Custom beer mugs: which material and which decoration should you choose?
It comes down to washing, setting and how your logo should look.
Daily dishwasher runs or occasional use?
The distributors consulted point to engraving, by laser or sandblasting, as the decoration that best survives washing [1][2][3][4]. Printing is where they disagree: several say heat and detergent eventually fade it [1][2][4], another describes it as dishwasher-safe [3], and one ties its durability to the type of ink and how it's cured [2]. For heavy commercial use, engraving is the safe bet; otherwise, get the ink type, curing and dishwasher resistance confirmed in writing.
Glass, steel or ceramic: start with where it will be used
According to a distributor's buying guide, glass doesn't hold onto odours or flavours but is a poor fit for trade shows and outdoor use because it can break, while stainless steel is durable and the only option that allows true vacuum insulation [4]. Another distributor considers thick glass better suited to the dishwasher than thin glass [1]. For ceramic (stoneware steins), pros and cons are to be confirmed with your quote.
What your logo will actually look like
According to laser manufacturer Epilog, laser engraving on glass leaves a frosted white mark; colour only comes from a fill applied afterwards [5]; its durability is to be confirmed. If colour matters, choose printing. One distributor notes that each screen-printed colour needs its own screen and that gradients don't reproduce well, so one or two solid colours keep costs down [4]. Another distributor points photos to full-colour digital printing, since neither engraving nor screen printing can reproduce them [2]. For fine lines, practitioners interviewed by the trade magazine GRAPHICS PRO advise against carving too deep and favour bold fonts over small scripts [6]: simplify a busy logo.
A 16 oz "pint" isn't a Canadian pint
Canadian law defines the pint as 1/8 of a gallon, or about 568 mL [7]. Because the US fluid ounce (29.6 mL) is larger than the imperial ounce (28.4 mL) [8], 16 US ounces come to about 473 mL; it takes 20 imperial ounces to make a pint [7][8]. Yet one distributor calls the smaller glass a "pint" [3]. Compare quotes in millilitres.
Gift or event: think about what happens afterwards
In the 2026 study by ASI, an industry association, 87% of respondents said they would keep a branded drinkware item because it's useful [9] (respondents' country not specified). For events, two participants in a wedding forum said they wouldn't reuse a glass bearing another couple's names or wedding date [10].
Decorated mugs: the document to ask for
In Canada, a regulation limits the lead and cadmium that glazed ceramic and decorated glass or ceramic tableware can release, with a separate test for decoration within 20 mm of the rim [11]. According to Health Canada, undecorated glass isn't covered, but screen printing and decals count as decorations, and compliance is the industry's responsibility [12]. Ask for the compliance document covering the decorated mug, not just the blank glass.
Écran Blanc's advice
For a brewery, go with thick engraved glass; for outdoor use, stainless steel. For screen printing, one or two solid colours keep the cost down. And save the date for keepsakes: without one, a mug is more likely to stay in use.