Standing in front of two packs of cashews, one marked W240 and one marked W320, with a real price gap between them? Here is the short answer: W240 kernels are noticeably bigger and made for eating whole. W320 kernels are medium sized and the smart buy when cashews go into cooking. And one thing most buyers comparing these two never find out: neither is the largest. That is W180, the jumbo grade, and we will get to it. We process all three grades ourselves, so here is the full picture.
The difference in one table
| Attributes | W320 | W240 | W180 (the one above both) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium | Large | Jumbo, the largest grade |
| Kernels per kg (±5%) | ~706 | ~530 | ~397 |
| Bite | Standard single bite | Substantial | Full two-bite kernel, the premium experience |
| Price | The friendliest per-kg price | Modest premium over W320 | The top of the chart |
| Best for | Kaju katli, gravies, baking, everyday use | Snacking whole, trail mixes | Gifting, guests, cashews at their best |
| Shop | W320 | W240 | W180 |
All three are W grades, which means whole, intact kernels. The number is the count per pound: fewer kernels in the same weight means each kernel is bigger. That is the entire code.
Why the same nut sells at two prices
Cashew kernels are not made in sizes; they grow that way. In any harvest, most kernels come out medium, and only a smaller share grow large enough to grade as W240 or above. Rarity sets the price: the bigger the kernel, the smaller the supply, the higher the rate. W240 typically costs a modest premium over W320 for the same weight.
So the question is never “which grade is a ripoff”. It is “am I paying for something I will actually notice”. Eat them whole and you notice size in every bite. Grind them into a paste and you notice nothing at all.
When W240 is the right buy
W240 is the large grade, around 530 kernels per kilogram give or take 5%, and it is the closest you can get to the jumbo cashew experience at an everyday price.
Pick W240 if:
- You snack straight from the container. The larger kernel gives a fuller, creamier bite, and that is the whole point of eating a cashew whole.
- You build trail mixes or dry-fruit boxes. Cashews should not disappear next to almonds and raisins.
- You serve guests. A bowl of large kernels reads as premium before anyone tastes one.
Browse W240 large cashews in 1kg, 500g, and 200g packs.
When W320 is the right buy
W320 is the most widely used cashew grade in the world, around 706 kernels per kilogram give or take 5%. Medium kernels, whole-kernel quality, the lowest price per kg among whole grades.
Pick W320 if:
- The cashews are going into a dish. Kaju katli, cashew paste for gravies, korma bases, halwa, cookies. The kernel gets ground, chopped, or blended, so paying for size is paying for something the recipe destroys in the first step.
- You go through cashews in quantity. Generous cooking and daily use, without counting kernels.
- You top breakfast bowls or salads. A medium kernel is genuinely the better fit there.
Browse W320 medium cashews in 1kg, 500g, and 200g packs.
The grade this comparison usually hides: W180
Here is something most people comparing W240 and W320 do not know: neither is the top of the chart. Above both sits W180, the jumbo grade, around 397 kernels per kilogram (give or take 5%). It is called the King of Cashews, and it is the grade we built Cube Root around.
Why does it matter in a 240-vs-320 decision? Because the logic you just used points somewhere. If you are comparing sizes at all, you have already decided that size matters to you, and W180 is where that road ends: the largest kernels a harvest produces, a full two-bite cashew with the creamiest texture of any grade. Most buyers never taste one, not because they chose against it, but because store shelves rarely carry it. Only a small fraction of each harvest grows this large, and most of it goes to premium gifting and export.
The practical way in: our W180 500g pack, or the 400g metal tin if the cashews are a gift. Once you know what a jumbo kernel is like, the comparison below it becomes much easier to settle.
The verdict
Buy by use, not by rank:
- Mostly cooking: W320. The rational choice, and the one professional kitchens quietly make.
- Mostly snacking: W240. The size difference is real and you will taste it in every bite.
- Want the cashew at its best: W180. If this comparison is really about finding the best cashew to eat whole, skip the middle step.
- Both worlds: many of our regulars keep a 1kg W320 in the kitchen and a 1kg W180 on the snack shelf. Two jobs, two grades, no compromise on either.
One thing matters more than any grade: freshness. Cashews are rich in natural oils that fade with air and time, and a fresh W320 will beat a stale W240 in any blind taste. It is why we vacuum pack every 500g and 1kg container the moment grading is done, and never ship old stock. Whichever grade you pick, buy it fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Is W240 better than W320?
For eating whole, yes: the larger kernel gives a fuller bite, which is what the premium buys. For cooking, W320 is the better choice because the size advantage disappears the moment kernels are ground or chopped.
How much more expensive is W240 than W320?
Typically a modest premium for the same weight, moving with each harvest and season. You are paying for rarity: fewer kernels grow large enough to grade as W240.
Which grade is used for kaju katli?
W320. The cashews are ground into flour, so kernel size is irrelevant and the lower price per kg is pure savings.
Are W240 and W320 different nuts?
No. Same nut, same trees, sorted by size after processing. W is for whole kernels; the number is the count per pound.
Is there a grade bigger than W240?
Yes: W180, the jumbo grade and the largest standard size sold in India. If you want the full cashew experience or a gift that lands, that is the one.
Still deciding between all three grades? The complete picture, with every grade compared, is in our cashew grades guide.