The bag holds the frosting; the tip decides what comes out. A small round tip writes a name on a cake, a large open star pipes the swirl on a cupcake, a petal tip makes a rose and a big plain tube pipes choux or churro dough. Once you know what the numbers mean, buying tips is less about the biggest kit and more about getting the handful of shapes you will actually use.
This guide covers only piping tips: full sets, small sets built around one job and a few single tips worth buying on their own. For the bags themselves, and for couplers, see our piping bags guide. That page already recommends the Wilton 55-piece Master Tip Set and the Wilton Beginning Buttercream Set, so we left both out here and chose different tips.
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Quick verdict: which piping tips to buy
For most home bakers, the best piping bag tips here are the Ateco 332 8-piece decorating set: six stainless steel tips (round 4, stars 16 and 32, basketweave 48, petal 104 and leaf 352), a standard coupler and a 10-inch reusable bag, from a pastry-tool maker that has been in business since 1905. If you mainly frost cupcakes, the Wilton 12-piece cupcake set gives you the four large tips that do most of that work (1M, 2A, 2D and 4B). For pastry, whipped cream and choux, add the Ateco 10-piece star tube set.
The rest of this page explains what the tip numbers mean, which tips suit which job and what each set leaves out.
Five piping tip picks side by side
Our five standout tip sets and tips, one for each kind of baker, with the specifications each maker or listing states. All eight are reviewed in full below.
| Piping tips | Best for | Tips | Material | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ateco 332 8-Piece Decorating SetBest overall
|
The six core tips for cakes and cookies | 6 tips, coupler, 10-inch bag | Stainless steel | View on Amazon |
Wilton 12-Piece Cupcake Decorating SetBest for cupcakes
|
Swirls, rosettes and stars on cupcakes | 1M, 2A, 2D, 4B plus 8 bags | Stainless steel | View on Amazon |
Ateco 10-Piece Star Tube SetBest large star set
|
Pastry, whipped cream, choux | Ten star tubes, sizes 0 to 9 | Stainless steel | View on Amazon |
Wilton 12-Piece Cookie Decorating SetBest for cookies
|
Outlining and detail in royal icing | Round 2 and 4, star 14, petal 102 | Not stated; top-rack dishwasher safe | View on Amazon |
PME Supatube Writer Tip No. 0Best for fine writing
|
Lettering, fine lines, string work | 1 round writer tip | Seamless stainless steel | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Tip numbers and materials are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
What the tip numbers mean
Tip numbers are a maker’s catalog code, not a universal size, so a Wilton 12 and an Ateco 12 are not guaranteed to match. Within one maker the system is consistent, though, and once you learn it you can shop by number.
Wilton’s small tips are grouped by shape. In its piping tips starter guide, Wilton lists round tips such as 1 to 12 for dots, lettering, outlines and swirls; star tips such as 13 to 22 for borders, shells, stars and rosettes; drop flower tips such as 106, 107 and 224 that make a flower in one squeeze; petal tips such as 101 to 104 for roses, ruffles and ribbons; and leaf tips such as 66, 67 and 352. Large tips have a number and a letter: Wilton names 1A and 2A as large rounds, 1M as a large star and 1F and 2F among its large drop flower tips.
Ateco’s pastry tubes use a three-digit 800 series where the last digit is the size, from 0 (smallest) to 9 (largest). Ateco’s own set names show the pattern: the 810 set holds plain tubes in sizes 0 to 9, the 830 set star tubes, the 850 set closed star tubes 840 to 849, and the 870 set French star tubes 860 to 869. So an Ateco 826 is a size-6 open star, which Ateco lists with a 1/2-inch opening.
Standard or large coupler? Wilton says to use the standard coupler with standard tips and the large coupler with large tips, that couplers are not required, and that not every tip fits one. Large tips like 1M are often simply dropped into a cut bag on their own.
Our picks for the best piping bag tips
These eight cover the useful ways to buy tips: one small all-round set, two small Wilton sets built for cupcakes and for cookies, a three-tip flower set, an Ateco set of large pastry star tubes, two single PME tips for fine writing and big rosettes, and a polycarbonate set for anyone who prefers plastic. Each pick says who it suits and gives one honest reason to skip it.
