The Best Reusable Straws for 2023

Our new top pick is the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case. These straws are extendable, and come with a cleaning brush and a carrying case.

Whether you want a reusable straw for slurping morning smoothies at home or for drinking iced coffee on the go, we recommend the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case. We found these straws to be some of the most comfortable to sip from and the easiest to clean, and they’re among the only straws we like that come with a carrying case and a cleaning brush. The silicone top extends from about 8 to 10½ inches, so you can adjust the length depending on the cup you use. We also like that you can get the OXO straws in a variety of colors and in sets of two or four.

These stainless steel straws have a durable metal base topped with an extendable silicone tip that’s comfortable (and safe) to drink from, and they come with a case and a brush.

We like that the straws in the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case come in two pieces: Their stainless steel base punches through a plastic to-go lid easily, while the pliable silicone tip feels comfortable in your mouth. It’s easier to push a cleaning brush through the separate segments (which come apart) than through one long straw. Plus, you can slide the tip up and down the steel base to adjust the length of the straw to fit your drinking vessel. We also appreciate that this set is one of the few we tested to come with a carrying case and a brush that fits inside, so you can use and clean your straws on the go. OXO also makes a six-piece set (with four straws) and sets of two and four bent straws without a carrying case.

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These straws also have a silicone top and a stainless steel base, but they don’t come with a carrying case.

If you don’t care about getting a carrying case and just want a set of straws to use at home, the Klean Kanteen Steel Straws are a better deal than the OXO set. Like the OXO straws, they have a stainless steel base and a silicone tip, and they’re just as comfortable to drink from and easy to clean. They’re not extendable, but they come with a brush, and at the time of publication, you could get a set of four Klean Kanteen straws for about the same price as the set of two OXO straws.

You can easily see if these translucent silicone straws are clean, and they come in lengths short enough to fit a kid’s cup.

Among the silicone straws we tested, the GoSili Reusable Silicone Straws stood out for their thick and translucent material. If you have kids, or are wary of jabbing yourself with a hard straw, you may prefer a softer, all-silicone straw over one that contains metal. We think these will hold up to some chewing better than thinner ones we tried, and we like that you can see through the straw to tell if it’s clean. The GoSili straws come in a few lengths, ranging from a short 5½ inches to an extra-long 10 inches, plus an extra-wide option that works for boba. We recommend getting a multipack that comes with six straws in two colors and three different lengths so you can use them in kids cups too.

These stainless steel straws have a durable metal base topped with an extendable silicone tip that’s comfortable (and safe) to drink from, and they come with a case and a brush.

These straws also have a silicone top and a stainless steel base, but they don’t come with a carrying case.

You can easily see if these translucent silicone straws are clean, and they come in lengths short enough to fit a kid’s cup.

We’re not going to tell you that the mere act of forgoing plastic straws for a reusable one will save the environment. But if you want to buy less stuff, always be prepared, or, sure, cut down on your plastic usage, a reusable straw might be for you.

Straws have been getting a lot of attention since the spring and summer of 2018. Maybe the hype began when several companies, including Alaska Airlines and Starbucks, started promising to phase out plastic straws, or when the city of Seattle announced a plastic utensil ban. Or maybe it was sparked by the viral video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck in its nose, or the rapid proliferation of the inaccurate statistic that Americans use 500 million straws each day (although the exact number is hard to know, The New York Times reports that a more accurate estimate is between 170 million and 390 million per day—which, admittedly, is still a lot of straws). Whatever the reason, many media outlets and environmental campaigns have touted reusable straws as an easy way to reduce waste.

While using a metal or silicone straw may help you minimize how much plastic or general stuff you buy, we think it’s important to consider the whole picture before you commit. You’ll need to be diligent about cleaning straws, and we recommend using a brush to get all of the gunk out. Our top pick comes with a carrying case, but our other picks don’t, so you’ll also need to get creative about transporting them when you’re on the go. And sometimes it’s just convenient (or possibly even delightful!) to use a plastic straw to slurp a chocolate milkshake, inhale an iced coffee, or sip a paloma; you can reduce your plastic habit in many other ways, too.

To help us figure out which straws to test of the thousands of options available from Amazon and other major retailers, we read reviews and roundups from sites including Epicurious, Martha Stewart, Bustle, The Strategist, and Refinery29. Most of these pieces, however, didn’t involve any research or testing, so we also polled Wirecutter staff members about their favorite straws and read over customer reviews. For the full picture on the pros and cons of plastic straws, we read articles about the background on the reusable-straw hype, why banning plastic straws burdens people with disabilities, how to break your plastic habit, and how different materials break down in the environment. We also spoke to Dr. Paulo Coelho, professor of biomaterials at NYU Dentistry, about how straws made from different materials can impact dental health.

