How Much Does a Straw Making Machine Cost and How to Choose?

Buying a straw making machine is not as simple as finding a model, checking the price, and placing an order. Prices vary widely because two machines that appear similar may be built for very different materials, straw sizes, production speeds, levels of automation, and downstream processes.

So before you focus on the price tag, you need to answer two questions: What should you realistically expect to pay, and what machine configuration actually makes sense for the straws you plan to produce?

How Much Does a Straw Making Machine Cost?

Current marketplace listings suggest that many commercial PLA and PP straw extrusion machines fall broadly within the $8,000 to $25,000 range. Simpler equipment may cost less, while higher-output, multi-color, or more complete production lines can cost significantly more. These figures should be treated as general market benchmarks rather than fixed prices.

If you are comparing a PLA straw making machine, the final quotation will depend on the exact configuration you need.

Paper straw machinery should be considered separately. Paper straws are formed by feeding, gluing, and winding paper rather than by melting and extruding thermoplastic or biodegradable resin, so comparing the price of a paper straw machine directly with a PLA or PP extrusion line can be misleading.

The point is that there is no particularly useful answer to “How much is a straw machine?” until you know what that machine needs to produce.

What Makes One Straw Making Machine More Expensive Than Another?

Two quotations can differ by thousands of dollars without either supplier necessarily being overpriced. The difference often comes down to what the machine is expected to do.

Production Capacity

Higher production capacity generally increases the investment because the line must process, cool, pull, cut, and handle more straws consistently.

But you should not choose a machine purely because it has the highest advertised pieces-per-minute figure. Actual output depends on the straw you are making, including its diameter, length, material, and overall specification.

For example, a machine quoted at a high maximum speed under one test condition may produce a different number of pieces per minute when you run a longer or larger-diameter straw.

What actually matters is whether the machine can produce your required product at the volume you need.

Automation and Adjustment

Automation changes the price because it changes how much manual intervention is required during production and product changeovers.

A full automatic PLA straw extrusion machine, like the LG-A11(50) Series, allows straw diameter and length to be adjusted through the control interface. The LG-A11(50) Series also uses PLC and servo control and is available in one-, two-, and three-color configurations.

An economic machine takes a more conventional approach. Current Economic Series models use more manual adjustment for diameter and length rather than relying on the same level of automated control.

However, that does not automatically make full automation the better purchase.

If you produce one or two standard straw specifications for long production runs, the additional automation may provide less value than it would in a factory that changes diameter, length, or product configuration regularly.

Straw Material and Specifications

The machine also has to match the material and the finished straw.

You will typically need to define the material, inner and outer diameter, length, wall requirements, and number of colors before the machine can be configured properly.

Current extrusion equipment is available for materials such as PLA, PBAT, PHA compounds, and PP, but the processing setup still needs to suit the material you intend to run.

Think about the difference between two operations:

One factory produces a single-color, straight straw in one standard size every day.

Another produces several diameters, multiple lengths, and two- or three-color designs.

Those factories may both need a “straw making machine,” but they do not need the same machine.

Number of Colors

Color capability is one of the easiest price differences to understand.

A single-color straw can be produced with one main extruder. Multi-color designs can require additional extruders, temperature-control zones, drives, and a more complex die setup.

For example, the LG-A11(50), LG-A12(50), and LG-A13(50) configurations use one, two, and three screws respectively for one-, two-, and three-color production.

If your customers only require single-color straws, paying for three-color capability adds equipment you may rarely use. Define the products you actually expect to sell before adding optional capability.

Scope of the Equipment

You also need to ask exactly what the quoted price includes.

One supplier may be quoting the extrusion line itself. Another quotation may include auxiliaries, bending equipment, feeding systems, or packaging machinery.

That difference becomes especially important once you move from asking how the straw is made to asking how it becomes a finished, sellable product.

How to Choose the Straw Making Machine You Actually Need

The easiest way to choose correctly is to work backward from the finished straw, rather than starting with a machine specification sheet.

Define the Finished Straw First

Before you compare models, define the product you intend to make.

You should know the material, inner and outer diameter, length, number of colors, whether the straw is straight or flexible, and how the finished product will be packed.

Those details quickly narrow your options.

For example, if you want to produce straight, single-color PLA straws and sell them in bulk, your equipment requirements are relatively straightforward.

If your finished product is a flexible two-color straw that must be individually wrapped, extrusion is only the first part of the production line.

Starting with the finished product prevents you from buying an attractive machine specification and later discovering that you need additional equipment to make the product your customers actually want.

Match Capacity to Real Demand

You also need to decide how much output you genuinely require.

Look at your expected order volume, working hours per day, number of production days per month, and the growth you realistically expect over the next few years.

Buying excessive capacity “just in case” can leave capital tied up in equipment you do not fully use. On the other hand, buying a machine that will operate near its limit from the beginning gives you little flexibility when a larger customer arrives.

The sensible target is enough capacity to handle your planned production with reasonable headroom.

