Before You Order a Single Unit of Packaging
This checklist runs in the correct order: format decisions first, then compliance, then branding, then volume. Skip a step or run them out of order and you'll end up reordering — or worse, pulling product from shelves.
Step 1: Choose Your Cone Format
Your cone choice determines everything downstream — what tubes you need, what machines you use, what retail price point you're targeting. Three decisions:
| Decision | Options | Recommendation for New Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 109mm (1g), 98mm (0.5–0.75g), 84mm (0.5g), 70mm (0.3g) | Start with 109mm. Add 98mm as your second SKU once production is consistent. |
| Paper | White (best for printing), Brown (craft aesthetic), Hemp (premium) | White is the safe starting choice. Brown and hemp are same price or small premium. |
| Filter tip | Paper (standard), Glass ($0.25+/cone), Ceramic ($0.30+/cone) | Start with paper. Upgrade to glass once you've validated demand at the $15+ retail tier. |
Custom sizes are also available if your filling equipment or product format requires non-standard dimensions. For the full size breakdown, see Pre-Roll Cone Sizes Explained. For tip material comparisons, see Glass vs Paper vs Ceramic Tips.
Step 2: Choose Your Tube/Container
Every cone needs a compliant container. The container does three jobs: protects the pre-roll, meets child-resistant requirements, and carries your branding.
| Format | Container | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles (value tier) | Pop-top tubes | $0.055/unit at 100K | $8–$12 retail singles |
| Singles (premium) | Glass tubes with CR cap | $0.095–$0.205/unit | $15+ retail premium |
| Multi-packs (3s, 5s) | PET jars with CR lid | $0.190/unit at 100K | Multi-pack formats, variety packs |
Critical sizing: 109mm cones go in 116mm tubes. 98mm cones go in 98–100mm tubes. 84mm cones go in 90mm tubes. Order samples and test fit before committing to volume — 100K wrong-sized tubes is an expensive mistake.
Pop-top vs glass tubes: full comparisonStep 3: Verify Compliance for Your State
Every state has different packaging requirements. Get this wrong and your product can't legally be sold — regardless of how good it looks.
| Requirement | Standard | What Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Child-resistant (CR) | ASTM D3475 / 16 CFR 1700.20 | Pop-top tubes ✓ Glass tubes with CR screw caps ✓ Cork-topped glass tubes ✗ (need secondary CR packaging) |
| Opaque / light-resistant | Varies by state | Most states require non-see-through packaging for flower. Clear tubes need opaque labels or shrink sleeves. |
| Tamper-evident | Varies by state | Consumer must tell if opened. Pop-tops meet this inherently. Glass tubes may need a tamper band. |
| Universal THC symbol | State-specific | Each state has a different symbol. Must appear on the label. |
Cork-lid warning: If you're considering glass tubes for a premium look, verify whether your state requires CR packaging. Glass tubes with CR screw caps are compliant. Cork-topped glass tubes are not CR-certified and require secondary CR packaging (like a CR exit bag) to be legal in most states.
Check our state compliance guides for your specific market's rules — we have individual guides for Michigan, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Arizona. Every HIGHER order ships with CR certification documentation.
Branding is Step 4, not Step 1. Too many new brands design their packaging before understanding the compliance constraints — then discover half their design violates state rules.
Step 4: Branding (After Compliance, Not Before)
Now that you know your format and your compliance requirements, you can design branding that works within those constraints instead of fighting them.
Label design: Your label needs to include compliance information (THC content, warnings, universal symbol, license number) AND your branding. Design both simultaneously. A common mistake is designing a beautiful label, then cramming compliance text in later — it looks like an afterthought.
Custom printing on cones: Custom-printed cones with your logo on the filter tip are the single best branding investment in pre-rolls. The consumer sees your brand every time they hold the joint. Custom printing is included in HIGHER's per-unit price at no extra charge — no setup fees, no per-color surcharges.
Glass and ceramic tip branding: Glass tips can be customized with your choice of glass color and a sticker band. Ceramic tips are available in custom colors. All tip branding is included in the per-unit price.
Label on tube: Full-wrap labels or shrink sleeves on your tube handle the branding that compliance won't let you put on the cone or container directly. Label printing starts at 10K units — lower MOQ than the packaging itself.
Is custom printing worth it? See the ROI mathStep 5: Volume Planning
Order too little and you pay more per unit. Order too much and capital sits in your stockroom. Here's the framework for a new brand:
100K pre-roll cones at $0.060/unit = $6,000
100K pop-top tubes at $0.055/unit = $5,500
Labels (optional, 100K) = $1,500–$3,000
Total: ~$13,000–$14,500
This gives you enough packaging for approximately 100K pre-rolls — about 6–12 months for a single dispensary account or 2–4 months for a processor running volume.
Second order (scaling): Once you've validated your SKU and have consistent weekly production, move to 250K cones + 250K tubes. Per-unit cost drops 8–15% at this tier.
See how per-unit cost drops at 250K, 500K, and 1M tiers → MOQ and Volume Pricing Guide.
The First Order: What to Send Us
When you're ready, here's what we need to quote your first packaging order:
| What We Need | Your Answer |
|---|---|
| Cone size | 109mm / 98mm / 84mm / 70mm / custom |
| Paper type | White / Brown / Hemp |
| Filter tip | Paper / Glass / Ceramic |
| Tube size and material | PET pop-top / Glass CR cap / PET jar (multi-pack) |
| Quantity | Start at 100K if unsure |
| State(s) of sale | For compliance documentation |
| Custom printing | Yes/No — if yes, send your logo file |
Quote comes back within 24 hours with per-unit pricing, total cost, lead time, and compliance docs for your state.