Based on our research, we determined that a good reusable straw should check the following boxes:

Metal or silicone: We considered only stainless steel and silicone straws, skipping over bamboo, paper, or glass options. Glass can break, paper will disintegrate, and bamboo shouldn’t go in a dishwasher. Although we prioritized metal straws because they’re durable and easy to clean, we included silicone straws for kids and people who are worried about biting down on metal. Metal straws can also get uncomfortably cold or hot depending on what you’re drinking, whereas a silicone straw doesn’t conduct temperature as well.

Easy to drink from: The shape, length, diameter, and material of a straw can also affect how it feels to drink from it. Too narrow, and it’s hard to suck up liquids; too wide, and you’re getting too much at once. While shorter straws may not reach the bottom of a cup or tumbler, longer ones can awkwardly protrude from a smaller vessel and feel imbalanced. We looked for straws that reached a happy medium in all of these areas (we found that around 8 to 10 inches is a good length to fit 16- and 20-ounce cups) and were effortless and comfortable to use.

Easy to clean: All of the straws we considered are dishwasher safe, but we found that all of them require a good scrub with a brush to actually remove every last berry seed or shred of kale from a morning smoothie. Many of the straws we tested came with brushes, but we didn’t disqualify those that didn’t, since brushes are cheap and easy to buy separately. Brushes should fit all the way through a straw without getting stuck on a corner or pulling against silicone walls.

To test the straws we slurped fizzy Coca-Cola, a thick smoothie, and iced coffee. We ran them all through our test-kitchen’s dishwasher a few times to see if metal straws rusted (none did) and to find out how much gunk would come out on its own without scrubbing. (In doing so we learned that our dishwasher’s flat silverware rack does not flush out straws very well. They should get cleaner in an upright caddy, and Wirecutter supervising editor Winnie Yang says she’s also found it effective to stick straws onto the tines of her dishwasher’s middle rack, but using a brush is the safest option.) We also cleaned each straw with the brush it came with or used a Dawn Straw Cleaning Brush (we like these brushes for their sturdy handles, flexible bristles, and grippy handles). And finally, we tried punching the straws through plastic to-go-cup lids.

These stainless steel straws have a durable metal base topped with an extendable silicone tip that’s comfortable (and safe) to drink from, and they come with a case and a brush.

Out of all the straws we tested, the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case has the best design and is the best for on-the-go use. These straws combine a sturdy stainless steel base with a removable silicone tip, so you can bite down on them without fear of hurting your mouth. The tip also slides along the base so you can extend the straw from about 8 to 10½ inches to work with taller drinking vessels. The OXO straw comes in two pieces, so it’s easy to push a short brush through both parts. This was one of the few sets to come with a carrying case and a brush, so it’s the best option if you want to bring your straw with you.

Drinking from the OXO’s silicone mouthpiece is significantly more comfortable than drinking straight from a metal straw. It’s firmer than other silicone straws we tried, which means it won’t collapse when you try to suck thick liquids through it. But it’s still soft enough to bite down on if you usually chew straws or like to create a narrower opening to drink from. The silicone doesn’t conduct temperature as well as metal does, so it won’t be uncomfortable to drink hot or iced beverages from these straws. Drinking from the silicone part of the straw is also safer than drinking from an all-metal straw—you don’t run as much risk of jabbing your mouth, teeth, or other parts of your body while you’re walking or driving. Almost all of the metal straws we tested were indistinguishable from each other but equally unpleasant to drink from. The metal tubes rolled and clanked around our teeth, felt clammy, and added a slightly metallic taste to beverages.

The OXO straw separates into two pieces for easy cleaning. You can easily push the included straw brush all the way through both the silicone and metal sections to make sure all gunk is cleaned out. This was difficult to do with taller curved straws, especially ones that came with shorter brushes. We ended up just pushing and pulling a brush through the same spots—like mopping a floor with water that’s already dirty. You can also look straight through both pieces of the OXO straws to see if they’re clean, which you can’t do with longer, curved, opaque straws. Although you can just put the straws in the dishwasher, we recommend separating them and giving each section a good scrub to get everything out. We appreciate that the brush has a T-shaped plastic tab on the end so it’s easy to hold onto. Most of the other brushes included with the straws we tested (including Klean Kanteen’s) just have thin, slippery wire handles.

When fully extended to 10½ inches, these straws should work with 16- or 20-ounce cups. As with all metal straws, these will be easier to push through the opening of a plastic to-go lid than a flimsier, all-silicone straw. You can get the OXO set with two or four straws (although the case fits only two straws) in two different colors. OXO also makes sets of bent straws, but these aren’t adjustable, and they don’t come with a carrying case.

