Drumstick Sizes Explained
Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Drumstick size is a code printed on the stick: a number paired with a letter, and 5A is the size on all the picks here. The two figures to compare are length and diameter, listed here as about 16 in long and 0.55 in to 0.57 in across the shaft. Match the code, then the length and diameter.
What the 5A code on a stick means
The size code on a drumstick pairs a number with a letter, and the code marks the size of the stick. 5A is the size on all the picks here, so each of them carries the same code. Two sticks with the same code are the same size, and a different code marks a different size. Read the code on the shaft before you compare anything else, since the listing gives the code with the size.
Length and diameter are the two measurements
Length is measured end to end, and diameter is measured across the shaft. The OIETON sticks list about 16 in long and 0.55 in in diameter, and the Vic Firth sticks list 16 in long and 0.57 in in diameter. Measure a stick you own end to end and across the shaft, then compare those two figures with the listing figures to find a match. A stick that matches on both figures is the same size.
Compare the tip shape as well
The tip is the part that meets the drum, and the listings name the shape. The OIETON pack lists rounded wood tips, the Vic Firth sticks list a tear drop tip, and the WOGOD pair lists a water drop-shaped tip. Hold the pair together and check that the two tips match in shape and that the two sticks match in length. A pair that matches on length, diameter and tip shape is a matched pair.
Maple and hickory are the two woods here
The OIETON, WOGOD and ARLX sticks list maple, and the Vic Firth sticks list hickory. A maple stick and a hickory stick with the same 5A code share the size code, and the wood is the part that differs. Read the material in the listing rather than guessing it from the color.
When a stick needs replacing
A stick needs replacing when the shaft shows cracks or splinters, or when the tip is chipped or worn down. Compare the worn stick with its pair: if the length or the tip no longer matches, the pair is no longer matched. Keep a spare pair on hand so a cracked stick does not end a session. Check the shaft and the tip each time you pick the sticks up, and set aside any stick with a crack.
What you need
OIETON 5A Drum Sticks Bulk 12 Pairs
A 12-pair pack of 5A maple drumsticks, each about 16 in long and 0.55 in in diameter, with rounded wood tips.
- Pairs: 12
- Size: 5A
- Material: Maple
- Tip: Wood
Vic Firth American Classic 5A Drumsticks
A 5A hickory drumstick with a tear drop wood tip, listed at 16 in long and 0.57 in in diameter.
- Size: 5A
- Material: Hickory
- Tip: Wood
WOGOD 5A Drum Sticks Maple Drumsticks
A two-pair pack of 5A maple drumsticks with a water drop-shaped tip.
- Pairs: 2
- Size: 5A
- Material: Maple
ARLX Drum Sticks 5A Wood Tip Drumstick
A two-pair pack of 5A maple drumsticks with a wood tip and a natural finish.
- Pairs: 2
- Size: 5A
- Material: Maple
- Tip: Wood
These come from our ranked list Best Drum Sticks, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What does 5A mean on a drumstick?
It is the size code for the stick: a number paired with a letter. All the picks here are 5A, so they share the same size code, and two sticks with the same code are the same size.
How long is a 5A drumstick?
The OIETON 5A sticks list about 16 in long, and the Vic Firth 5A sticks list 16 in in their dimensions. Measure your own stick end to end and compare that figure with the listing.
What diameter are the 5A sticks here?
The OIETON sticks list 0.55 in in diameter, and the Vic Firth sticks list 0.57 in. Measure across the shaft to compare a stick you own with a listing.
Do all the picks here use the same wood?
No. The OIETON, WOGOD and ARLX sticks list maple, and the Vic Firth sticks list hickory. Check the material in the listing when you compare sticks.
Ranked drumsticks lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.