Bamboo Pole Sizes and Weights

Most bamboo poles will taper naturally from bottom to top - sometimes considerably - and there will be variations, even between poles of the same named size.

The walls of bamboo poles are approximately 1/4 inch thick, so the interior diameters are about 1/2 inch less than their outside diameters.

The charts below indicate the variations in approximate actual outside diameter measurements in inches of the various types of bamboo poles that available at Beautiful Bamboo.

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	Domestic Designer
	BASE	TOP
Named Size
1.5	1.5 - 1.75	1.25 - 1.5
2	2 - 2.25	1.25 - 1.75
2.5	2.25 - 2.625	1.75 - 2.5
3	2.625 - 3	2 - 2.75
3.5	3.25 - 3.5	2.625 - 3
4	3.5 - 4	3 - 3.25
5	4.75 - 5	3.75 - 4.25
6	5.5 - 6	4 - 4.5

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	Imported
	BASE	TOP
Named Size
1.5	1.25 - 1.5	1 - 1.25
2	1.625 - 2	1.25 - 1.75
3	2.5 - 3	1.5 - 2.5
4	3.5 - 4	2.5 - 3
5	4.5 - 5	3.5 - 4
6	5 - 6	3.5 - 4.5

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	Home grown
	BASE	TOP
Named Size
1.25	1 - 1.25	.75 - 1
1.5	1.25 - 1.75	1 - 1.5
2	1.75 - 2.25	1.25 - 2
3	2.5 - 3	1.5 - 2.5

-->Domestic Black Poles are only available in 1.75" diameter with a base diameter of approximately 1.5" - 2" and a top diameter of approximately 1.25" - 1.75"

For shipping purposes, we are including the below chart estimating the approximate weight in pounds of 8' and 10' long bamboo poles of various named sizes.

	approx. weight (lbs.)
	8'	10'
Named Size
1		1.5 -2
1.25	2.5 - 3
1.5		4
1.75	2.5 - 3	3 - 3.5
2	3.5	4
2.5	5
3	6	8
3.5	9	11
4	13 - 15	15 - 16
5	25	25 - 30
6	25 - 30	25 - 30

Bamboo with natural handle makes perfect calligraphy brushes

An artist at the University of Wisconsin needed some small diameter bamboo to use for calligraphy brushes.  

She wrote to say:  I teach art classes at UWLa Crosse in Wisconsin. Next semester I would like to demonstrate the use of handmade brushes and have the graphic design classes make their own brushes to explore calligraphy and hand designed lettering. It might be a good experience for the students to get away from the computer for a while.   

We suggested using the bottom portion of our homegrown Phyllostachy aurea bamboo (Chunky Monkey aka Golden Bamboo or Fishpole Bamboo) because that variety has a natural "handle" created by close, irregularly shaped culm sections.

Chunky Monkey bamboo grows much larger in cold climates than it does in Central Florida's semi-tropical temperatures.  The bamboo pictured here is domestically grown but not homegrown.  The diameter of our homegrown Phyllostachy aurea about half the diameter - the perfect size for a calligraphy brush project.

  

We shipped a box filled with the uniquely shaped poles and received an email back from our customer once the project was completed.

Notice the same uniquely shaped nodes as in the larger, domestically grown bamboo of the same species.

 

Hi Sherry,
I purchased some of your bamboo a while back to make calligraphy brushes. The bamboo is great and I made some wonderful brushes. Here are a few pictures when the bamboo was still green. I wish it would stay that way but it's changing into a beautiful golden color - which I like as well. Thank you for picking out some narly pieces for me. I'll be ready to order more soon.  -Stella

Bamboo is an amazing plant.  It is so versatile, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

A table full of calligraphy brushes

The finished product...so pretty!  Just looking at them makes me wish I could pick one up to just hold in my hand!

Beautiful!

Bamboo rainsticks

Rainsticks made out of our homegrown bamboo poles

Bamboo poles have so many uses but one frequently requested project involves the use of bamboo poles to make rainsticks.  A few months ago, Kari, a customer in Kentucky, had that project in mind when she wrote to say: 

"Hi!  I just found your site on Google.  I am looking for bamboo poles for a homeschool group project.  We are making rainsticks.  Everything I've read says I need at least a 3" diameter by about 2' long.  (We can cut them here, but if you all can do that, that would save me work!!)  I'm planning on about 25 kids.  There are less, but I'd like some practice and some extras!!  We live in KY, so there would be shipping.  Could you please give me a quote and your best advice?  If you have an idea how to cap them off or what to use on the ends, I would appreciate that, too!!  Thanks!"

