Bully stick size chart: lengths, weights and pieces per kilo
A bully stick is sold by length, but it is bought and checked by weight. Two cartons of “12 inch” sticks can differ by more than double in weight per piece, so a size chart that lists length alone does not tell a buyer what will arrive. The chart below gives length and weight together for every size we cut, plus the weight per inch and pieces per kilo that follow from it.
Bully stick size chart
These are the length and weight bands from our own grading standard. Length is cut on a band saw to a tolerance of ± ¼ inch, square to the blade.
| Size | Length | Weight per piece |
|---|---|---|
| 6 inch | 5.75–6.25 in · 146–159 mm | 13–29 g |
| 9 inch | 8.85–9.25 in · 225–235 mm | 23–45 g |
| 12 inch | 11.75–12.25 in · 298–311 mm | 30–65 g |
| 18 inch | 17.75–18.25 in · 451–464 mm | 55–95 g |
| 28–32 inch | 27.75–32.25 in · 705–819 mm | 75–155 g |
| Full cane | 31.75–39.75 in · 806–1,010 mm | 80–179 g |
| Braided 5–6 inch | 5.75–6.25 in · 146–159 mm | 20–40 g |
| Braided 12 inch | 11.75–12.25 in · 298–311 mm | 35–90 g |
Download: Bully stick size chart (PDF, 2 pages), with both tables, the chart and our grading rules, for your purchasing file or QC team.
There is no international standard for bully stick grading. Every brand defines its own sizes, which is why a second order from a new supplier so often looks a grade lighter than the first. Grading by length and weight band together fixes that, because both can be measured on arrival.
Weight per inch and pieces per kilo
The figures below are calculated from the weight bands above, not measured separately. Use them to plan bag counts and carton yields. The low figure in each range is a thin stick and the high figure a thick one.
| Size | Weight per inch | Pieces per kg |
|---|---|---|
| 6 inch | 2.2–4.8 g | 34–77 |
| 9 inch | 2.6–5.0 g | 22–43 |
| 12 inch | 2.5–5.4 g | 15–33 |
| 18 inch | 3.1–5.3 g | 11–18 |
| 28–32 inch | 2.5–5.2 g (at 30 in) | 6–13 |
| Full cane | varies with length | 6–12 |
| Braided 5–6 inch | 3.3–6.7 g (at 6 in) | 25–50 |
| Braided 12 inch | 2.9–7.5 g | 11–29 |
Our bulk cartons carry 25 kg net, so pieces per carton is the pieces-per-kilo range multiplied by 25. A 25 kg carton of 12 inch sticks, for example, holds roughly 385 to 833 pieces depending on thickness.
Write both numbers on the purchase order. “12 inch” alone lets a supplier ship the thin end of the band. “12 inch, 30–65 g per piece” gives you something to weigh against when the container lands.
Why weight varies within one size
- Thickness. Pizzles vary in diameter. We judge thickness against a photographed reference standard, and a 6 inch stick measuring under ½ inch through the middle is rejected, not downgraded.
- Braiding. A braided stick is three pizzles twisted together before drying, so it weighs more than a straight stick of the same length.
- Full cane. The whole pizzle is left uncut, so length and weight both follow the animal.
- Natural variation. Colour runs from light tan to dark brown and diameter varies piece to piece. Nothing is bleached, dyed or coated to even it out.
What a beef pizzle is
Beef pizzle is the bull penis. Cleaned, stretched and dried, it becomes the single-ingredient dog chew sold as a bully stick. Ours is dried cattle pizzle with nothing added: no preservatives, binders, colourants or flavourings, and no smoking or irradiation.
How to specify sizes on a wholesale order
- Give the length and the weight band for each size, as in the chart above.
- Say whether you want straight, braided or full cane, and the share of each in the mix.
- State the carton net weight, or the retail bag count if you are buying private label.
- If you have your own grading specification, send it. We pack to it and mark the cartons accordingly.
Our bully stick specification and terms set out the full product sheet, packing and documents. If you are screening suppliers, our guide to what a US pet-treat buyer checks before ordering covers the rest of the questionnaire.
What sizes do bully sticks come in?
Common sizes are 6, 9, 12 and 18 inch, 28–32 inch, full cane (the uncut pizzle), and braided 5–6 inch and 12 inch. Each size should come with a weight band as well as a length, because weight is what a buyer can check on arrival.
How much does a 6 inch bully stick weigh?
In our grading standard a 6 inch bully stick weighs 13–29 g. The spread comes from thickness: a thin stick sits at the low end and a thick one at the high end.
How many bully sticks are in a kilo?
It depends on size and thickness. Calculated from our weight bands, a kilo holds about 34–77 sticks of 6 inch, 15–33 of 12 inch and 6–13 of 28–32 inch.
Why does a braided bully stick weigh more than a straight one?
A braided stick is three pizzles twisted together before drying. A braided 12 inch stick weighs 35–90 g against 30–65 g for a straight 12 inch stick.
Is there an industry standard for bully stick sizes?
No. There is no international grading standard, so each brand and supplier defines its own. Put both the length and the weight band on your purchase order so the size cannot be argued about later.
What is beef pizzle?
Beef pizzle is the bull penis. Cleaned, stretched and dried, it is sold as a single-ingredient dog chew called a bully stick.
Figures on this page come from Ubaid Imperial’s own grading standard for dried beef pizzle. To get a quotation for your size mix, use our request a quote form.