Ditali vs Ditalini
Ditali is short straight tube, as long as it is wide. Ditalini is tiny straight tube, the soup ditali.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmDitali: 8 to 12 mm by 6 to 8 mm
Ditalini: 4 to 7 mm by 4 to 6 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Pastina |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Campania | Campania |
| Section | Short straight tube, as long as it is wide | Tiny straight tube, the soup ditali |
| Length | 8 to 12 mm | 4 to 7 mm |
| Width or diameter | 6 to 8 mm | 4 to 6 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | 0.8 to 1 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Smooth |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 11 min | 7 to 10 min |
| Brands with a page | La Molisana | Barilla |
| Catalogue numbers | La Molisana no. 45, La Molisana no. 47 | not measured |
| Cook time across brands | 8 min | 11 min |
| Energy, dry, per 100 g | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) |
| Protein, dry, per 100 g | 13.0 g | 13.0 g |
| Products catalogued | 4 | 28 |
| Pairs with | Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Minestrone, Pomodoro, Pasta salad | Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Minestrone, In brodo, Pomodoro |
Ditali
Short and open at both ends, so they fill with soup and hold beans and vegetables. They also work in a thick tomato sauce for children and in a cold salad. Too small for a ragu.
Ditalini
A tiny tube cooks in the liquid it is served in and holds a bean or a pea in its bore. Soups, thick vegetable stews, and a simple tomato for children.
Can you swap them?
Ditalini for ditali: yes, the small grade.
Ditali for ditalini: yes, the larger grade.
Both take Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Minestrone, Pomodoro.
Only ditali: Pasta salad.
Only ditalini: In brodo.
Sources
- Dimensions, surface, dough, and cook time: each shape page names the brand page, spec sheet, or measured box behind every figure.
- Brands, catalogue numbers, brand cook times, and brand dimensions: the brand product pages linked on each shape page, read on 2026-08-25.
- Energy and protein: USDA FoodData Central, per 100 g of the dough, public domain.
- Products catalogued: Open Food Facts, Open Database License, read on 2026-08-25. A crowd database: a count is a floor.