Mezze maniche vs Paccheri
Mezze maniche is short wide ridged tube, half a rigatoni. Paccheri is very wide smooth tube, collapses flat when cooked.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmMezze maniche: 25 to 35 mm by 14 to 17 mm
Paccheri: 45 to 55 mm by 25 to 30 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | All of Italy | Campania |
| Section | Short wide ridged tube, half a rigatoni | Very wide smooth tube, collapses flat when cooked |
| Length | 25 to 35 mm | 45 to 55 mm |
| Width or diameter | 14 to 17 mm | 25 to 30 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 1.1 to 1.3 mm | 1.2 to 1.5 mm |
| Surface | Ridged | Smooth |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 11 to 13 min | 14 to 18 min |
| Brands with a page | Garofalo, Mancini, La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | Garofalo no. 32, La Molisana no. 38 | De Cecco no. 125, De Cecco no. 225, Rummo no. 111, Rummo no. 150, Rummo no. 152, Rummo no. 168, Rummo no. 195, Garofalo no. 83, La Molisana no. 316, La Molisana no. 321 |
| Cook time across brands | 11 to 14 min | 12 to 16 min |
| Brand dimensions | Mancini: 20 mm long, 19.2 mm across | Mancini: 30 mm long, 30 mm across |
| 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 | 3 | 18 |
| Pairs with | Carbonara, Gricia, Amatriciana, Sausage ragu, Baked (al forno) | Ragu napoletano, Frutti di mare, Baked (al forno), Norma, Meat ragu |
Mezze maniche
Short and wide, so each piece fills with sauce: carbonara, gricia, amatriciana, a sausage ragu. Also good in the oven and in a thick soup.
Paccheri
The huge bore traps whole pieces of squid, sausage, or braised meat and the flattened tube carries sauce on both faces. It wants a sauce with big pieces: seafood ragu, ragu napoletano, or a filling and the oven. A thin sauce leaves it empty.
Can you swap them?
Paccheri for mezze maniche: yes, wider, smooth.
Both take Baked (al forno).
Only mezze maniche: Carbonara, Gricia, Amatriciana, Sausage ragu.
Only paccheri: Ragu napoletano, Frutti di mare, Norma, Meat ragu.
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.