Paper vs Bamboo Straws: Price, Sizes and Uses for Cafés

Paper straws at Packery start at $0.02 each and come in black, white, green and red across regular, cocktail, flexi, jumbo, spoon and bubble tea styles, while bamboo fibre straws cost $0.07 to $0.15 each and come in a natural colour with a slant cut. For most cafés buying eco straws wholesale in Australia, paper covers the everyday range and bamboo fibre suits venues that want a natural look on cold drinks.

Key takeaways

• Paper straws cost $0.02 to $0.08 each; bamboo fibre straws cost $0.07 to $0.15 each.
• Paper comes in four colours and six styles, and every paper straw in the range can be custom printed with your logo.
• Bamboo fibre straws come in Natural only, in regular, jumbo and bubble tea sizes, and are not available with custom print.
• Bubble tea straws come in both materials at 12x230mm.
• All straws are sold by the carton, with no minimum order.

What is the difference between paper and bamboo straws?

The difference is the material: paper straws are made from paper, while the bamboo straws in the range are made from bamboo fibre with a slant-cut end. Paper gives you more colours, sizes and print options; bamboo fibre gives you a single natural finish.

Paper straws in the range come in solid colours, stripes, a flexi bend and a spoon end.

Neither product is listed as compostable, so treat both as paper or bamboo fibre alternatives to plastic and check how your local waste service handles them.

How much does a paper straw cost compared with a bamboo straw?

Paper is the lower-cost option per straw. The Paper Straws – Black Regular All (Carton of 2500) works out at $0.01 each, while the Bamboo Straws – Fibre Slant Cut Regular (Carton of 5000) is $0.06 each.

The gap holds at larger sizes too. A jumbo paper straw is $0.05 each and the bamboo fibre jumbo is $0.09 each. For bubble tea, paper is $0.07 or $0.08 each and bamboo fibre is $0.15 each.

Bamboo fibre cartons hold 2000 to 5000 straws (see the product page for the current price). Because carton sizes differ, compare the price per straw rather than the carton price.

What sizes and colours are available?

Paper straws come in black, white, green and red, in sizes from 5x120mm to 12x230mm. Bamboo fibre straws come in Natural only, in 6x120mm, 8x120mm and 12x230mm.

On the paper side, the regular, flexi and individually wrapped white straws are all 6x197mm. Jumbo paper straws are 10x200mm and come in solid black or in green, red and black stripes. The spoon straw is 8x210mm and the cocktail straw is 5x120mm. White individually wrapped options are available for regular, flexi and bubble tea sizes if you want each straw sealed.

On the bamboo fibre side, the regular and jumbo straws are both 120mm long, and the bubble tea straw matches the paper bubble tea length at 12x230mm.

Which drinks suit paper straws and which suit bamboo?

Match the straw size to the drink first, then choose the material for the look you want. Short 120mm straws suit smaller glasses and cocktails; longer 197mm to 230mm straws suit takeaway cold cups, iced coffees, smoothies and bubble tea.

• Iced coffee, iced tea and soft drinks: a 6x197mm regular or flexi paper straw, or the 6x120mm bamboo fibre regular in a shorter glass.
• Smoothies, frappés and thickshakes: a 10x200mm jumbo paper straw or the 8x120mm bamboo fibre jumbo.
• Sundaes and spoonable drinks: the 8x210mm paper spoon straw.
• Cocktails and short glasses: the 5x120mm paper cocktail straw.
• Bubble tea: a 12x230mm straw in either paper or bamboo fibre.

Which one should I buy?

Most cafés are best served by one paper regular straw for everyday cold drinks plus one wider straw for thick or pearl drinks. Here is how that breaks down by venue:

• Busy café or takeaway shop: the Paper Straws – Black Regular All (Carton of 2500) at $0.01 each for iced coffees and cold drinks. If you want each straw sealed for takeaway, choose the Paper Straws – White Regular Plain Individually Wrapped (Carton of 2500) at $0.02 each.
• Juice and smoothie bar: the Paper Straws – Green Jumbo Stripe (Carton of 2500) at $0.04 each, or the Bamboo Straws – Fibre Slant Cut Jumbo (Carton of 4000) at $0.08 each if you want a natural finish.
• Bubble tea shop: the Paper Straws – White Bubble Tea Plain (Carton of 1000) at $0.06 each, or the Bamboo Straws – Fibre Bubble Tea Slant Cut (Carton of 2000) at $0.13 each for a premium presentation.
• Bar, restaurant or catering: the Paper Straws – Black Cocktail All (Carton of 2500) at $0.01 each for short glasses, or the Bamboo Straws – Fibre Slant Cut Regular (Carton of 5000) at $0.06 each for a natural look at the table.
• Dessert bar or gelato shop: the Paper Straws – Black Spoon All (Carton of 2500) at $0.05 each.

If branding matters, go with paper. Custom printing with your logo is available on selected products, including the paper straws in this range, but not on the bamboo fibre straws. See custom print for details.

For more on paper options alone, read our guides to paper straws wholesale in Australia and paper straws.

How do I order straws from Packery?

Straws are sold by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and the price per item. There is no minimum order. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. Delivery time is 3–5 business days to capital cities, 4–6 business days regional.

All orders are prepaid online. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). Browse the full straws range or add cartons straight to your cart on the quick order page.

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No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details