Tattoo Ink Cup Sizes: Bases, Packs and Holder Fit

Tattoo ink cups, also called ink caps, are small containers used to portion ink at a workstation. When choosing them, compare three things separately: the cup's dimensions, whether it has a standing base, and how it fits the holder you intend to use. An S, M or L label alone does not tell you that two different cup designs are interchangeable.

This guide compares Audersigt's current white plastic cups with and without a base, plus its eight-cup holder with a separate pen socket. The dimensions below come from the product options and specifications checked on October 28, 2026. They are catalog measurements, not independent measurements or the results of a spill, capacity or compatibility test.

Ink caps and ink cups: what is the difference?

In these product listings, “ink cap” and “ink cup” refer to the same kind of small ink container. A holder is a separate accessory that supports or organizes cups. A cap with an integrated standing base and a cup placed in a holder are therefore two different arrangements, even when the seller uses similar names for them.

Do not confuse an ink cap with the cap on an ink bottle. Check the product photograph and the size option, then confirm the quantity in the pack. The dimensions of the individual cup and the number of cups supplied are separate specifications.

With a base or without a base?

The cups with a standing base have an integrated foot that lets the cup stand on a level surface without a separate holder. This changes the footprint of the cup. It does not make it spill-proof, and it does not confirm compatibility with a holder designed for a different cup profile.

The cups without a standing base have a wide upper rim and a smaller lower body. Their listing calls for a suitable holder. When comparing a cup with a holder opening, look at the part of the cup that enters the opening and the rim that supports it; the largest diameter alone is not enough to establish the fit.

These are single-use cups. Follow the product labeling and your studio's hygiene requirements; this comparison is not a cleaning or reuse protocol.

Size chart: cups with a standing base

For this range, the current options give diameter × height in millimeters. The diameter is presented here exactly as the option describes it; it is not a measurement of the outer standing foot.

The XL pack contains half as many cups as the S, M and L packs. A price comparison based only on the pack price can therefore be misleading. Compare the selected size and quantity together, using the current product page for the actual price and availability.

The options also use size codes such as #11S and #20XL. Treat these as identifiers within this range, rather than a universal sizing standard shared by every manufacturer. The chart does not give a milliliter capacity; that cannot be established reliably from two external or nominal dimensions alone.

Size chart: cups without a standing base

This range uses a different three-part measurement: top rim diameter × base diameter × height, also in millimeters. Here “base diameter” describes the bottom of the cup body, not an added standing foot.

Notice that the M cup in this table has a 17 mm top rim, while the with-base M option lists a 14 mm diameter. This is why choosing a replacement by the letter M alone is unreliable. The two tables describe different shapes and measurement points.

If you already have a holder, identify the cup design that works with it before ordering a large pack. A photograph can help you recognize the shape, but it does not verify the dimensions of an opening. Ask for the missing measurement when a holder listing does not provide it.

What does a “9-hole” ink cup holder hold?

The Audersigt holder listed as a 9-hole stand has eight cup positions and one separate PMU pen socket: four small cup positions, three medium and one large. The catalog gives its overall footprint as 7.2 × 8.9 cm and its material as plastic.

That distinction matters when planning a workstation. It is not a nine-cup stand. The overall width and depth also do not tell you the diameter of each cup opening. The current information does not establish a universal fit with every S/M/L cup or every PMU pen, and we have not independently tested the three products together.

Before buying, confirm the cup profile and opening dimensions with the supplier. Check the support and stability of the intended combination before use. Do not assume that a matching size name or a promotional photograph guarantees compatibility with a different brand's cups.

A short ordering checklist

• Choose the cup design: integrated standing base or a cup intended for a holder.
• Read the complete measurement label, including which diameter is being measured.
• Confirm the selected pack quantity; the with-base XL option contains 500 cups.
• If using a holder, verify its opening sizes and the cup profile rather than relying on S/M/L alone.
• Review the current price, stock and product labeling before placing the order.

For a studio restock, record the exact option name with the product link. “M cups” is a much less useful purchasing note than the full design, dimensions and pack quantity. Keeping those details together makes a repeat order easier to check without assuming that another range uses the same sizing.

Common questions

Is a larger cup always the better choice?

No single size is automatically right for every setup. Compare the space available, the cup design and the holder you use. This guide does not assign a particular ink volume or cup size to a tattoo size, because the catalog does not supply evidence for that rule.

Can I work out the ink capacity from the diameter and height?

Not accurately from these listings. Wall thickness, the internal shape and the fill level are not specified. Use a stated capacity from the manufacturer if capacity is essential to your purchasing decision; do not treat a cylinder calculation as a verified product capacity.

Are cups with a base compatible with the eight-cup holder?

Compatibility has not been established here. A standing foot can change how a cup sits in an opening. Check the specific cup and holder dimensions before ordering them as a set.

Are the cups in the cover a product photograph?

The black-and-gold cover is AI-assisted editorial artwork based on the real product photographs. It is not a dimensioned drawing or proof of how an exact cup-and-holder combination fits. Use the linked product pages and the tables above for the verified catalog details.

Sources and related supplies

This article uses the current Audersigt options for cups with a base, cups without a base and the eight-cup holder with pen socket. Browse the accessories collection for related supplies, or contact Audersigt with the product links and the dimensions you need confirmed.