Decide How Much Automation Is Useful

Automation should solve an operating problem. It should not be purchased simply because “full automatic” sounds more advanced.

If capital cost matters more and your production is relatively stable, an economic PLA straw extrusion machine may make sense. The LG-E11(65), for example, is a one-color Economic Series machine listed at approximately 600–700 pieces per minute with a maximum extrusion capacity of 60–70 kg/h.

If you expect frequent specification changes or need more automated adjustment, the additional investment in a full automatic configuration may be easier to justify.

Ultimately, the right answer depends on how you intend to operate the line.

Check Whether the Straw Needs Further Processing

Now ask a simple question:

What happens to the straw after it leaves the extrusion line?

If it is sold as a straight straw in bulk, the downstream process may be fairly simple.

But your finished product may also require flexible-straw bending, individual wrapping, group packing, automatic feeding, conveying, or other handling equipment.

A straw bending machine, for example, takes straight extruded PLA or PP straws and forms the corrugated section that allows them to bend.

That additional stage changes your factory layout, required capacity, and total investment. This is why machine selection should always extend beyond the extruder itself.

Are You Buying a Straw Machine or a Complete Production Line?

This distinction explains many apparently inconsistent quotations.

A straw extrusion machine may come with the equipment needed to form, cool, pull, cut, and collect the straw. But that does not necessarily mean the quotation covers everything required to manufacture your final packaged product.

Depending on your project, the total investment may also include auxiliary equipment, additional dies or tooling, bending equipment, packing machines, conveyors, automatic feeders, spare parts, freight, installation, and operator training.

Even shipping terms matter. A low EXW quotation and a higher CIF quotation are not directly comparable because they cover different responsibilities and logistics costs.

Before comparing prices, ask the supplier for a clear list of what is included and what remains outside the quotation.

What Information Do You Need Before Requesting a Quote?

The more specific your inquiry is, the more useful the quotation will be.

At minimum, you should be ready to provide your raw material, required straw inner diameter, outer diameter, length, number of colors, and local electrical supply. You should also state your required production capacity, whether the straw will remain straight or be bent, the intended packaging format, and any additional specifications you expect to introduce later.

Current machine specifications show why these details matter. Models can differ in supported color configurations, output, electrical requirements, and product ranges. For example, the Full Automatic 50 Series supports several three-phase electrical configurations and one-, two-, or three-color setups depending on the model selected.

So instead of asking:

“How much is an automatic straw machine?”

A much more useful inquiry would be:

“I need to produce PLA straws with this diameter and length, in one or two colors, at this approximate output. My factory uses this power supply, and the finished straws will also need bending and individual wrapping.”

Now the supplier has enough information to recommend a relevant configuration rather than sending you a generic price.

How Should You Compare Straw Making Machine Quotes?

Once you receive quotations, do not compare only the number at the bottom.

Put them side by side and make sure they are actually offering the same production capability.

Ultimately, every quotation needs to answer three questions:

1. Can this machine make the straw specifications you require?

2. Can it produce the volume you need?

3. What will it actually cost to get that production capability running in your factory?

If one quotation is cheaper but requires you to purchase several essential items separately, it may not be the lower-cost option once the complete line is operational.

Conclusion

There is no fixed straw making machine price until you define what you need to produce. Your material, straw dimensions, capacity, colors, automation level, and downstream processing all affect the final investment.

Start with the finished straw, define your production demand, and compare complete configurations rather than headline prices. If you already know your straw specifications, contact HZS Machinery with your capacity and packaging requirements to get a machine recommendation and quotation built around your actual production needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a straw making machine cost?

Many commercial PLA and PP straw extrusion machines currently appear in the general range of about $8,000 to $25,000, although simpler machines can cost less and higher-output or more complete lines can cost considerably more. Your final price depends on the machine configuration, automation, capacity, colors, and included equipment.

What affects the price of a straw making machine?

The main factors are production capacity, level of automation, straw material and dimensions, number of colors, and the amount of downstream equipment included. Bending, feeding, wrapping, and packing equipment can substantially increase the total line investment.

What is the difference between an economic and a full automatic straw making machine?

An economic machine generally uses more manual adjustment and has a lower initial investment. A full automatic machine uses more automated control, such as PLC and servo systems, to make adjustments like straw diameter and length easier. The better option depends on your production mix and how frequently specifications change.

How do I know what capacity straw machine I need?

Start with the number of straws you expect to sell, then consider your daily working hours, production days, and expected growth. Choose enough capacity to meet that demand with some headroom, but avoid paying for substantially more output than you can realistically use.

Can one straw making machine produce different sizes and colors?

Many machines can produce different straw diameters and lengths within their supported operating ranges. Multi-color capability depends on the machine configuration. Some full automatic lines are available with one, two, or three extruders for one-, two-, or three-color production.

What information should I send when requesting a straw machine quote?

Provide your raw material, straw inner and outer diameter, length, number of colors, target output, local power supply, and whether the straw needs further bending or packaging. The more accurately you define the finished product, the more accurately the supplier can configure and price the machine.