Glass and stainless steel are the two reusable straws that feel most like a real upgrade from plastic. Both are rigid, both go in the dishwasher, and both last for years if you look after them. They fail in different ways, though. Glass can break. Steel takes on the temperature of the drink and hides whatever is stuck inside it.
In a restaurant we go through drinks all day, from horchata and agua fresca to iced coffee and margaritas, so the question of what a straw does to a drink is a practical one. This guide puts glass and stainless steel side by side on taste, temperature, breakage, cleaning, teeth and travel. It says which most people should buy and names two picks for each side.
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Quick verdict: glass or stainless steel?
For most people, stainless steel is the safer first buy. It goes in a bag, a car or a child’s hands and survives, and TechGearLab’s hammer test shows a good steel straw shrugs off abuse. Pick one with silicone tips if you drink ice-cold drinks or worry about your teeth. Choose glass if your straws live at home, you care most about a clean taste and you want to see that the straw is actually clean inside. Reviewed found glass straws shatter on concrete, so keep them away from hard floors and young children.
The table sums up the differences. The sections after it explain each one and where the claims come from.
Glass vs stainless steel straws, side by side
| Glass straws | Stainless steel straws | |
|---|---|---|
| Common material | Borosilicate glass | Stainless steel, often with silicone tips |
| Taste | Reviewed calls glass “essentially tasteless” | One steel straw in Reviewed’s test left a metallic taste in a smoothie |
| Feel with an iced drink | Reviewed says it does not get too cold | Takes on the drink’s cold; silicone tips soften it |
| Breakage | Shattered on concrete in Reviewed’s drop test | Hard to break; Klean Kanteen took a hammer best in TechGearLab’s test |
| Checking it is clean | See-through, so residue shows | Opaque; you rely on the brush |
| Teeth | Rigid; no tip | TechGearLab warns bare metal can damage enamel; tips are gentler |
| Best place to use it | At home | Anywhere, including bags and kids’ cups |
Taste: glass adds nothing
Glass is the material to pick if flavor is your main reason for leaving plastic. Reviewed’s writers say glass is essentially tasteless and will not change the flavor of a drink. Simply Straws makes the same point in its listing, saying borosilicate glass leaves no plastic or metal aftertaste.
Steel is usually fine, but not always. Reviewed reports that one steel straw it tried left a metallic taste that spoiled a smoothie, while another steel straw’s taste was not noticeable with water or iced coffee. So a metal taste is a real complaint with some steel straws, not a rule for all of them. If you notice it, a straw with a silicone mouthpiece keeps your lips off the steel.
Temperature: steel feels the cold
Metal carries heat and cold far better than glass, and you notice it with your lips. TechGearLab says metal transfers the temperature of the liquid to your lips, which can be unpleasant with an ice-cold drink. Reviewed’s tester found one steel straw so cold in a smoothie that it felt almost like a burning sensation on the tongue. Glass straws, by contrast, do not get too cold with iced drinks, according to Reviewed.
For a frozen margarita, a slushy agua fresca or a thick smoothie, that difference is easy to feel. If you want steel anyway, look for silicone tips. TechGearLab found straws with silicone tips the most pleasant to drink from. With hot drinks the same rule runs the other way, and as general kitchen sense, sip carefully through any metal straw with coffee or tea.
Breakage: the real case against glass
This is where steel wins clearly. Reviewed dropped its glass straws, and they shattered on concrete. On an epoxy floor, one chipped after the fourth drop. The same writers found the glass sturdy and difficult to break if handled correctly, so a glass straw at home, washed by hand or in a dishwasher basket, can last a long time. The risk is the dropped straw on a tiled kitchen floor or patio.
Steel barely notices that kind of treatment. TechGearLab hit every straw it reviewed with a hammer, and Klean Kanteen’s straws showed the least damage. Reviewed lists Klean Kanteen as difficult to break. A steel straw can dent, but it will not leave sharp pieces behind.
Thicker glass helps. Simply Straws says its walls are 2 mm thick, and ZWILLING describes its Sorrento straws as heavy-walled. Neither maker claims they cannot break, and you should not expect that. As general kitchen sense, throw away a glass straw with any chip or crack at once.
Cleaning: glass shows you the problem
Both materials go in the dishwasher, and both come with a brush from the makers below. The difference is what you can see. Reviewed points out that clear glass makes it easy to check the whole straw for bits of coffee or smoothie. With steel, you cannot see inside, so you depend on scrubbing through it every time.
TechGearLab notes that reusable straws can harbor bacteria, which is why it judged how easy each one was to clean. A silicone tip is one more part. Reviewed found that a detachable tip makes it easier to scrub both pieces well. Pull tips off before washing, and dry both parts before you put them back together.
