Sirloin Tip vs Top Sirloin — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Sirloin Tip (sirloin tip (knuckle)) and Top Sirloin (top sirloin) are not the same cut: Sirloin Tip is round primal (Front of the rear leg, between sirloin and round); Top Sirloin is sirloin primal (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin).
Canonical entities: Sirloin Tip · Top Sirloin
Side-by-side
| sirloin tip | top sirloin | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | round | sirloin |
| Muscle / location | Front of the rear leg, between sirloin and round | Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin |
| Character | Also called the knuckle. A lean, moderately tender cut from the front of the round, near the sirloin. Used for roasts, kabobs, and stir-fry. Not from the sirloin despite the name. | A large, lean cut from the hip section. The top sirloin butt (NAMP 184) is the main muscle group. Versatile — grilled as steaks, roasted whole, or cut into kabobs. Moderate tenderness with good beefy flavor. Not to be confused with sirloin cap (coulotte/picanha) which sits on top of it. |
Key differences
- Different primals: round vs sirloin.
- Texture and slicing: compare fibrous, grain-heavy cuts vs more tender steak-style muscles based on each cut’s description.
- Retail naming diverges by country—always map through a canonical cut when translating menus or labels.
When to use each
Sirloin Tip
Pick Sirloin Tip when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: Also called the knuckle. A lean, moderately tender cut from the front of the round, near the sirloin. Used for roasts, kabobs, and stir-fry. Not from the sirloin despite the name.
Top Sirloin
Pick Top Sirloin when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: A large, lean cut from the hip section. The top sirloin butt (NAMP 184) is the main muscle group. Versatile — grilled as steaks, roasted whole, or cut into kabobs. Moderate tenderness with good beefy flavor. Not to be confused with sirloin cap (coulotte/picanha) which sits on top of it.
Sirloin Tip and Top Sirloin are different canonical muscles/primals: Sirloin Tip is round (Front of the rear leg, between sirloin and round); Top Sirloin is sirloin (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: sirloin tip (what-is) · top sirloin (what-is) · sirloin tip hub · top sirloin hub