1. Ateco 332 8-Piece Decorating Set – Six Core Steel Tips, a Bag and a Coupler
Ateco is a family-owned pastry-tool maker that says it has been producing baking and decorating tools in the USA since 1905. Its 332 set is a starter kit built around the handful of shapes most decorating calls for. According to the listing it contains six stainless steel tips, numbers 4, 16, 32, 48, 104 and 352, plus one 10-inch reusable decorating bag in plastic-coated fabric and one standard coupler. Restaurant-supply retailers list the same contents.
Those six numbers cover a lot of ground. The listing says they make roses, shells, leaves, stars, scrolls and lettering: the round 4 writes and outlines, the open stars 16 and 32 pipe shells, stars and rosettes, the 48 pipes basketweave and stripes, the petal 104 makes roses and ruffles, and the leaf 352 makes pointed leaves. With the coupler you can swap tips on the same bag without emptying it.
It is a small set by design, and it leaves out large pastry tubes, so pair it with a large star or plain tube if you pipe choux, churros or big cupcake swirls. There is no flower nail or storage box. Our piping bags guide recommends Wilton’s 55-piece set for anyone who wants every shape at once; this is the leaner Ateco route to the tips you will actually use.
Why we like it
- Six standard stainless steel tips, numbered in the listing.
- Includes a standard coupler and a 10-inch reusable bag.
- Covers writing, stars, basketweave, roses and leaves.
- From a pastry-tool maker in business since 1905, according to Ateco.
Key specifications
| Model | 332 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 6 |
| Tip types | Round 4, open stars 16 and 32, basketweave 48, petal 104, leaf 352 |
| Material | Stainless steel tips |
| Coupler fit | Standard coupler included |
| Extras | 10-inch reusable plastic-coated fabric bag |
| Care | Hand wash and dry, per the listing |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits bakers who decorate the occasional cake or batch of cookies and want the core shapes, numbered and ready to use, without a box of tips they will never touch.
Skip it if you want a full collection of specialty shapes, or if you mainly frost cupcakes: large tips like a 1M or 2D do that job better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The tips most recipes call for
- Stainless steel tips
- Bag and coupler included
Cons
- Only six tips
- No large tips for big swirls
- Hand wash only
2. Wilton 12-Piece Cupcake Decorating Set – The Four Large Tips That Matter
This small Wilton set holds the four large tips most cupcake recipes call for: star tip 1M, round tip 2A, drop flower tip 2D and star tip 4B, plus eight disposable decorating bags and illustrated instructions. Wilton says the tips are stainless steel and dishwasher safe, and recommends washing them in warm, soapy water before and after each use.
Each tip does a distinct job. The 1M is the classic open star for the tall swirl and the buttercream rose. The 2A is a large round for smooth domes, dots and soft swirls. The 2D drop flower pipes a flower in one squeeze or, with a twist, a tighter rosette than the 1M. The 4B is a star with more, finer ridges for a different texture. Wilton’s own guide recommends a 1M or 2A in a 16-inch bag for two-color swirls.
These are large tips, so check before using them with a coupler; Wilton says large tips need its large coupler. Most bakers drop them straight into a bag. The eight bags in the box are a starter supply; our piping bags guide covers bags that last longer.
Why we like it
- Tips 1M, 2A, 2D and 4B, per the listing.
- Stainless steel and dishwasher safe, according to Wilton.
- Includes eight disposable bags and illustrated instructions.
Key specifications
| Model | 2104-1364 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 4 |
| Tip types | Star 1M, round 2A, drop flower 2D, star 4B |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Coupler fit | Large tips; large coupler needed (per Wilton) |
| Extras | 8 disposable bags, instructions |
| Care | Dishwasher safe; warm soapy water |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who mainly frosts cupcakes or sheet cakes and wants the few large tips that do that work.
Skip it if you need fine work like writing or outlining; there are no small tips in this set.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The four most useful large tips
- Dishwasher safe
- Bags included
Cons
- No small tips
- No coupler or storage case
3. Ateco 10-Piece Star Tube Set – Pastry Stars from Small to Large
This is a pastry kitchen’s set rather than a cake decorator’s. It holds ten Ateco star tubes, one of each size from 0 to 9, in a protective plastic tube. The listing says they are stainless steel and dishwasher safe. One pastry retailer gives the openings as about 5/32 inch for size 0 up to 11/16 inch for size 9.
Star tubes of this size are what you reach for with whipped cream, meringue, choux paste, mashed potato and soft cookie or churro dough. The ridges give the piped shape texture and help a heavy dough hold its edges. Having every size means you can match the tube to the job: a small one for rosettes on a tart, a medium one for eclairs, the largest for big meringue kisses or a generous swirl.
