How Many Rose Petals Are in a Cup?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. If you’re comparing quantities between vendors, your first instinct might be to ask, “How many petals am I getting?” However, a simple number doesn’t tell the full story.

Petal Size Matters

The size of rose petals makes a significant difference. In the photo below, each pile contains exactly 25 petals.

Most people would prefer the larger petals on the left—unless they need to fit into a smaller package. When decorating an aisle or tables, larger petals provide better coverage. This is especially important on grass, where smaller petals tend to fall between the blades, while larger petals stand out, creating a beautiful aisle or border.

Counting Every Petal? Not Exactly.

Let’s be honest—no one counts every single petal when packaging orders. To estimate petal quantity, we occasionally count 10 cups of petals to determine an average, but this isn’t practical for every order.

At Petal Garden, we source only South American roses, primarily from Colombia and Ecuador. These regions are known for producing the largest, highest-quality roses in the world, particularly Ecuadorian roses. Compared to typical domestically grown roses, South American rose petals can be several times larger.

For example, our popular Ivory rose petals can range from 20 to 40 petals per cup, while similar domestic petals may yield twice that number. If the petals are small and flat—about the size of a dime—you might fit 100 petals per cup, but visually, they won’t cover more space than 30 large petals.

Clumps vs. Fully Separated Petals

Another crucial factor is whether the petals are fully separated. At Petal Garden, we are meticulous about avoiding "clumps." Before freeze-drying, our petals are carefully removed from the roses and fully separated—a time-consuming process. Over the years, we’ve trained many "petalers," and the first sign of rushing is clumps of petals still stuck together. If you’re considering fresh rose petals, be aware that they often come in large clumps as the farm workers are under tight deadlines to ship the fresh petals from South American countries.

Quality Matters

We cringe when we hear of people sweeping up discarded petals for a flower girl. At the highest level of quality, we carefully grade our petals before freeze-drying them, then hand-pick our Premium Petals nearly one by one during packaging. Petals that don’t meet our standards are sold as pathway or budget petals.

With fresh petals from other vendors, there’s often little time to sort through quality, meaning you might receive petals with rips, holes, bruises, outer guard petals (which have green edges), and tiny, misshapen inner petals, and the worst of them all... rot! Yes, they all contribute to the petal count—but they’re not something you’d want at your wedding or event.

What to Consider When Comparing Petal Counts

When trying to compare petal quantities across vendors, keep these key factors in mind:

✅ Size – Larger petals mean fewer per cup.
✅ Shape – Curved petals take up more space than flat ones.
✅ Separation – Clumped petals may increase the count but require extra effort to separate.
✅ Quality – Guard petals and tiny inner pieces shouldn’t be included in premium petal counts.

Need Help Calculating?

The easiest way to determine how much to order is by using our exclusive Rose Petal Quantity Calculator—a tool based on decades of experience that ensures you get the right amount for your needs.

Get a Sample!

There's no better way to understand our quality than to see it for yourself. Simply Order a Sample and you're sure to be impressed!

With so many rose varieties, each with unique characteristics, the beauty of the rose should be preserved in its petals to create a stunning statement at your event.