For cleaning, glass is the easier straw to keep honest. Brush it out right after the drink, before smoothie or milk dries inside. Our bottle brush guide covers brushes that also reach into tumbler lids.
Teeth, kids and travel
Both straws are rigid, so neither bends out of the way if you bump a tooth. TechGearLab warns that metal can feel unforgiving and that, if you are not careful, it can damage tooth enamel. It says silicone tips are gentler on teeth. Glass has no tip option among our picks, so sip with the same care.
For children, Reviewed says glass straws are probably not good for young children. That leaves steel with silicone tips or a soft silicone straw. Follow each maker’s own age guidance and supervise young children with any straw.
For travel, steel is the obvious choice. It can go loose in a lunch bag or a car door. Glass needs a case or a wrap and a bit of thought about where you set it down.
Choose glass if… choose steel if…
Choose glass straws if they will mostly stay at home, you want a drink to taste only of itself, you want to see that the straw is clean, and you mostly drink iced coffee, tea, water or smoothies at the counter. Glass is also the better feel with very cold drinks.
Choose stainless steel straws if they will travel, children will use them, your floors are tile or stone, or you want a straw that will last for years without care. Add silicone tips if cold drinks or teeth are a concern. Most households should start here, then add a few glass straws for the drinks they make at home.
Our glass vs stainless steel straws picks
Two picks for each side. None repeats a product from our best reusable straws roundup, which has more sets and silicone and plastic options. The ZWILLING set below is the clear version of the colored Sorrento set in that guide; we include it because clear glass shows residue, which is the main reason to choose glass.
1. Simply Straws 10-inch Straight Glass Straws, 6-Pack – Thick Borosilicate Walls
Six straight borosilicate glass straws, 10 inches long and 9 mm across the outside, with a cleaning brush. Simply Straws says the walls are 2 mm thick for durability, and that the straws handle hot or cold drinks and are microwave and dishwasher safe. The maker sizes them for 8-inch glasses, 24-ounce mason jars and small tumblers.
Ten inches is a useful home length. It reaches the bottom of a tall glass of horchata or iced coffee without towering over a short tumbler. The straight shape is easy to brush through from both ends and easy to inspect against the light.
With six in a pack, a household can keep a few in the drawer and still have spares if one chips. The 9 mm outside width suits most drinks; for very thick shakes the brand also sells a wider straw.
Why we like it
- 2 mm glass walls, according to the maker
- Hot and cold drinks (listing)
- Microwave and dishwasher safe (listing)
- Six straws plus a brush
Key specifications
| Model | Simply Straws straight glass, 10 inch (Fjord Mist) |
|---|---|
| Material | Borosilicate glass |
| Length | 10 in |
| Width | 9 mm outside; 2 mm wall |
| Count | 6 straws |
| Cleaning tool | Brush included |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Tips | None |
Why we recommend it
It suits a home that wants glass straws for everyday drinks, in a length that fits most glasses and jars.
Skip it if your straws travel or children will use them; steel is the safer choice.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Thick walls for glass
- Clear, so residue shows
- Six in a pack
Cons
- Can still break if dropped on a hard floor
- No case for carrying
- Straight only in this listing
2. ZWILLING Sorrento Straight Glass Straws, Clear, 4 Straws – Heavy-Walled Glass
Four straight clear straws and one cleaning brush from ZWILLING’s Sorrento glassware line. The listing says they are made from borosilicate glass with a heavy wall thickness for durability, and that they suit hot and cold drinks.
This is the clear version of the colored Sorrento set in our reusable straws roundup. We chose clear here on purpose. The whole point of glass is that you can see whether the straw is clean, and clear glass shows a ring of coffee or a fleck of fruit better than tinted glass.
ZWILLING is a long-established cookware and cutlery maker, and this listing is sold by Amazon.com. The listing does not state the length or width, so measure your tallest glass and compare it with the photos before you buy.
Why we like it
- Heavy-walled borosilicate glass (listing)
- Clear, so residue is easy to spot
- Brush included
- Sold by Amazon.com
Key specifications
| Model | 39500-600 |
|---|---|
| Material | Borosilicate glass |
| Length | Not stated |
| Width | Not stated |
| Count | 4 straws |
| Cleaning tool | Brush included |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated |
| Tips | None |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who wants glass straws from a known kitchenware maker and values the clear look.
Skip it if you need a stated length or dishwasher rating; Simply Straws gives both.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Heavy wall, per the listing
- For hot and cold drinks
- Clear glass shows residue
Cons
- Length and width not stated
- Only four straws
- Glass can break on a hard floor
3. Klean Kanteen Short Stainless Steel Straws, 6-Pack – Silicone Tips for Cold Drinks
Six short straws in recycled stainless steel with food-grade silicone tips and a straw cleaner brush. Klean Kanteen sizes this set for 16-ounce insulated tumblers and steel pint cups, and the listing lists 8 mm and 10 mm straws. The set is dishwasher safe, according to the listing.
