The work aims to assess and compare the effects of different paper cups on human health and environment with three kinds of paper cups, including PLA filmed, PE filmed and acrylic polymer coated ones, as object of study, so as to provide references for paper cup enterprises and industry. The live cycle assessment of paper cups, including objective/scope determination, check list analysis, life cycle impact assessment/interpretation, and data quality assessment, was conducted with LCA method and software eFootprint. When the grammage of the paper cup was up to 210 g/m2 and only one layer was filmed or coated, the paper cups filmed or coated with PE, PLA and acrylic polymer emitted 1 839, 2 077 and 1 826 kg CO2 eq. of greenhouse gases, 8.88, 10.75 and 8.63 kg SO2 eq. of gases and substances affecting acidification, and 2.93, 3.23 and 2.93 kg (PO4)3− eq. of substances affecting eutrophication, respectively. In general, the production process of acrylic polymer coated paper cups is more environmentally friendly.