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5 Costly Mistakes That Ruin Your Custom Beer Mug Order (And How to Avoid Them)

By: MugBargain Posted on: Jul 12, 2025
Ordering custom beer mugs can be tricky, and many people make mistakes that lead to disappointment. This blog highlights 5 common errors, like choosing the wrong size or using low-quality designs, and shows you how to avoid them. With the right tips, you can ensure your mugs turn out perfectly every time. Learn how to choose the best mugs, get high-quality prints, and make your custom mug order a success with MugBargain.
Ordering custom beer mugs online, or any mug for that matter, should be immersive. Not stressful. Yet people that order beer mugs customized often end up getting disappointed - either due to the customization process or due to results that are too far from what they wanted. All because they skip crucial steps or make avoidable errors while ordering. These mistakes cost money, delay events, and can be really frustrating especially considering they waited for products they weren’t expecting.

This is why it’s important to understand the pitfalls before placing your custom mug orders. This blog covers the most common custom beer mug ordering mistakes, the ways to sidestep them, and some useful information on beer mugs and customization.

Mistake #1: Ignoring Beer Mug Size Specifications

glass meer mugs with chilled beer
Many buyers assume all beer mugs hold the same amount. That is not the case. Beer mugs come in many types like Stein and Frosted Glass. They all have different capacities. A 12 oz beer mug is great for light beers and tastings. But for American lagers and ales, you need at least a 16 oz frosted glass beer mug. Then there is the fancy 18 oz. German beer stein mugs that are great picks for celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest. 

With so many types of beer mugs in the market, assuming they all hold the same amount when custom ordering is surprisingly a common mistake. 

The Fix: Match your mug size to your intended use. Homebrewers need precise measurements. Bar owners require specific capacities for menu pricing. Event planners may consider guest preferences and beverage types.
Custom 16 oz Frosted Glass Beer Mug and 18 oz German Beer Stein Mug - Personalized Options Available
MugBargain offers clear size specifications for every product. Our 16 oz Frosted Glass Beer Mug and 18 oz Beer Stein German Mug come with exact dimensions and capacity details.

Mistake #2: Choosing Poor Quality Prints or Using Poor Quality Designs

Side-by-side comparison of standard print vs. MugBargain print on beer mugs, showing durability before and after washing.
Cheap printing obviously fades fast. Mug customizing services that offer low-price customizations use low-grade inks. These inks can’t survive many washes. The adhesion will peel and crack very soon. Quality custom printing uses ceramic-safe inks on the mugs. These inks bond permanently with the surface of the mug, lasting a long while. Professional-grade materials withstand dishwashers (though it partially depends on the mug material) and temperature changes without degrading. 

Just as important as this is the use of good quality designs for printing. If the design itself is of low quality, the print won’t be good either. 

The Fix: Ask about printing methods and ink quality before ordering. Some suppliers specify their printing process. Some offer durability guarantees. Good custom beer mugs from these suppliers can maintain their appearance for years. It’s better to invest in quality materials initially, so it pays off through longevity. 

Customization in MugBargain uses professional-grade inks and delivers full-color imprints. We guarantee incredible print quality and longevity for both the prints and the mugs in our collection. 

Mistake #3: Skipping Design Template Research

Arguably the most challenging part is in creating the designs to customize mugs. This takes a lot of time, and expertise in many cases. Regular customers may not be well versed in design creation, and might make mistakes in the design software. Or they may hire graphic designers for the job, when planning to purchase custom mugs in bulk. Even worse is getting a copyright strike on the design used once the mugs are printed and ready. Skipping design template research will very likely end up with custom mugs that don’t meet expectations at all. 
The Fix: Explore accessible design template libraries before creating original artwork. Many online suppliers offer extensive collections of beer-themed designs, logos, and graphics for customizing beer mugs. 
Design template for customizing
MugBargain provides access to a complete library of design templates at no extra cost. These copyright-free options are fully free and work perfectly for personal gifts, business branding, or resale merchandise. Using our built-in Mug Customizer tool, you can edit the existing designs or have it edited by our Customization team exactly the way you want.