Klean Kanteen is the brand both independent reviews we read rated well for toughness: its straws showed the least damage in TechGearLab’s hammer test, and Reviewed lists them as difficult to break. Those reviews covered Klean Kanteen’s longer straws, not this exact short set, so read them as a guide to the brand’s steel rather than a review of this listing.
The silicone tips matter. They keep your lips off cold metal, which TechGearLab and Reviewed both flag as the main drawback of steel, and TechGearLab says tips are gentler on teeth. Take them off to wash. The short length suits pint glasses and rocks glasses, so it is a good steel straw for a margarita on the rocks or an iced coffee in a short cup.
Why we like it
- Silicone tips soften cold drinks
- Recycled stainless steel (listing)
- Two widths in one set
- Brush included
Key specifications
| Model | 1009506 |
|---|---|
| Material | Recycled stainless steel; food-grade silicone tips |
| Length | Short; for 16 oz tumblers and pint cups (exact length not stated) |
| Width | 8 mm and 10 mm |
| Count | 6 straws |
| Cleaning tool | Brush included |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Tips | Silicone |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who drinks from short glasses and tumblers and wants a steel straw that is kinder on lips and teeth.
Skip it if you drink from a tall 30- or 40-ounce tumbler; these are too short.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Tough steel from a brand that did well in a hammer test
- Tips can be removed to wash
- Six straws, two widths
Cons
- Exact length not stated
- Tips are extra parts to clean
- Opaque, so you cannot see inside
4. U-Konserve Stainless Steel Straw and Brush – Thick Wall, Rounded Edges
One 8.5-inch stainless steel straw with its own straw brush. U-Konserve, which makes reusable lunch containers, says this straw has a thicker steel wall than less expensive straws and smooth, rounded edges. It is dishwasher safe, and U-Konserve states that its products are free of BPA, phthalates and lead.
This is steel at its plainest: no tips, no case, just a straw that goes in a lunch bag or a desk drawer. The rounded edges are what you want on a bare metal straw. Without a tip, though, it will feel the full cold of an iced drink, and TechGearLab’s warning about enamel applies, so sip with care.
Buy one per person rather than a big set. As general kitchen sense, a single straw that always comes home with its brush tends to get cleaned better than twelve in a drawer.
Why we like it
- Thicker wall and rounded edges, per the maker
- Maker states free of BPA, phthalates and lead
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes with its own brush
Key specifications
| Model | UK00500 (part UK136) |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Length | 8.5 in |
| Width | Not stated |
| Count | 1 straw, 1 brush |
| Cleaning tool | Brush included |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Tips | None |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who wants one tough straw to carry to work or school with a matching brush.
Skip it if cold metal on your lips bothers you; the Klean Kanteen set has silicone tips.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple and tough
- Rounded edges
- Brush matched to the straw
Cons
- Only one straw
- No silicone tip
- Width not stated
Glass and steel straw questions, answered
Are glass straws safe?
Used with care, yes. Reviewed found its glass straws sturdy when handled correctly, but they shattered on concrete. Throw away any glass straw that chips, and keep glass away from young children.
Do stainless steel straws make drinks taste metallic?
Some do. Reviewed reports one steel straw that left a metallic taste in a smoothie and another whose taste was not noticeable. A silicone tip keeps your lips off the steel.
Which is easier to clean, glass or metal straws?
Both go in the dishwasher, but glass is easier to check because you can see inside. With steel, brush through it every time and take off any tips.
Are metal straws bad for your teeth?
TechGearLab warns that bare metal can damage tooth enamel if you are not careful and says silicone tips are gentler. Sip gently with any rigid straw.
Can you use glass or steel straws for hot drinks?
The glass makers here say their straws work for hot and cold drinks. Steel takes on the heat of the drink, so sip slowly, and use a tipped straw if you can.
Which reusable straw is best for kids?
Not glass, according to Reviewed. Steel with silicone tips or a soft silicone straw makes more sense; follow the maker’s age guidance and supervise young children.
Our call on glass and steel
Start with steel with silicone tips for most of your drinking, especially away from home, and add a set of clear glass straws for the drinks you make in your own kitchen. For more sets in every material, see our best reusable straws guide. For the cups they go in, read glass vs stainless steel water bottles, our tumblers for cold drinks and our mason jar picks, and for thick drinks our smoothie blender guide. If you would rather someone else made the agua fresca, see our drinks or call to order at (346) 546-8283.