How many cups and balls do you need for beer pong?

Cup quantities by table count

These are playing quantities, not a replacement allowance. Keep extra matching cups nearby for damaged or missing equipment. A sixteen-team tournament on two tables does not need sixteen complete table setups: teams rotate through the same stations.

Choose a consistent cup and ball

BPONG’s published equipment rules specify 16-ounce cups and 40-millimeter balls. If you are using another format, choose matching target cups and use the same ball type throughout the event. Cup rim shape and opening size affect the target players see; a label that says “party cup” is not a complete equipment specification.

Test your actual cups with your chosen inserts before ordering a room’s worth. Keep a spare ball at the host desk and a separate set of replacements. Label storage by table so the last match does not leave the next station short.

Water cups, dry cups and personal drinks

The cups are targets; drinking is not necessary to score the game. With a dry-cup setup, put one weighted insert inside each empty game cup. Keep personal drinks separate from targets and do not require anyone to drink after a made shot. Our dry-cup guide explains the setup.

The Pong Anchors Standard Set includes 20 inserts, 20 cups, six balls and a carry case. That equips one ten-cup table with balls left as spares. Tables and connected scoreboard equipment are separate.

A simple equipment handoff

1. Count twenty cups and inserts into each table kit.
2. Put the playing balls and spare balls in separate marked places.
3. Keep removed cups beside the table, away from personal drinks.
4. Count everything again when the final game finishes.

Use the host checklist for the rest of the night. If equipment limits the number of playable tables, confirm that number before creating your bracket.