Penne vs Ziti
Penne is medium tube cut on the diagonal, ridged (rigate) or smooth (lisce). Ziti is smooth medium tube, cut straight; sold long or cut.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmPenne: 45 to 55 mm by 9 to 11 mm
Ziti: 50 to 60 mm by 9 to 11 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Liguria | Campania |
| Section | Medium tube cut on the diagonal, ridged (rigate) or smooth (lisce) | Smooth medium tube, cut straight; sold long or cut |
| Length | 45 to 55 mm | 50 to 60 mm |
| Width or diameter | 9 to 11 mm | 9 to 11 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 1 to 1.3 mm | 1 to 1.3 mm |
| Surface | Ridged | Smooth |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 10 to 12 min | 11 to 14 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, Barilla, La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, Barilla, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 41, Rummo no. 66, Garofalo no. 70, La Molisana no. 20 | De Cecco no. 118, Rummo no. 36, Rummo no. 10, La Molisana no. 36, La Molisana no. 8, La Molisana no. 10 |
| Cook time across brands | 8 to 15 min | 8 to 12 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: 48 mm long, 8.2 mm across; Mancini: 50 mm long, 10.2 mm across | Rummo: 40 mm long, 8.4 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 | 1244 | 74 |
| Pairs with | Arrabbiata, Vodka sauce, Pomodoro, Cream sauce, Norma, Tuna and tomato, Baked (al forno), Pasta salad | Ragu napoletano, Baked (al forno), Pomodoro, Marinara, Meat ragu |
Penne
The bore carries sauce inside and the ridges hold it outside, so penne takes any sauce with body: arrabbiata, vodka sauce, a vegetable ragu, cream with peas and ham, and the oven. The pointed ends spear rather than scoop, so very chunky sauces sit better in rigatoni.
Ziti
A smooth tube holds sauce inside the bore rather than on the surface, so it wants a sauce with enough body to fill it: a slow ragu, the Neapolitan onion Genovese, a baked tomato and cheese.
Can you swap them?
Ziti for penne: yes, a smooth tube of the same width, cut straight.
Both take Pomodoro, Baked (al forno).
Only penne: Arrabbiata, Vodka sauce, Cream sauce, Norma, Tuna and tomato, Pasta salad.
Only ziti: Ragu napoletano, Marinara, 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.