Caliber is, along with price, the first thing an experienced garlic buyer asks about. It is not a minor detail: the caliber defines the bulb size, how many heads fit in a box, the peeling yield, and to a large extent, the price per kilogram. Choosing the right caliber for your business is the difference between protecting your margin and overpaying for a size you do not need.
What is garlic caliber?
Caliber is a numerical scale that classifies garlic by the diameter of the head: the higher the number, the larger the bulb. The market uses sizes from 5 to 11, and each number also has a commercial name:
| Caliber | Commercial Name | Relative Size |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Large Tube | Small |
| 6 | Giant | Medium |
| 7 | Jumbo | Medium-large |
| 8 | Ex Jumbo | Large |
| 9 | Super Jumbo | Very large |
| 10 | Colossal | Extra large |
| 11 | Super Colossal | Largest available |
Domestic vs. imported: domestic (Mexican) garlic is typically available in calibers 6 to 11, while imported garlic is usually offered in calibers 5 to 7. Availability by caliber changes with the season and origin.
What changes between calibers
- Peeling yield: a larger caliber has bigger cloves and peels faster, requiring less labor per kilogram of clean garlic.
- Presentation: larger calibers look better on display shelves and at point-of-sale; smaller ones are less visually impactful.
- Price: the larger the caliber, the higher the price per kilogram. Size comes at a premium.
- Pieces per box: the larger the caliber, the fewer heads per box (each one weighs more).
- End use: for peeling and processing, larger calibers are best; for resale by the kilogram, a medium caliber often strikes the best balance between price and size.
Which caliber is best for your business?
Food service and processing operations
If you peel or process garlic, larger calibers (8 to 11) reduce peeling time and waste. You pay more per kilogram, but you save on labor and get better yield.
Resale and bulk supply by weight
For selling in bulk where the customer is looking for the best price, a medium caliber (6 to 7) usually offers the best balance between cost and acceptable size.
Display and premium presentation
If your sales depend on visual appeal (shelf display, baskets, export), larger calibers (9 to 11) justify their price through their appearance.
Commercial packaging
Garlic is handled in cardboard boxes. The standard packaging is 15 kg for domestic garlic and 10 kg for imported garlic, with an approximate shelf life of 6 months under cold storage conditions (0 to 2 °C). Always confirm caliber and packaging against a sample before closing a deal.
Explore our garlic selection
Browse the calibers and origins we carry at wholesale before requesting your quote.
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