Retailers describe this as an open star set; Ateco sells closed and French star sets separately if you want tighter, deeper ridges. These tubes are bigger than standard coupler tips, so drop them straight into a cut bag. If you pipe churro dough, see our churro maker guide for the bags and tools that handle a stiff dough.
Why we like it
- Ten star tubes, sizes 0 to 9, per the listing.
- Stainless steel and dishwasher safe.
- Comes in a protective plastic storage tube.
- Openings run from about 5/32 to 11/16 inch, according to a pastry retailer.
Key specifications
| Model | 830 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 10 |
| Tip types | Star (open star per retailers), sizes 0 to 9 |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Coupler fit | Not stated; large pastry tubes |
| Extras | Protective plastic storage tube |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits bakers who pipe whipped cream, meringue, choux or soft doughs and want one star tube in every size.
Skip it if you mostly decorate cakes with fine detail; these are pastry tubes, not small decorating tips.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Every size from 0 to 9
- Dishwasher safe
- Stored in a protective tube
Cons
- One shape only
- Too large for most couplers
4. Wilton 12-Piece Cookie Decorating Set – Small Tips for Royal Icing
Wilton’s cookie set is the small-tip counterpart to its cupcake set. The listing says it contains round tips 2 and 4, star tip 14 and petal tip 102, plus eight 12-inch disposable decorating bags and illustrated directions, for decorating cookies in buttercream or royal icing.
Round tips 2 and 4 are the workhorses of cookie decorating: the 2 for outlining and fine detail, the 4 for thicker outlines, dots and filling smaller areas. Star tip 14 pipes small stars and borders, and petal tip 102 makes small ruffles and petals. Together they cover most decorated sugar cookies without a big kit.
Wilton says the tips are top-rack dishwasher safe but recommends washing them in warm, soapy water before first use and after each use; royal icing dries hard in a small opening, so rinse the tips as soon as you finish. The listing does not state the tip material. These are standard tips, so they fit a standard coupler, which lets you switch between them on one bag of icing.
Why we like it
- Round 2 and 4, star 14 and petal 102, per the listing.
- Includes eight 12-inch disposable bags.
- Top-rack dishwasher safe, according to Wilton.
Key specifications
| Model | 2104-1365 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 4 |
| Tip types | Round 2 and 4, star 14, petal 102 |
| Material | Not stated |
| Coupler fit | Standard tips (coupler not included) |
| Extras | 8 disposable 12-inch bags, directions |
| Care | Top-rack dishwasher safe; hand wash recommended |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone decorating sugar cookies who wants the small round tips for outlining and detail, plus a star and a petal for borders.
Skip it if you frost cupcakes or cakes; these tips are too small for swirls and borders on a large surface.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The core cookie tips
- Bags included
- Standard size for couplers
Cons
- Tip material not stated
- No coupler or case
5. Wilton 3-Piece Flower Tip Set – Petal, Leaf and Drop Flower
If you want to pipe buttercream flowers, these are the three tips to start with. The listing says the set includes petal tip 104, leaf tip 352 and drop flower tip 224, that all three work with standard bags and couplers, that they are dishwasher safe and that they are made in China.
The 104 is the classic rose tip: its teardrop-shaped opening pipes petals that are thick at one edge and thin at the other, which is how a piped rose gets its shape. Wilton’s guide also lists petal tips for ruffles, ribbons and swags. The 352 has a V-shaped opening for pointed leaves, and the 224 pipes small drop flowers in one squeeze, useful for filling around larger roses.
Because they are standard-size tips, you can put all three on separate bags with couplers and switch colors as you work. A flower nail, sold separately, makes piping roses easier. The listing describes the material only as metal.
Why we like it
- Petal 104, leaf 352 and drop flower 224, per the listing.
- Works with standard bags and couplers.
- Dishwasher safe.
Key specifications
| Model | 418-400 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 3 |
| Tip types | Petal 104, leaf 352, drop flower 224 |
| Material | Metal (type not stated) |
| Coupler fit | Standard bags and couplers |
| Extras | None |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
| Made in | China |
Why we recommend it
It suits bakers learning buttercream roses and flower borders who want only the three tips that work.
