Fettuccine vs Tagliatelle
Fettuccine is flat ribbon, 6 to 8 mm wide. Tagliatelle is flat egg ribbon, 8 mm wide by tradition.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmFettuccine: 250 to 260 mm by 6 to 8 mm
Tagliatelle: 250 to 300 mm by 6 to 10 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Ribbons | Ribbons |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Lazio | Emilia-Romagna |
| Section | Flat ribbon, 6 to 8 mm wide | Flat egg ribbon, 8 mm wide by tradition |
| Length | 250 to 260 mm | 250 to 300 mm |
| Width or diameter | 6 to 8 mm | 6 to 10 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 0.9 to 1.2 mm | 0.6 to 1 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Smooth |
| Hollow | No | No |
| Dough | Semolina, or egg when fresh | Egg pasta |
| Cook time | 3 to 12 min | 2 to 8 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, Barilla, La Molisana | Rummo, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 6, Rummo no. 15, Rummo no. 89, Rummo no. 94, Garofalo no. 15, La Molisana no. 5, La Molisana no. 104, La Molisana no. 204 | Rummo no. 107, Rummo no. 132, La Molisana no. 103, La Molisana no. 202, La Molisana no. 203 |
| Cook time across brands | 3 to 14 min | 3 to 9 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: 260 mm long, 5.8 mm across; Mancini: 260 mm long | not measured |
| Energy, dry, per 100 g | 288 kcal (fresh pasta) | 288 kcal (fresh pasta) |
| Protein, dry, per 100 g | 11.3 g | 11.3 g |
| Products catalogued | 187 | 702 |
| Pairs with | Alfredo, Meat ragu, Porcini, Cream sauce, Butter and sage | Ragu alla bolognese, Porcini, Butter and sage, Cream sauce, Alfredo |
Fettuccine
A ribbon has a broad flat face, so butter, cream, and cheese emulsions coat it evenly and a ragu rides on top. Egg dough makes it porous enough to absorb. It is too soft for a sharp oil sauce, and too wide for broth.
Tagliatelle
A wide porous egg ribbon holds a meat ragu on its surface and absorbs the fat, which is why Bologna refuses spaghetti for the same sauce. Butter, cream, mushrooms, and truffle behave the same way. Oil and seafood sauces are the wrong weight.
Can you swap them?
Tagliatelle for fettuccine: yes, the same ribbon a millimetre wider.
Fettuccine for tagliatelle: yes, the Roman ribbon, a millimetre narrower.
Both take Alfredo, Porcini, Cream sauce, Butter and sage.
Only fettuccine: Meat ragu.
Only tagliatelle: Ragu alla bolognese.
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.