Starbucks Red Cup Day is finally here, and it’s one of the most exciting days of the year for coffee enthusiasts across the country. On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the iconic coffee chain is giving away free limited-edition reusable red cups to customers who purchase any handcrafted holiday beverage. If you want to secure one of these coveted cups before they run out, you’ll need to know exactly what to do and when to arrive.

What is Red Cup Day at Starbucks?

Red Cup Day at Starbucks is an annual promotional event where the coffee giant offers customers a complimentary reusable red holiday cup with the purchase of any handcrafted holiday or fall beverage. The tradition celebrates the arrival of the holiday season and has evolved into one of Starbucks’ most anticipated events each year.

The red cups themselves are limited-edition collectibles featuring unique designs that change annually. These aren’t just marketing gimmicks either—they’re durable, reusable containers made from 95 percent recycled materials. Customers who take advantage of this promotion aren’t just getting a free cup; they’re participating in Starbucks’ broader sustainability initiative to reduce single-use waste by 50 percent by 2030.

What makes Red Cup Day special is the sense of community and excitement it generates. Long lines form before stores even open, social media fills with photos of new cups, and fans mark their calendars months in advance. For many coffee lovers, receiving a red cup on this day marks the beginning of their personal holiday season, making it far more than just a free merchandise giveaway.

When is Red Cup Day 2025?

Mark your calendars: Starbucks Red Cup Day 2025 takes place on Thursday, November 13. This year’s date is actually one day earlier than last year’s event, positioning Starbucks to get a head start on the busy holiday shopping season. Most Starbucks locations open between 5 and 7 a.m. local time, so plan to arrive early if you want to guarantee getting your red cup.

It’s worth noting that Red Cup Day occurs on a different date each year. Previous Red Cup Days have fallen on November 16 in 2023, November 17 in 2022, and November 18 in 2021. The tradition itself dates back much further though. Starbucks began the formal Red Cup Day giveaway in 2018, but the company has been using holiday-themed cups since 1997, making red cups a nearly three-decade tradition.

How to Get Your Free Red Cup at Starbucks

Getting your free red cup is straightforward, but there are several important details to understand. To receive a free grande-sized (16-ounce) reusable red cup, you simply need to purchase any handcrafted holiday or fall beverage on November 13, 2025. The drink can be ordered in any size, served hot, iced, or blended—Starbucks doesn’t restrict your beverage choice beyond requiring it to be a handcrafted holiday drink.

One crucial detail: the cup you receive will be empty. Your actual beverage will be served in a regular disposable Starbucks cup. The red cup is yours to take home and use for future visits. You can order your qualifying drink through multiple channels: in-store at the counter, via the drive-thru, through the Starbucks mobile app, or even through delivery services like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats. This flexibility means you don’t have to brave in-store crowds if you prefer ordering ahead.

An important rule to understand: you’ll receive one free red cup per eligible drink purchased. So if you order three holiday beverages, you can get three red cups—though you’ll need to pay for each drink, of course. This means Red Cup Day is perfect for picking up drinks for family members or friends while scoring multiple collectible cups.

Which Starbucks Drinks Qualify for the Free Red Cup?

Not all Starbucks beverages qualify for the free red cup promotion. You must order a handcrafted holiday or fall beverage to receive the free cup. Here’s the complete list of eligible drinks for 2025:

Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte, Sugar Cookie Breve, Gingerbread Chai, Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, White Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, Holiday and Fall Cold Foams, and Protein Cold Foams.

It’s important to note that Starbucks Christmas Blend and Starbucks Reserve Christmas-brewed coffees are not included in this promotion. If you order a regular brewed coffee or any non-handcrafted beverage, you won’t receive a free red cup. Make sure your drink requires barista preparation and is part of Starbucks’ seasonal holiday or fall menu to qualify for the giveaway.

The good news is that the eligible list includes plenty of beloved options, from classic favorites like the Peppermint Mocha to newer seasonal creations. Whether you prefer hot drinks, iced beverages, or blended options, you’ll find multiple qualifying choices on the menu.

Tips for Successfully Getting Your Red Cup on Red Cup Day

Red Cup Day is one of the busiest days of the year at Starbucks locations nationwide. With millions of customers trying to get their free cups on the same day, competition for supplies is fierce. Here are proven strategies to increase your chances of securing a free red cup.