Oils and scents cling to silicone, which can make cleaning the OXO’s mouthpiece difficult. If you start to notice an off flavor, we recommend using hot water and unscented soap to remove oils, then baking the silicone part to deodorize it.

We found the 6½-millimeter-wide OXO straws ever so slightly more difficult to drink from than the 8-millimeter-wide Klean Kanteen straws, our also-great pick. OXO doesn’t offer wider options, while Klean Kanteen makes 10 mm straws for drinking thicker beverages.

The included case makes this set expensive for two straws—for about the same price, you can get four straws from Klean Kanteen. If you don’t need to take your straw on the go, we recommend saving a few dollars and going with the Klean Kanteen set.

These straws also have a silicone top and a stainless steel base, but they don’t come with a carrying case.

The silicone and stainless steel Klean Kanteen Steel Straws are just as easy to drink from and clean as OXO’s. They don’t come with a dedicated case, however, so we think they’re best for using at home. These straws have a curved silicone tip and stainless steel base; they’re also dishwasher safe, come with a brush, and come apart for easy cleaning.

Besides the curved shape of their silicone tip, which we found makes it easier to bring your drink to your mouth, there isn’t much of a functional difference between the Klean Kanteen straws and the straight OXO straws. The Klean Kanteen straws were just slightly easier to use when drinking thick smoothies because they’re a bit wider than the OXO straws. But otherwise, they both have comfortable silicone tops and sturdy metal bases that punch easily through to-go-cup lids.

Like the OXO straws, the Klean Kanteen straws break into two pieces for cleaning. You can run them through the dishwasher, but we still recommend pulling a brush through to remove any lingering crud.

The Klean Kanteen Straws are about 9 inches long (from end to end when bent) and a comfortable medium width, similar to other metal straws we tested. They work with 16- or 20-ounce cups, and their metal ends poke neatly through the “X” on a to-go lid. You can find the straws in a variety of options on Klean Kanteen’s site. They come in two-, three-, four-, or five-piece sets (the five-piece set comes with four straws and a cleaning brush), with mouthpieces in a mix of colors. They also offer a 10 mm straw for thicker beverages.

These straws don’t come with a carrying case. If you want to bring one with you, we recommend a Ziploc or reusable silicone bag (the straw’s silicone tip will pick up lint from a cloth bag).

You can easily see if these translucent silicone straws are clean, and they come in lengths short enough to fit a kid’s cup.

We prefer the GoSili Reusable Silicone Straws for kids or people who want a completely soft straw. The GoSili straws are pliant, but they’re thicker and stiffer than other silicone straws we tested. They’re also translucent, so you can see whether there are bits of smoothie stuck inside. The multipack comes with straws in multiple lengths, including some short enough for kids, but GoSili also offers sets of 8-inch, extra-long, or extra-wide straws. Silicone can be harder to clean because oils and scents cling to it, so caring for these straws may take a little more work.

Though still flexible, the GoSili straws had thicker walls than other straws we tested, making it easier to slurp thick beverages. Other silicone straws collapsed slightly when we drank smoothies with them. And the GoSilis punched through plastic to-go lids with less resistance than the GIR or Softy Straws we tested, which are floppier. We also think the GoSili straws’ thicker material may hold up better to wear and tear over time, though we’ll continue testing them to find out. The GoSili straws have a wider opening than others we tested, but are still comfortable to drink from. The soft silicone is also a safer option than metal (or glass) for anyone concerned about accidentally biting down on hard materials or lacerating their mouths. Silicone also doesn’t conduct temperature as well as metal, so your straw is less likely to get uncomfortably hot or cold.

The GoSili straws are the only fully translucent straws we tested, which made us realize how handy it was to be able to see whether a straw was fully clean (the only other straw that let us sort of see what was inside was the Koffie straw; dark blobs of smoothie contrasted with the pink silicone). These straws are dishwasher safe, and we found that most debris washed out of them. They don’t come with cleaning brushes, but we still recommend getting some to scrub off stuck-on bits. Unlike stainless steel, silicone absorbs scents easily and is a magnet for oils, which can make it tricky to clean. We recommend hot water and unscented soap, and if your straw acquires any lingering scents, try baking it to dissipate the smell.

With their short sizes and bright colors, the GoSili straws seem geared toward kids. We recommend getting the set that includes straws in 5½-, 6½-, and 8-inch lengths—they’ll work with a 16-ounce iced Americano or in a cup of juice at home. You can also get sets of 8-inch straws, extra-wide straws that work for boba, or extra-long 10-inch straws. In contrast, the GIR straws come in only one length, while the Softy straws come in 8¼-, 9-, and 10-inch options.

The company also makes silicone lids for cups that fit their straws, and sells individual straws with tin carrying cases.