Our son Tim was also homeschooled and has made bamboo rainsticks himself.  Tim responded to Kari's letter:

"Bamboo does make a great rainstick.  When I've made them, I used a wooden dowel, or the end node of smaller bamboo, to close the ends.  3'' would work well, and we have three different kinds to choose from: our Homegrown poles, imported poles and polished poles.  The polished poles are going to look the most beautiful since the natural oils in the bamboo form a glossy look when cured.  We can cut the poles into 2' foot sections for a dollar a cut, which would yield you 4 pieces per 8' pole.  The shipping will be less with the cuts since the packages will be shorter- but for an exact quote I just need a zip code where they are going in KY."

Kari opted for 2" diameter homegrown poles (easier for little hands to hold) cut into smaller lengths. When the project was completed, she sent the following pictures:

My rainstick!

Enough bamboo poles to make rainsticks for everyone

Rainsticks are for more than making music...they're good to lean on too

Freshly cut green poles

A repeat customer from CA who is an event planner ordered some freshly cut green bamboo poles of various diameters to be shipped to New Orleans for a convention display.  The bamboos had to arrive at a specific date and, because green poles were required, the canes needed to be cut and packaged the morning they were to be picked up by the shipping company. Beautiful Bamboo was happy to accommodate their needs.

Timmy cuts some 2" diameter poles from a mature stand of Bambusa textilis mutabilis (Emerald)

Timber!

The poles are checked for straightness

An assortment of freshly cut bamboo poles is about ready to be packaged and shipped to New Orleans

Our Homegrown Green Bamboo Poles Draw Attention at Convention Show

Bill Overland of Overland Designs recently purchased assorted lengths and diameters of our freshly cut homegrown bamboo poles to use in displays at an Orlando-based convention.  He sent us the following email: 

“Back from the show which was was very successful.  The client loved the bamboo creations and I've attached a picture of one of them for your website.”

Bill’s use of large diameter bamboo poles as a stand-alone decoration has become very popular in home decor.  Freshly cut bamboo stays green for several weeks before fading to a warm rice color.  Even as dried poles, the bamboo adds beauty and originality to any interior, whether residential or commercial.

Go Wild over our Spotted Leopard Bamboo Poles

If you are looking for a bamboo pole that's not like most poles, take a peek at what we call Spotted Leopard  Bamboo Poles.  Culled from our own groves of Vivax Running Bamboo, The canes of Spotted Leopard Bamboo Poles are light colored - almost white - with black spots spaced irregularly throughout their length.   These poles make an interesting addition to displays of bamboo canes in large vases or urns.  They work well as windchimes or for interior or exterior decoration.  Because the poles tend to bend or arch slightly, they are best reserved for projects that don't require straight or uniform poles.

Spotted Leopard Bamboo Poles vary in diameter from about 1" to 2". 

A beautiful bamboo chest

A customer from Bradenton, FL sent us these photos of a project he created using poles purchased from Beautiful Bamboo:

Hi Sherry, 

I was glad to find a local source of domestic bamboo. As promised, here are some pictures of the small chest built using Home Grown bamboo purchased in February.

The bamboo was caramelized with a high-temp heat gun and treated with paste wax. The rest of the project is a combination of birch plywood and solid aspen.

Thank you again,

Tom

Bradenton, FL

Bamboo Tipi

There are many uses for bamboo poles. Chris from Weirsdale, FL used some of our homegrown poles as the supports for a tipi.  The poles, all less than 2" diameter and between 12' - 15' long, were slender and lightweight.

"Easy to work with. I love them!" Chris wrote.

 

 

 

 

Photos of our own Homegrown Bamboo Poles

 Our own homegrown poles are not as straight as either the imported or designer quality polished poles.but they still work well for a variety of projects.  Below is a photo of the fence on both sides of our entry gate.  It is built out of a number of random diameter poles that were purposely cut at different heights to create a more informal look.

 

A close up, below, of one section of the entry fence.

 

An arbor built out of small (1" or less) diameter homegrown bamboo poles.

A simple fence, below, borders a flower garden with a bamboo bird feeder.

Below is a trade show display made out of our homegrown bamboo.

Another trade show booth used some of our freshly cut, green bamboo poles to create a more natural look.

Below is an orchid planter made from a short piece of our homegrown bamboo.