Skip it if you already own a large tip set; check whether it includes these three numbers first.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Three flower essentials
- Fits a standard coupler
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- No flower nail
- Metal type not stated
6. PME Supatube Writer Tip No. 0 – A Seamless Tip for Fine Lines
PME is a cake-decorating brand, and its Supatube tips are made from seamless stainless steel, according to the listing. This is the No. 0 writer, the smallest round in the range, meant for piping lines, messages, dots and string work.
Seamless matters most on a very small tip. A tip rolled from flat metal has a seam where the edges meet, and on a fine round opening that seam can nudge the line of icing to one side. A seamless tip gives a clean, round opening, which is why decorators who write on cakes often buy one good small writer separately from a kit.
PME says the tip works with parchment, disposable and fabric piping bags and with most adaptors and icing guns, and should be hand washed in warm soapy water. A tip this fine clogs easily, so sieve royal icing or use a smooth, well-mixed icing, and keep a damp cloth over the tip between lines.
Why we like it
- Seamless stainless steel, per PME.
- Made for lines, messages, dots and string work.
- Works with parchment, disposable and fabric bags and most adaptors.
Key specifications
| Model | ST0 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 1 |
| Tip types | Round writer, No. 0 |
| Material | Seamless stainless steel |
| Coupler fit | Most adaptors and icing guns |
| Extras | None |
| Care | Hand wash in warm soapy water |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who writes on cakes or pipes fine royal-icing detail and wants a cleaner line than a kit tip gives.
Skip it if you are new to piping; a No. 0 is very fine, and a size 2 or 3 is easier to learn on.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Seamless opening
- Very fine line
- Fits most adaptors
Cons
- Clogs easily
- Hand wash only
7. JEM 2M Medium Open Star Nozzle – One Big Star for Rosettes
JEM nozzles are sold under the PME brand on Amazon. The 2M is a medium open star with seven points, and the listing gives its size: a 17 mm tip opening, a 31 mm base and a 49 mm height. PME describes it as ideal for shells, rosettes and decorations with many ridges, and also for cream, mashed potato and choux pastry.
A single good open star is the most useful tip to own if you buy only one. It pipes cupcake swirls, rosettes, shell borders and whipped-cream stars on a pie, and at 17 mm it is large enough for soft doughs. The 2M sits between a standard star and the biggest pastry tubes, which makes it a good all-rounder.
PME says all its JEM nozzles work with parchment, disposable and fabric piping bags. With a 31 mm base it is a large tip, so drop it into a bag rather than a standard coupler. The listing does not state the material or care.
Why we like it
- Seven-point open star with a 17 mm opening, per the listing.
- Made for shells, rosettes, cream, mashed potato and choux.
- Works with parchment, disposable and fabric bags.
Key specifications
| Model | NZ2M |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 1 |
| Tip types | Open star, 7 points |
| Material | Not stated |
| Coupler fit | Large tip; 31 mm base |
| Extras | None |
| Care | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits bakers who want one versatile large star for cupcakes, borders and whipped cream without buying a set.
Skip it if you want a very tall, defined swirl; a larger tip like a 1M or one of the two largest Ateco star tubes gives more height.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stated dimensions
- Versatile size
- Works with any bag type
Cons
- Material and care not stated
- Single tip only
8. Ateco 12-Piece Plastic Tube Set – Polycarbonate Pastry Tubes
Not every tip needs to be steel. This Ateco 788 set holds twelve pastry tubes made of polycarbonate, according to the listing: four closed star, four plain, one basketweave, one leaf, one rose and one Saint-Honoré tube, in a storage box.
Plastic tubes have practical advantages. They do not dent if they are dropped or squashed in a drawer, and they will not scratch a nonstick pan or mark a silicone mat. The mix is unusual, too: the Saint-Honoré tube, with its angled V-shaped slot, pipes the cream on the French cake of that name, and the basketweave tube makes the flat, ridged stripes for a woven cake side. The four closed stars give deeper, tighter ridges than open stars.
The listing does not state the sizes or care. Polycarbonate is a rigid plastic; as with any plastic tool, keep it away from direct heat. If you pipe onto a mat, our silicone baking mat guide covers the surface.
Why we like it
- Polycarbonate tubes, per the listing.
- Includes a Saint-Honoré and a basketweave tube.
- Four closed star and four plain tubes.
- Storage box included.