You should get a brush if you opt for a straw that doesn’t come with one. A small brush will help loosen all of the stuck-on particles inside a straw that a dishwasher can’t reach, and prevent you from drinking old, crusty smoothie bits along with your fresh one. After spending several hours researching cleaning sets for our water-bottle guide, we like this water-bottle cleaning brush set from OXO. Wirecutter senior editor Harry Sawyers told us he’s used that set for cleaning out travel mugs, water bottles, and three kids water bottles daily since 2016, without the brushes getting damaged or even stained in all that time. For dedicated straw-cleaning tools, you can also get a basic brush set such as the Dawn Straw Cleaning Brushes. These brushes fit into every straw we tested and have durable, easy-to-grab handles.

It’s easy to lose track of these slim drinking tubes in the clutter of a drawer. We like how Wirecutter senior staff writer Lauren Dragan stores her straws: in a tall glass spaghetti jar. If you’re taking a straw with you in a bag or purse, we recommend keeping it in some sort of holder for sanitary reasons. Silicone tends to collect lint, so we suggest using a plastic bag or container rather than a cloth one.

We liked the soft silicone mouthpiece on the FinalStraw, and we appreciate that it packs down to a portable size complete with a carrying case and extendable cleaning brush. But we fear that this collapsible straw, which has a continuous silicone lining that bends and extends as you expand an outer steel casing, would collect smoothie or coffee in its crevices and begin to smell (or worse, gather mold). The FinalStraw is also pretty pricey at $25 (at the time of writing). If you’re willing to make the investment and stay diligent about cleaning every nook and cranny, you might like this straw.

Sets of the GIR Silicone Straws come in different quantities (a pack of two, five, or 10) and many colors, and all include silicone carrying cases and a cleaning squeegee. Though we like that GIR offers a complete package deal for cleaning and transportation, these straws felt the thinnest of any we tested and are also fairly expensive. And although the case is nice, it’s a magnet for lint.

Despite their name, the Softy Straws were firmer than the GIR Silicone Straws and stood up better in cups and to thick smoothies. But they were not as rigid as the GoSili straws, and the fins on the included cleaning squeegee are smaller than those on the GIR squeegee, so they’re less effective. However, we do like that these straws come in multiple colors and size options, and we think they’re a fine choice if you want generic silicone straws.

All of the highly rated metal straws we found on Amazon and other retail sites were unpleasant and unwieldy to drink from compared with flexible silicone straws. These hard straws roll and clank between your teeth, taste slightly metallic, and can get too cold or hot depending on what you’re drinking. Biting down on metal just feels weird. Plus, you can cut your mouth on a metal straw, which may make some parents wary of giving them to kids (in 2016, Starbucks recalled 2.5 million metal straws after receiving three reports of mouth injuries to young children in the US). All of the metal straws we tested in 2019 were nearly indistinguishable, too, and we don’t think anything has changed since then. Their differences lie in their length, shape (straight or curved), and how many straws come per package. The SipWell Stainless Steel Drinking Straws and HIC 18/8 Stainless Steel Drinking Straws are the same length (8½ inches) and have the same slight curve; the SipWell straws come with a brush. The straws in the Yihong Stainless Drinking Straws set (four bent and four straight 8½-inch straws) are comparable with those in the set of Hiware Stainless Steel Metal Straws (three bent and three straight 8½-inch straws, and three bent and three straight 10½-inch straws). Both sets come with two brushes and a cloth case. For the price, we think the Hiware set offers the most value, giving you 12 straws for slightly more than the price of eight Yihong straws.

The telescoping, collapsible Zoku Pocket Straw is made of metal and has a silicone mouthpiece. It has a nifty carrying case, and we like that the straw packs down small. This straw is hard to drink from, though—it didn’t pull up soda or thick smoothies easily—and we don’t think the small brush that comes with it would adequately clean it (the brush also got stuck in the straw, and we drank several drinks before realizing it).

The flattened Koffie Straw feels like a plastic straw you’ve anxiously chewed to near oblivion. The mouth area on this straw is very short, and its flat shape makes it hard to slurp beverages. Also, the claim that this straw will keep your teeth from staining is debatable.

Dr. Paulo Coelho, professor of biomaterials at NYU Dentistry, phone interview, February 26, 2018

Elaheh Nozari, Tested and Approved: The Best Reusable Straws, Epicurious, March 18, 2019

Brad Plumer, Plastic Bags, or Paper? Here’s What to Consider When You Hit the Grocery Store, The New York Times, March 29, 2018

Sarah Gibbens, A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world, National Geographic, January 2, 2019

Alice Wong, The Last Straw, Eater, July 19, 2018

14 Ways to Break Your Plastic Habit, Bon Appétit, March 25, 2019

Anna Perling

Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association.

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