First, arrive early. This is the single most important tip for Red Cup Day success. Starbucks typically opens between 5 and 7 a.m., depending on your location. Many busy stores run out of red cups by mid-morning or early afternoon. The earlier you arrive, the better your chances of getting one. Some dedicated fans camp out even before sunrise to be first in line, though you don’t need to go to such extremes to secure a cup if you arrive within the first hour of opening.

Second, use the Starbucks mobile app to place your order ahead of time. Ordering through the app allows you to skip the line and pick up your drink without waiting—though you should still arrive early since supplies are limited. Mobile ordering also reduces your contact with potentially stressed baristas who are handling unprecedented volumes of customers on this hectic day.

Third, consider using the drive-thru option if your local Starbucks has one. Drive-thru lines tend to move faster than in-store ordering, and you may have better luck getting your red cup this way. However, confirm with the barista before you leave that your order actually included the red cup, as ordering methods can occasionally cause miscommunication.

Fourth, be patient and kind to Starbucks employees on this day. Red Cup Day places enormous pressure on store staff, who are working long hours managing massive crowds. Showing appreciation for their hard work makes the experience better for everyone and may even encourage them to double-check that you get your red cup if there’s any confusion.

Fifth, if you miss out on getting a red cup on November 13, don’t panic. While these cups are only available for one day each year, Starbucks has already switched to holiday-themed disposable cups featuring red and green plaid and ribbon designs. The brand also offers other holiday merchandise like tumblers, mugs, and ornaments for purchase if you want to commemorate the season differently.

The 2025 Red Cup Design and Sustainability Story

This year’s limited-edition red cup features a special hand-drawn design created by Starbucks artist Yvonne Chan. The design draws inspiration from the cozy feeling customers experience when entering a warm Starbucks location from the cold outdoors. As Chan explained, “The design is inspired by the little moment of magic you feel when you step into a Starbucks from the cold outside. With the hand-drawn sketch, I tried to capture the feeling of something crafted by one person for another.”

The 2025 red cup is manufactured from 95 percent recycled materials, reflecting Starbucks’ commitment to reducing environmental impact. Each grande-sized cup holds 16 ounces and features a lid, making it a functional vessel for enjoying beverages year-round after Red Cup Day. The use of recycled materials demonstrates how companies can create desirable consumer products while advancing sustainability goals.

By participating in Red Cup Day, customers contribute to Starbucks’ broader environmental initiative. The company has set an ambitious goal to reduce single-use waste by 50 percent by 2030. Every reusable cup distributed on Red Cup Day represents one fewer disposable cup that will end up in landfills. When you bring your red cup back to Starbucks for future orders, you’re actively supporting waste reduction while earning rewards.

Additional Benefits of Getting a Red Cup

The free red cup is valuable beyond just being a collectible. Customers who bring their reusable red cup back to Starbucks for future orders receive a 10-cent discount on their beverage. While a dime might seem small, over time and multiple visits, these discounts add up to meaningful savings. For someone who visits Starbucks several times per week, saving ten cents per drink could equate to substantial annual savings.

Starbucks Rewards members earn additional benefits when using their reusable red cup. Last year, the company offered double stars on the entire order for Rewards members who brought in a clean reusable cup—though the company hasn’t yet confirmed if this specific promotion will continue in 2025. Regardless, bringing your red cup back rewards your loyalty with both discounts and bonus rewards points.

It’s worth noting that these benefits aren’t exclusive to the red cup. Starbucks offers the same 10-cent discount and double star earning when customers bring any clean reusable cup for their orders. However, the limited-edition red cup from Red Cup Day makes this sustainable choice feel special and commemorative.

Red Cup Day History and Tradition

The tradition of Starbucks red cups dates back to 1997, making them nearly a 30-year-old holiday tradition. Interestingly, the original holiday cups from 1997 weren’t actually red—they featured a “jazz-themed design” in various colors, emulating gift wrap. The cups first became predominantly red in 1999 and the color has remained central to the promotion ever since.

The company created dedicated websites to promote the red cups in 2005 and 2006, launching “theredcup.com” and “itsredagain.com” as interactive hubs where fans could engage with content, watch videos, play games, and compete in quizzes. The websites generated massive user engagement, with thousands of customers participating in the online community.