Key specifications
| Model | 788 |
|---|---|
| Tips included | 12 |
| Tip types | 4 closed star, 4 plain, basketweave, leaf, rose, Saint-Honoré |
| Material | Polycarbonate |
| Coupler fit | Not stated; pastry tubes |
| Extras | Storage box |
| Care | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits pastry bakers who want a varied set of large tubes that will not dent, including shapes most kits leave out.
Skip it if you prefer steel: plastic tubes give a slightly softer edge than thin metal ones.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Will not dent
- Unusual shapes included
- Storage box
Cons
- Sizes not stated
- Care not stated
How to choose piping tips
Start from what you bake. Cupcakes and sheet cakes need a few large tips (an open star, a round and a drop flower). Cookies need small rounds. Cakes with borders and flowers need standard star, petal and leaf tips. Pastry and savory piping need large plain and star tubes.
Standard or large. Standard tips fit a standard coupler, so you can change tips on one bag. Large tips need a large coupler or go straight into the bag. Check what your couplers fit before buying.
Stainless steel or plastic. Stainless steel holds a sharp edge and resists rust. Seamless tips give the cleanest small lines. Plastic and polycarbonate tubes do not dent. Where a listing does not state the metal, we say so.
Set or singles. A big set is good value if you will use the range, but most bakers use the same five or six tips. Buying a small set and adding singles, such as a fine writer or a large star, often makes more sense.
Storage. Small tips get lost and bent. A case, box or tube keeps them sorted; Wilton recommends storing tips narrow end up.
Cleaning and caring for piping tips
Rinse tips as soon as you finish, before buttercream sets or royal icing dries hard in the opening. Wilton recommends washing tips in warm, soapy water, rinsing and drying them completely before storing, and using a small tip brush on star and drop flower tips. It also says its stainless steel tips are top-rack dishwasher safe; for tips whose material is not stated, hand washing is the safe choice.
Dry tips fully before you put them away, because water trapped in the base of a tip can mark it. Do not squash tips in a crowded drawer: a bent star point or a dented round opening shows in every line you pipe. Spread frosting smooth first with an offset spatula, then pipe on top.
How we chose these eight tips and sets
We looked at piping tips and tip sets sold on Amazon by identifiable decorating and pastry-tool makers, chiefly Ateco, Wilton and PME, and kept only those showing as in stock when we checked with Amazon’s product data. Tip numbers, materials and care come from the makers’ listings and Wilton’s piping tips starter guide, all recorded in our research notes. We have not used these tips for this guide.
Our piping bags guide already recommends the Wilton 55-piece Master Tip Set and the Wilton 20-piece Beginning Buttercream Set, so we left them out. Several Ateco single tubes and small sets, including its plain, closed star and French star sets, showed only limited stock, and we could not find Fat Daddio’s tip sets in stock. Many large Russian-tip and mixed kits come from sellers with no identifiable maker, so we left those out and stopped at eight rather than pad the list. We found no product recalls for these tips in the US Consumer Product Safety Commission listings we searched.
Piping tip questions, answered
Which piping tips should a beginner buy first?
A large open star such as a 1M, a large round such as a 2A, and small rounds 2 and 4. That covers cupcake swirls, smooth domes, writing and outlining. Add a petal 104 and a leaf 352 when you want to pipe flowers.
Do I need a coupler?
Not to pipe, but a coupler lets you change tips on one bag of frosting. Wilton says to use a standard coupler with standard tips and a large coupler with large tips, and that not every tip fits one.
Are stainless steel piping tips better than plastic?
Stainless steel gives a crisper edge, especially on small tips, and resists rust. Plastic tubes do not dent and will not scratch surfaces. Many pastry kitchens keep both.
What is the difference between open star and closed star tips?
An open star has straight points that give wide, open ridges. A closed star has points that curve inward, giving deeper, tighter ridges, often used for rosettes and drop flowers.
Do piping bags and tips come as a set?
Often, yes. Wilton’s cupcake and cookie sets above include disposable bags, and many kits bundle bags, tips and couplers. For better bags than kit bags, see our piping bags guide.
Our pick for most home bakers
Buy the Ateco 332 set if you decorate cakes and cookies and want the core shapes with a bag and coupler. If you frost cupcakes, the Wilton 12-piece cupcake set and its four large tips are all you need; add the Ateco 10-piece star tube set for pastry and whipped cream, and a PME No. 0 writer when you start lettering. For the bags these tips go in, see our best piping bags guide. If you would rather leave the dessert to us, see the Julia’s menu and call to order at (346) 546-8283.