chose.

If the tumbler is a keepsake, a work cup that gets beaten up, or a gift with your company name on it, a laser mark is the one that still looks right a year later.

Why does a mark down to the steel last?

Powder coat is a baked-on layer of color over the steel body. A decal or ink sits on top of that layer. A laser mark goes through it.

At FSH Labs the tumblers are marked on a fiber laser, the same kind of laser used for serial numbers and data plates on metal parts. On a powder-coated tumbler it burns the coating away cleanly down to the steel. Stainless does not rust or tarnish in normal use, so the exposed metal keeps its look.

Two practical notes:

• The contrast comes from the coat color. Black, navy, royal blue and red give a sharp, high-contrast silver mark. White gives a softer, more subtle look.
• The 40 oz also comes in plain stainless. With no coat to remove, the mark shows as a darker tone on the bare steel, which reads as a quieter, more refined look.

20 vs 30 vs 40 oz: which tumbler should you pick?

All three are double-wall vacuum insulated stainless with a powder-coated finish. The difference is how they get used.

20 oz, slide lid. The 20 oz insulated tumbler is the team-gift standard. It holds a big coffee or a glass of iced tea, fits most cup holders, and is easy to hand out to an office, a church staff or a wedding party. Finishes: black, white, navy, royal blue and red.

30 oz, slide lid. The 30 oz insulated tumbler is the big one, made for job sites and long shifts. If the people getting it work outdoors or on a plant floor and refill water all day, this is the one they will actually use. Same five finishes as the 20 oz.

40 oz, handle and straw lid. The 40 oz handled tumbler is the travel tumbler with a handle and a straw lid, and it still fits a cup holder. It is a good fit for personal gifts and for anyone who drives a lot. It has the widest color range: black, white, navy, royal blue, red, seafoam and stainless.

If you are buying for a mixed group and want one answer, the 20 oz is the safe pick. If the group lives in trucks and on job sites, go 30 or 40.

One thing to know for every size: the shop marks one face of the tumbler. Plan for one logo, name or monogram on one side.

How should you prepare your logo file?

A laser mark is one color and very sharp, so it shows exactly what is in your file, good or bad. A few minutes of prep makes a big difference.

• Send vector if you have it. SVG, PDF, AI or EPS files keep clean edges at any size. Whoever designed your logo can usually export one.
• If you only have an image, send the largest one. A high-resolution PNG on a transparent or white background works. A small logo saved from a website or a social profile usually looks soft once it is sized up.
• Think in one color. Gradients, drop shadows and photo backgrounds do not translate to a laser mark. A solid one-color version of your logo is what you want.
• Watch thin lines and tiny text. Very fine strokes and small print get hard to read on a curved cup. Keep taglines short or drop them.
• Decide on names now. If each tumbler gets a different name, have the list typed out and spelled correctly before you order. Spelling is the most common thing to catch at proof.

You will see an emailed proof before production, so you can check placement, size and spelling before any cup is marked.

How do quantity price tiers work?

Pricing is per tumbler, blank and marking together, and it steps down at 1, 10, 25, 50 and 100 or more.

• 20 oz: $22 each at 1+, $19 at 10+, $17.50 at 25+, $16.50 at 50+, $16 at 100+.
• 30 oz: $25 each at 1+, $23 at 10+, $21 at 25+, $19.50 at 50+, $18 at 100+.
• 40 oz: $29 each at 1+, $28 at 10+, $27.50 at 25+, $26.50 at 50+, $25 at 100+.

There is no order minimum on personalized items, so a single gift tumbler is fine. If you are close to a break, it often pays to round up. For example, 22 tumblers at the 10+ price is close to what 25 costs at the 25+ price, and the extras make good spares for new hires or late RSVPs. Check the product pages for current pricing before you budget.

For a wider look at what moves the price on custom work, see what drives the price.

How long does it take, and can you pick up in metro Atlanta?

Tumbler orders take 5 to 7 business days. The blanks are ordered after you pay, then marked once you approve the proof. If you have an event date, order with that window plus time for the proof in mind.

FSH Labs is in Mableton, in Cobb County. Free pickup in metro Atlanta is available by arrangement at a meeting spot. If you are out of town or would rather not drive, the order can ship anywhere in the US.

Ordering from FSH Labs

Start with the 20 oz insulated tumbler, or pick the 30 oz or 40 oz. Choose your finish and quantity, add your logo or names, and you will get an emailed proof before production. Want something besides drinkware for the same group? Browse all the personalized products.

Questions before you order? Call 678-210-6694 or email chaz@fshlabs.com, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm Eastern.