Mistake #4: Ordering Without Minimum Quantity Research

Traditional suppliers often require large minimum orders. This requirement forces customers to buy more mugs than needed or abandon their project entirely. Small businesses, event planners, and gift buyers frequently need just a few custom mugs. High minimums make customization financially impractical for these customers.

The Fix: Find suppliers with no minimum order requirements. This flexibility allows you to order exactly the quantity you need without waste or excess inventory, while still getting good deals on your order.

You can order one custom beer mug or one hundred through MugBargain. Our no-minimum policy accommodates every customer size and budget. The overall cost of customization is among the lowest in the market, and transparently shown as you progress through the purchase.

Mistake #5: Rushing the Proofing Process

Excitement about custom orders sometimes leads to hasty approvals. Customers skip careful review of digital proofs and discover errors only after production completes. Common proofing oversights include misspelled text, incorrect colors, poor image resolution, and improper sizing. These mistakes become expensive problems once mugs are customized.

The Fix: Review every proof carefully before approval. Check spelling, colors, placement, and overall appearance. Request revisions if anything looks incorrect.
Take time during the proofing stage to avoid costly reprints and delays. Most quality suppliers, including MugBargain, provide multiple revision opportunities to get your design exactly right.

Custom Beer Mug Success Strategy

Successful custom beer mug orders start with proper planning. Know your size requirements, understand printing quality standards, and research available design resources.
Next, choose suppliers who offer clear specifications, quality guarantees, and flexible ordering options. Take advantage of free design templates and thorough proofing processes.
That’s where MugBargain makes a difference. We offer:
  • High quality custom mugs
  • Professional full-color printing
  • Easy-to-use Mug Customizer tool 
  • Free access to a vast library of copyright-free artworks
  • No minimum order quantity 
  • Complete transparency and design support
  • Lowest overall costs for custom mug orders

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between purchasing custom mugs from an online retailer vs. a local store?

For starters, ordering custom mugs online is more convenient and time-saving. The buyers don’t have to go physically from shop to shop looking for the best mugs and customizations. Online custom mug stores typically have superior shopping administration, with testimonials from other buyers to make a decision. Local stores may not keep a wide assortment of mugs either. Additionally, local stores generally have a higher markup for their offerings compared to online mug stores, to cover their overhead costs as brick-and-mortar stores.

Should I choose a pre-designed mug versus designing my own for better results?

That’s up to you. Both options can have good results or bad ones depending on where you get them customized from. As long as your designs are of good quality, any professional mug customization service can get it printed on mugs properly. But it also comes down to the quality of the mugs you choose for customization. In MugBargain, you can choose from our curated collection of high-quality customizable mugs, upload your own design for customization, or choose one or more designs from our free library to go on your mugs.

What are common mistakes people make when uploading designs for custom mugs?

The most common mistake is in uploading designs in the wrong format. In the case of MugBargain, the design to upload must not be over 10 MB in size and must be in either JPEG, JPG or PNG format. People often upload designs in invalid format, too low size or too big. Additionally, the design quality is sometimes also not taken into account before uploading.

Are all custom mugs microwave-safe, or are there certain ones that aren’t?

Not all custom mugs are microwave-safe. For example, our German Beer Stein mug shows great results in customization, but its material is not microwave-safe though it’s dishwasher-safe. We recommend making sure the mugs chosen for customization are microwave and dishwasher-safe before proceeding with the customization.

What materials are commonly used for custom mugs, and how do they differ?

Common materials for custom mugs include ceramic, porcelain, stainless steel, and glass. Ceramic is popular for its affordability and ease of customization. Porcelain mugs are slightly more elegant, while stainless steel is durable and has insulation properties serving as handy travel mugs. Glass mugs are stylish but can be more fragile.

Can custom mugs be used as a marketing tool for your business?

Yes, custom mugs are great promotional items. Giving them away at events, including them in giveaways, or offering them as employee rewards can spread brand awareness and enhance loyalty.