How Many Cigarettes in a Pack? A Detailed Guide

January 5, 2024 Business Growth

We know packaging must be in accordance with the product demands and the same is true when it comes to cigarette packaging. The big question that arises in the mind of the manufacturers is “How many cigarettes are in a pack?”

The number of cigarettes in packaging varies according to the region in which you are going to sell your cigarettes. In the USA 20 cigarettes per pack are usually sold. The same number is preferred in most of the Asian region. However, in Australia and Canada, 25 cigarettes per pack are sold.

The main explanation to the question “How many cigarettes are in a pack?” is that the number your local or regional laws allow. Governments all around the globe give a certain number of cigarettes that can be packed in a single box. Let’s see what is the reason behind this specification and how all this started.

Evolution Of Cigarette Packaging

Cigarette packaging was started due to the intention of tracking the taxation on tobacco products. The first packaging was started in the mid-19th century in the United States. At that time the packaging was stamped to regulate taxes and increase revenue.

In the late 19th century there was no concern about how many cigs were in a pack. The packaging was mainly of cardboard material with 5pt, 25pt, 50pt, 100pt, and 245 pt. Later on, when the cigarette brands observed the positive impacts on their sales due to packaging, they started using commercial custom cigarette boxes with their branding elements to attract smokers.

With the advent of time, different countries started regulating the packaging of cigarettes owing to several medical, social, regulatory, and legal reasons. Now the government entities decide and make sure how much cigarettes are in a pack can be sold by tobacco companies. Now we will see when and how the first commercial packaging came into being in the USA:

Cigarette Packaging Boxes In USA

First Commercial Packaging

The packaging of cigarettes was initiated way before the start of the 20th century but the first commercial packaging was introduced by Reynolds Tobacco in 1913. This brand started its branding with camel cigarettes that contain a blend of different types of tobacco called “the American blend”.

Now 20 cigarettes per pack were sold. Again the question of “how many packs in a carton of cigarettes” arose and it was decided that 10 packs per carton.

Raynold Tobacco was the first company in the USA that started using seal-proof packaging with cellophane tape to prevent the stalling of cigarettes. This pioneered commercial packaging in the USA that is continued till today. In 1971 the government of the USA made it mandatory to print government warnings on the boxes.

The Role Of WHO

The role of the World Health Organization in defining how many cigarettes are in a pack should be allowed is very evident. To prevent affordability, reduce the consumption of cigarettes, and regulate taxation, the quality of cigarettes is capped at 20 cigarettes per pack.

The government wants to monitor the consumption and affordability of cigarettes constantly and considering the role of the WHO there is massive taxation on a pack of cigarettes. Moreover, the graphics show the potential hazards of smoking are also mentioned to reduce smoking.

Government Regulation And Packaging

Governments all around the globe decide how much the price of cigarettes per pack will be. This pattern is different in different regions, however, to follow the recommendations of WHO, 20 cigarettes per pack are preferred.

In the vending machine, there are 17-18 cigarettes per pack. This is to keep the price of cigarettes a whole number. The packaging of cigarettes must contain health information and regulatory warnings to create awareness among the general population.

What Defines The Cost Of One Pack?

The cost of one pack of cigarettes depends on more than one factor. Mostly tobacco products are kept expensive to reduce their use by the masses. The following are the factors that decide the cost of one pack:”

Production Cost: This is the cost of raw materials, the cost of labor, the production cost of cigarettes and packaging, and the price of transit.

Market Trends: This includes the worth of your brand, your target audience, the availability of products, etc.

Government Taxes: As the government decides how many cigarettes are in a pack in the same manner it is the government that mainly impacts the cost of cigarettes. To generate revenue and to discourage smoking, taxes are levied on tobacco products.

In developing or low-income companies taxes are almost 51% of the total cigarette price. On the other hand, developed and high-income countries have to pay a 67 % tax on cigarettes.

Advertising: This includes the type of information and prints you use on the packaging, the type of material you use to get your custom cigarette boxes, the distribution of your cigarettes, etc.

Region: As we know the USA is divided into several states the main two groups are the Northern and Southern states. States and local taxes are one of the major contributors in finalizing the cost of cigarettes. In northern states, the price of cigarettes is higher as compared to the southern states.

Cigarette Packaging Boxes In USA

Types Of Cigarette Packaging

When it comes to branding cigarettes the role of packaging can never be overlooked. The box style is a noticeable factor that can generate sales and keep the hygroscopic cigarettes moisture-free. There are mainly two types of boxes used, i.e. soft and hard boxes.

The soft packaging is produced by using cardboard material. The thickness of the cardboard can be customized as per the budget. On the other hand, hard packaging is made from rigid material with a thickness of more than 800 pt. Several styles of cigarette packaging can be used such as:

Flip-top
Hinged lid
Sleeve Style
Mailer style

Factors Contributing To Cigarette Designing

To determine how many cigarettes are in a pack you have to identify one more thing which is the designing of the boxes. With the help of box design, you can not only manufacture the boxes as per your cigarette number but also get ideal packaging with all the regulatory, moral, and branding elements. The following are the factors that can contribute to the packaging:

Cultural aspects
Social scenario
Marketing trends
Government regulation
Mandatory health warnings

Among all the above factors, the role of government regulation and mandatory health warnings are the important ones. This is because, in some countries, there is a full restriction on printing branding elements such as in the United Kingdom where only green cigarette packaging is allied containing health warnings and graphics.

Importance Of Number Of Cigarettes And Packaging

Packaging of all products is crucial but when it comes to cigarettes its role becomes more critical. First of all, brands have to abide by the administrative authorities and health regulatory department, secondly, they have to keep in mind the affordability of the consumer.

The size of the packages confined to 20 cigarettes per pack is a valuable factor for brands. This is because an average smoker consumes 19 cigarettes per day so a box with 20 cigarettes is an ideal size.

Final Thought!

Now you have a good understanding of how many cigarettes are in a pack and why this number is almost constant everywhere. Government, health, and legal departments are the main authorities that define how much you can pack in the packaging and what type of packaging a tobacco brand can use in a particular region.