Types of Drinking Straws
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There are several different sizes of drinking straws. From smallest to largest, the straw sizes are classified as school milk, jumbo, super jumbo, giant, boba, and colossal. Each has a different diameter, which means they are all used for drinking different beverages. For example, colossal straws are extra large beverage straws that are best for thicker drinks like smoothies, milkshakes, bubble tea, or slushies, whereas school milk straws are much shorter in length, smaller in diameter, and are best for use with milk and juice cartons or kids' drinks.
We've listed the diameters below for each straw size. For reference, the standard drinking straw diameter is 0.25".
1. School Milk Straws: 0.13" Diameter
2. Jumbo Straws: 0.219" Diameter
3. Super Jumbo Straws: 0.25" Diameter
4. Giant Straws: 0.296" Diameter
5. Boba Straws: 0.375" Diameter
6. Colossal Straws: 0.47" Diameter
- Ideal for milk, water, and juice
- 0.13” diameter
- Ideal for water, juice, and soda
- 0.219” diameter
- Perfect for thick drinks like milkshakes, slushies, and frappes
- 0.25” diameter
- Ideal for thick drinks like smoothies, milkshakes, and floats
- 0.296” diameter
- Ideal for bubble tea, smoothies, and milkshakes
- 0.375" diameter
- Perfect for extra-thick drinks and drinks with add-ins
- 0.47” diameter
It is estimated that Americans alone use around 500 million single-use plastic straws a day. As a result, straw bans have been enacted across the United State in an effort to reduce ocean pollution. Replacing plastic straws with eco-friendly alternatives is a simple, cost-effective way to go green in your restaurant. Some plastic straw alternatives include:
- Stands up to the wear and tear of everyday use
- Can be washed and used again
- Reusable design is cost-effective
- Provide a stylish, modern look to help make beverages shine
- Environmentally friendly and long-lasting
- Available in stainless steel, acrylic, and glass materials
- Break down at a much faster rate than plastic, providing guests with a guilt-free way to sip
- Often colorful and feature fun designs to brighten up any drink
- Withstand hot or cold use
- Styles come wrapped or unwrapped
- Various sizes available
- Constructed from renewable resources including starch, sugarcane, or cassava roots
- Durable and conveniently disposable, making them a perfect solution for any business looking for simple environmentally friendly solutions
- Looks and feels just like traditional plastic straws, making it ideal for establishments looking to continue to use plastic without guilt
- When properly composted, these straws break down much faster than traditional plastic; they have no environmental benefit if disposed of without composting
- Provide a sustainable solution while maintaining their strength and remaining tasteless
- Made with wheat and water, making them suitable for vegans
- Can be cut to any length for your drinks, and are even safe for consumption
- Stay intact without softening for over an hour
- Only meant for use with cold beverages
- 100% compostable
- Can be used in hot beverages
- Never become soggy in drinks
- Each straw is different from the last, providing an eye-catching, appealing straw for guests
- Available in multiple sizes
- Perfect for use in smoothies, shakes, juices, and cocktails
- Can be eaten after the drink is finished to enhance your customer's overall experience
- Eco-friendly and plastic-free
- Only meant for use with cold beverages
- Great for use with cold drinks
- Available in many sizes to fit different cups
- Eliminates the need for a straw, providing both an eco-friendly and cost-saving benefit
- Often features a compostable design
Plastic Straw Bans
Environmentally friendly straws have increased in demand since the rise of straw bans around the globe. Several cities in the states of New York, Washington, New Jersey, Florida, Hawaii, and California have already established, or are in the process of establishing, a ban on the use of plastic straws in local businesses. In addition, some states, such as Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, and Rhode Island, are considering asking restaurants to only give plastic straws to those who ask for one.
If you own a bar or restaurant that regularly serves cocktails, you may find yourself in need of mixed drink stirrers so customers can stir drinks and keep them from settling and separating.
- Also known as sip straws or cocktail straws
- Ideal for stirring hot or cold beverages, cocktails, or mixed drinks
- Often used by bartenders to test a drink before serving
- Long to accommodate drinks in taller glasses, like the Collins glass
- Popular for stirring tall mixed drinks and cocktails
- Great addition to restaurants, bars, or outdoor patios
- Ideal for stirring in milk, cream, or sugar into hot beverages
- Most can also be used as mixed drink stirrers
- Great for coffee shops, hotels, office break rooms, and bars
Whether you own a restaurant, bar, smoothie shop, or cafe, straws are an essential part of your drink service. There are various features and styles to look for when choosing the right straws for your establishment.
- Offer a twistable and bendable design to provide convenient handling
- Keeps the kids entertained with a straw they can bend as they please
- Can be used to assist customers with limited dexterity
- Come in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors, including popular crazy straws and straws with ornamental paper decorations
- Great for slushies, snow cones, smoothies, milkshakes, and other ice cream treats that you could eat with either a spoon or a straw
- Open-ended feature doubles as a small spoon, which is both convenient for thick drinks and fun to use
- Offered in a variety of sizes and colors
- Great solution for busy cafeterias and fast food restaurants
- Straws stay clean and untouched until ready for use
- Provide better protection against the spread of bacteria than unwrapped straws
- Available in a wide selection of sizes and a variety of colors
- Adds a pop of color to your tabletop or your to-go cups
- Available in individual colors as well as assorted packs
- Various styles and sizes, including flexible straws, colossal straws, and paper straws
The final step in choosing the straws for you bar or restaurant is selecting the proper dispenser to house them safely. Straw dispensers make sure that sanitation is always a priority, keeping dust and bacteria away from straws while they are in storage. Here are just some of the types of straw dispensers you can choose from to meet your establishment's needs.
Allow for wrapped straws to descend easily out of the dispenser
Dispense one unwrapped straw at a time to keep the others sanitary
Provides access to straws from either side of a cafeteria line
Perfect for setting on individual tables
Nostalgic look is perfect for diners or ice cream shops
Beverage supplies organizers are ideal for self-service counters
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