Free · Play online · No sign-up
Flip cup: rules, flipping tips and a relay timer
Two teams line up on either side of a table. On “go”, the first player on each team drinks a little, then flips their empty cup from the table edge until it lands face down. Then the next player goes. First team to flip every cup wins. It’s the best team drinking game there is, and it works with any drink.
- 👥 6–20 players (two teams)
- ⏱ 2 minutes a round
- 🎒 One plastic cup per player, a table
Flip Cup: play online
Flip cup relay timer
Shuffle players into two teams, then time every relay: tap the team that finishes first. Best of 3, 5 or 7.
Shuffle your players into two fair teams, tap “Toast… and go!”, then tap the team that finishes first. The order rotates every round so everyone gets to be the anchor.
Flip Cup: quick rules
Split into two equal teams facing each other across a table, one cup each with a small amount of drink. Everyone toasts. The first player on each team drinks, puts the empty cup on the table edge and flicks the bottom until it flips face down. Only then can the next teammate start. The first team to flip every cup wins the round.
How to play the flip cup game
Make two teams
Equal numbers on each side of a long table, each player facing an opponent. Odd numbers? One player on the smaller team goes twice.
Pour
Each player gets one plastic cup with a small amount of drink: up to the first line of a party cup at most. The game is about the flip, not the drink.
Toast
Everyone raises their cup and taps the table. The two first players start drinking together.
Drink and flip
Finish your small pour, place the cup right side up with its lip just over the table edge, and flick the bottom so it flips and lands upside down. Missed it? Reset and try again.
Tag the next player
The next teammate may start drinking only when your cup is face down. Keep going down the line.
Win the round
The first team with every cup flipped wins. Play best of 5 and rotate the order so a different player anchors each round.
How to flip the cup (technique)
- Position: rest the cup right side up with about a finger’s width of the rim hanging over the table edge.
- Grip: one or two fingers under the overhanging rim, not your whole hand.
- Flick: a short, soft upward flick is better than a big one. Too hard and it flies; too soft and it falls back.
- Empty cup: a few drops left make the cup heavy on one side and ruin the flip.
- Reset calmly: don’t chase a cup rolling around. Stand it up, breathe, flick again.
Flip cup house rules
| Rule | Usual call |
|---|---|
| Flipping with two hands | Not allowed; flip again with one hand |
| Blowing on the cup | Not allowed |
| Cup lands on its side | Doesn’t count; reset and flip again |
| Starting before the cup is down | Go back and wait (some groups add a sip) |
| Knocking over someone else’s cup | They reset and flip again; you get a sip |
| Uneven teams | The smaller team’s first player goes again at the end |
Tippy cup game, flippy cup, cup flipping game: all the same?
Mostly, yes. “Tippy cup” is what many people call flip cup, especially in the Midwest and in Canada; others use it for the version where you must flip the cup so it lands the right way up (much harder). “Flippy cup”, “cup flip” and “cup flipping game” are all the same relay.
The cup flip drinking game played solo is a different thing: you simply try to flip your own cup in as few tries as possible, and the person with the most attempts takes a sip. It makes a nice warm-up before a big team game.
Flip cup for big groups and tournaments
Flip cup is at its best with 10 to 20 players. For more than that, run two tables side by side and have the winners play each other, or use a bracket: the beer pong tournament bracket works for flip cup teams too. It’s also a favourite event at a beer olympics.
Want the full list of team games? See our drinking games for large groups.
Flip Cup variations
- Survivor flip cup
- The player on the losing team who took longest sits out the next round. Keep going until one player is left.
- Flip cup with a twist
- After flipping, the player must also sink a ping-pong ball in a cup before the next teammate starts.
- Racing flip cup (solo)
- Everyone flips their own cup at the same time; the last to land it takes a sip.
- Water flip cup
- A splash of water in every cup: the relay, the cheering and the chaos, no alcohol needed. Great for mixed groups.
- Pyramid flip cup
- Players flip cups from a stack of three, then two, then one before tagging the next player.
Tips for a good game
- Keep the pour small: one or two sips is plenty.
- Use cheap, thin plastic cups; stiff cups flip badly.
- Put a towel under the table edge: spills happen every round.
- Rotate the order so the slowest flipper isn’t always the anchor.
Play it safe: every game here works with sips of any drink, or none at all. Only adults of legal drinking age should drink alcohol, alternate with water, and never drink and drive. [How to drink responsibly](/drink-responsibly/)
Flip Cup: FAQ
How do you play flip cup?
Two teams line up across a table. Each player drinks a small pour, puts the empty cup on the table edge and flicks it until it lands face down. Only then can the next teammate start. The first team to flip every cup wins.
How many people do you need for flip cup?
At least 4 (two per team), but it’s best with 6 to 20. Teams should be equal; if not, one player on the smaller team goes twice.
Is tippy cup the same as flip cup?
Usually, yes: “tippy cup” is a regional name for flip cup. Some groups use it for a harder version where the cup must land the right way up.
How much do you drink in flip cup?
Up to the first line of a plastic cup at most; a couple of sips is enough. The fun is in the flipping, and a round takes only a minute or two.
What’s the trick to flipping the cup?
Let a finger’s width of the rim hang over the edge and use a small, soft upward flick with one or two fingers. Make sure the cup is completely empty.
Can you play flip cup without alcohol?
Yes. Use water or soda in the cups; the relay race is exactly the same. Set the timer above to No alcohol to show penalty points instead of sips.
More drinking games to try
- Beer Pong Rules, setup, re-racks, a cup tracker and a tournament bracket.
- Rage Cage Bounce, pass, stack, rage: the fastest cup game there is.
- Large-group games Team games and party games for 8 to 30+ players.
- Beer Olympics Events, teams and a live medal table for your party.