As skinny as you can cut them without them looking ugly...1 and1/4 inches?? Sorry I can't cut a straight line to save my life, my husband cuts these for me! 3 inch PVC, plastic wrap the bottom then put on and endcap...do not make them any longer than 1 and 1/2 feet, 3 fit into a 5 gallon bucket perfectly so they don't tip while you pour, and you can insulate around them with a towel while in the bucket. IF you put a non GM soap into them, and add ground herbs, they sort of cling to the loofa sort of outlining the design, very pretty! I have photos of them on my website. Vicki