Creative marketing campaigns have made red cups iconic over the decades. In 2004, Starbucks attached red cups to the roofs of taxis in a guerrilla marketing campaign that continued into January 2005. In 2011, red cups featured augmented reality codes that customers could scan through a branded app to unlock holiday characters. Customers who unlocked all characters could receive free gifts, turning the cups into interactive entertainment.

The formal Red Cup Day giveaway tradition began in 2018, transforming the promotional campaign into a specific one-day event. This was a significant shift from simply selling holiday-themed cups to giving them away for free to drive traffic and build excitement around the holiday season. Since 2018, Red Cup Day has become increasingly popular, drawing larger crowds each year as word of the promotion spreads.

Impact on Starbucks and Holiday Shopping Culture

Red Cup Day has become far more than a marketing campaign—it’s a cultural phenomenon that influences broader retail trends and consumer behavior. The event generates substantial foot traffic to Starbucks locations, with data showing that Red Cup Day drives significant increases in customer visits. In 2024, Red Cup Day brought a 31.7 percent increase in Starbucks visits compared to the average five-week daily baseline. In 2023 and 2022, the company saw even larger jumps of 65 percent and 81 percent respectively.

This surge in traffic benefits not just Starbucks but surrounding retailers, as customers using Starbucks as a starting point often shop at nearby stores. Some shopping centers have reported that Red Cup Day drives meaningful increases in overall mall foot traffic, making it a significant date on the retail calendar.

The red cup phenomenon also reflects broader consumer interest in limited-edition merchandise and collectibles. In recent years, social media has amplified the excitement around Red Cup Day, with customers photographing their cups and sharing them online. This organic marketing has made the promotion even more powerful, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity that drives consumer behavior.

Starbucks Red Cup Day 2025 Special Preparations

Recognizing the massive demand for Red Cup Day, Starbucks has made specific preparations to handle the crowds and ensure customer satisfaction in 2025. The company announced that it’s “giving away more red cups than ever before,” responding to previous years’ supply constraints and customer disappointment when cups sold out quickly.

Starbucks is also increasing staffing levels at participating locations to improve the customer experience. The company is deploying additional baristas specifically for Red Cup Day to manage the volume of orders and reduce wait times. This staffing increase reflects Starbucks’ commitment to maintaining service quality during peak demand periods and treating employees fairly during their busiest days.

These preparations come at a time when Starbucks is investing in seasonal employees nationwide and prioritizing appropriate staffing throughout the holiday season. The company has also redesigned stores to be cozier and more welcoming, invested in wage increases, and improved scheduling flexibility for baristas—all efforts aimed at enhancing the customer and employee experience during the high-pressure holiday season.

Should You Rush to Get a Red Cup on Red Cup Day?

While Red Cup Day generates enormous excitement and for good reason—free merchandise is always appealing—it’s worth considering whether the hassle of rushing out early to compete for a limited-edition cup aligns with your priorities. The lines can be chaotic, the experience stressful, and the waiting time substantial at many locations.

If you’re someone who genuinely values the red cup as a collectible, enjoys the ritual of being part of the Red Cup Day community, or want the environmental benefits of using a reusable cup, absolutely participate. The 10-cent discount on future drinks and potential rewards benefits make it a smart choice for regular Starbucks customers. But if your primary motivation is just getting a free item, consider whether that’s worth an early morning wake-up call and potential crowded store conditions.

The beauty of Red Cup Day is that it celebrates the holiday season in a way that resonates with millions of people. For many, it’s genuinely enjoyable to be part of this annual tradition, to see familiar baristas you interact with year-round, and to participate in a shared cultural moment with other coffee enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Starbucks Red Cup Day 2025 on November 13 offers a fantastic opportunity to score a free limited-edition reusable cup while celebrating the official start of the holiday season. By arriving early, ordering through the mobile app, knowing which drinks qualify, and showing kindness to stressed baristas, you can maximize your chances of getting one of these collectible cups before supplies run out. Whether you’re a longtime red cup collector or participating for the first time, this tradition represents a meaningful blend of consumerism, sustainability, and holiday celebration that has captured the hearts of millions of Americans.

Don’t miss out on this year’s Red Cup Day. Head to your local Starbucks on Thursday, November 13, grab your favorite handcrafted holiday beverage, and take home a beautiful, eco-friendly cup that you’ll use for years to come. Share your red cup photos with friends and family on social media, and let us know which holiday drink you chose in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this story on social media so your friends can also get their red cups before they’re gone!