Rigatoni vs Tortiglioni
Rigatoni is wide ridged tube cut straight across. Tortiglioni is medium tube with ridges that spiral around it.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmRigatoni: 45 to 60 mm by 14 to 17 mm
Tortiglioni: 45 to 55 mm by 11 to 14 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Lazio | Campania |
| Section | Wide ridged tube cut straight across | Medium tube with ridges that spiral around it |
| Length | 45 to 60 mm | 45 to 55 mm |
| Width or diameter | 14 to 17 mm | 11 to 14 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 1.1 to 1.3 mm | 1.1 to 1.3 mm |
| Surface | Ridged | Ridged |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 12 to 14 min | 12 to 14 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Rummo, Mancini, Barilla, La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 24, De Cecco no. 124, Rummo no. 50, La Molisana no. 31 | De Cecco no. 23, Rummo no. 49, Garofalo no. 34 |
| Cook time across brands | 11 to 14 min | 10 to 12 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: 40 mm long, 14.5 mm across; Mancini: 45 mm long, 19.2 mm across | Rummo: 44 mm long, 11.5 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 | 384 | 56 |
| Pairs with | Amatriciana, Meat ragu, Sausage ragu, Norma, Carbonara, Gricia, Baked (al forno), Vodka sauce | Meat ragu, Sausage ragu, Amatriciana, Baked (al forno), Pomodoro |
Rigatoni
The widest bore of the everyday tubes, so pieces of sausage, eggplant, or braised meat ride inside it. The ridges hold sauce and grated cheese on the outside. The square-cut ends scoop. It wants amatriciana, a slow ragu, sausage, and baked dishes. Thin oil sauces drain straight through.
Tortiglioni
Spiral ridges hold sauce the same way straight ones do, so it takes ragu, sausage, tomato with pieces, and baked dishes. Most cooks treat it as rigatoni.
Can you swap them?
Tortiglioni for rigatoni: yes, the same tube with spiral ridges.
Rigatoni for tortiglioni: yes, the same tube with straight ridges.
Both take Amatriciana, Meat ragu, Sausage ragu, Baked (al forno).
Only rigatoni: Norma, Carbonara, Gricia, Vodka sauce.
Only tortiglioni: Pomodoro.
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.