1121 Basmati
Basmati · Extra long- Length
- 8.0–8.6 mm
- Width
- 1.8 mm
- Length : width
- 4.61
- Broken below
- 5.8 mm
Every grain has its size. Here's how we measure them!
Rice guide
Rice sizes and quality
The standard length and width of every rice type, what counts as a broken grain, and how quality is graded. The same standards are used in our quality check.
Grain sizes
Each grain is drawn to the same scale, so you can compare them. Green = a typical whole grain; the dashed line = the broken limit (70% of the average length). A grain shorter than that is broken.
Kainat
Basmati · Extra long- Length
- 7.8–8.3 mm
- Width
- 1.8 mm
- Length : width
- 4.47
- Broken below
- 5.6 mm
1509 Basmati
Basmati · Extra long- Length
- 7.9–8.4 mm
- Width
- 1.85 mm
- Length : width
- 4.41
- Broken below
- 5.7 mm
Super Basmati
Basmati · Long- Length
- 7.2–7.7 mm
- Width
- 1.85 mm
- Length : width
- 4.03
- Broken below
- 5.2 mm
Super Kernel
Basmati · Long- Length
- 7.2–7.6 mm
- Width
- 1.85 mm
- Length : width
- 4
- Broken below
- 5.2 mm
515 Basmati
Basmati · Long- Length
- 7.3–7.8 mm
- Width
- 1.85 mm
- Length : width
- 4.08
- Broken below
- 5.3 mm
PK-386
Basmati · Long- Length
- 7.0–7.5 mm
- Width
- 1.9 mm
- Length : width
- 3.82
- Broken below
- 5.1 mm
IRRI-6
Non-basmati · Medium-long- Length
- 6.0–6.6 mm
- Width
- 2.1 mm
- Length : width
- 3
- Broken below
- 4.4 mm
IRRI-9
Non-basmati · Medium-long- Length
- 6.2–6.8 mm
- Width
- 2.1 mm
- Length : width
- 3.1
- Broken below
- 4.6 mm
KS-282
Non-basmati · Medium-long- Length
- 6.0–6.6 mm
- Width
- 2.2 mm
- Length : width
- 2.86
- Broken below
- 4.4 mm
Other
Other / unknown · Medium-long- Length
- 6.0–6.6 mm
- Width
- 2.2 mm
- Length : width
- 2.86
- Broken below
- 4.4 mm
1121 Basmati
Basmati · Extra long- Length
- 9.8–10.4 mm
- Width
- 2.4 mm
- Length : width
- 4.21
- Broken below
- 7.1 mm
Kainat
Basmati · Extra long- Length
- 9.6–10.1 mm
- Width
- 2.4 mm
- Length : width
- 4.1
- Broken below
- 6.9 mm
1509 Basmati
Basmati · Extra long- Length
- 9.7–10.2 mm
- Width
- 2.45 mm
- Length : width
- 4.06
- Broken below
- 7.0 mm
Super Basmati
Basmati · Long- Length
- 9.0–9.5 mm
- Width
- 2.45 mm
- Length : width
- 3.78
- Broken below
- 6.5 mm
Super Kernel
Basmati · Long- Length
- 9.0–9.4 mm
- Width
- 2.45 mm
- Length : width
- 3.76
- Broken below
- 6.4 mm
515 Basmati
Basmati · Long- Length
- 9.1–9.6 mm
- Width
- 2.45 mm
- Length : width
- 3.82
- Broken below
- 6.5 mm
PK-386
Basmati · Long- Length
- 8.8–9.3 mm
- Width
- 2.5 mm
- Length : width
- 3.62
- Broken below
- 6.3 mm
IRRI-6
Non-basmati · Medium-long- Length
- 7.8–8.4 mm
- Width
- 2.7 mm
- Length : width
- 3
- Broken below
- 5.7 mm
IRRI-9
Non-basmati · Medium-long- Length
- 8.0–8.6 mm
- Width
- 2.7 mm
- Length : width
- 3.07
- Broken below
- 5.8 mm
KS-282
Non-basmati · Medium-long- Length
- 7.8–8.4 mm
- Width
- 2.8 mm
- Length : width
- 2.89
- Broken below
- 5.7 mm
Other
Other / unknown · Medium-long- Length
- 7.8–8.4 mm
- Width
- 2.8 mm
- Length : width
- 2.89
- Broken below
- 5.7 mm
Typical sizes of good whole grains; each crop varies a little with the season and the mill. Paddy is measured with its husk.
Quality grades
A
Excellent
Broken up to 5% · other faults up to 4%
B
Good
Broken up to 12% · other faults up to 8%
C
Average
Broken up to 25% · other faults up to 15%
D
Poor
More broken or faults than grade C
Other faults = grains of another type + discoloured + chalky grains, as a share of all counted grains.
Whole
A full grain: at least 70% of the standard length for its type.
Broken
A piece shorter than 70% of the standard length. Broken grains cook unevenly and lower the price.
Other type (T2, T3)
Grains with a clearly different shape (length ÷ width): often another variety mixed in.
Chalky
Opaque, milky-white grains instead of clear ones. They break easily and cook soft.
Discoloured
Yellow, brown, black-tipped or damaged grains, often from heat, moisture or pests.
Not counted
Grains that touch, overlap, are blurry or cut off by the picture edge: their length can't be measured.
Questions about rice sizes and quality
How long is a 1121 basmati rice grain?
A whole milled 1121 grain is about 8.0–8.6 mm long and 1.8 mm wide. A piece shorter than 5.8 mm is counted as broken.
What counts as broken rice?
A grain shorter than 70% of the standard whole-grain length of its rice type is broken. Broken grains cook unevenly and lower the price.
How long is Super Basmati rice?
A whole Super Basmati grain is about 7.2–7.7 mm long and 1.85 mm wide.
How long is IRRI-6 rice?
IRRI-6 is a non-basmati medium grain, about 6.0–6.6 mm long and 2.1 mm wide.
How is rice quality graded?
Grade A has up to 5% broken, B up to 12%, C up to 25%; more than that is D. Other faults (other varieties, discoloured and chalky grains) are counted too.
How can I check my rice quality from a photo?
Spread a handful on a plain black cloth so grains don't touch, take a photo from straight above in daylight, and use our free quality check: every grain is measured and you get the broken % and a PDF report.
Check your rice
- Spread a handful on a plain black cloth so the grains don't touch.
- Take the photo from straight above, in daylight.
- Choose your rice type: every grain is measured against its standard size.