Why Tube Size Is a Strategy Decision, Not a Spec Sheet Detail
Most operators pick their tube size based on whatever fits the cone they already ordered. That's backwards. The tube format determines your retail price tier, your shelf presence, your compliance posture, and your per-unit packaging cost. Getting this right before ordering 250K units is the difference between a SKU that prints money and one that sits in your back room.
Three sizes dominate the market: 116mm (king-size), 98mm (standard/half-gram), and 84mm (dog walker/mini). Each serves a distinct purpose in your product mix.
116mm: The King-Size Workhorse
The 116mm tube is the standard for 1-gram king-size pre-rolls. If you're running a pre-roll line and need to pick one tube size, this is it. It accounts for roughly 60% of all pre-roll tube orders we fulfill.
What fits: 109mm king-size cones (the industry standard), most 1g pre-rolls, and some infused pre-rolls that run slightly longer due to twist or filter variations.
Pop-top cap height: The 116mm tube with a standard pop-top cap sits at approximately 4.5 inches total. It's the tallest single-serve format and creates the most visual shelf presence in dispensary cases.
Per-Unit Economics
From factory-direct pricing at HIGHER, 116mm pop-top tubes run $0.048–$0.065/unit depending on volume tier and customization. At 250K units, you're looking at roughly $12,000–$16,250 for a tube supply that lasts most single-location dispensaries 12–18 months.
Compare that to distributor pricing, which typically runs $0.08–$0.12/unit for the same tube. On a 250K order, that's $20,000–$30,000 — a $4,000–$14,000 difference for the exact same product.
Compliance Note
116mm pop-top tubes are CR-certified (ASTM D3475 / 16 CFR 1700.20) in their standard configuration. They meet child-resistant requirements in all 50 states with legal cannabis. No additional certification needed — the pop-top mechanism itself qualifies. We ship CR documentation with every order.
HIGHER stocks 116mm pop-top tubes in Michigan. 2–7 business day shipping to any Michigan address. 100K MOQ at $0.048–$0.050/unit. This is the fastest way to get tubes in your facility without a 4–8 week factory lead time.
98mm: The Half-Gram Standard
The 98mm tube holds the industry-standard 98mm cone — your half-gram pre-roll format. This is the sweet spot for single-serve impulse purchases at the $6–$12 retail tier.
What fits: 98mm pre-roll cones (both standard and slim), 0.5g pre-rolls, and some 0.7g formats that use shorter, fatter cones.
Market position: Half-gram pre-rolls are the fastest-growing format in cannabis retail. They hit the impulse price point ($6–$10) where consumers add one to an existing purchase without deliberation. If you're not offering a half-gram SKU, you're leaving money on the counter.
Per-Unit Economics
98mm tubes run $0.042–$0.058/unit factory-direct — slightly cheaper per unit than 116mm due to less material. The savings compound at volume. A 500K order of 98mm tubes can save $3,000–$5,000 versus the same quantity in 116mm.
For dispensaries introducing a half-gram line, 98mm tubes are the lower-risk entry point: cheaper per unit, faster sell-through, and the format is growing while king-size holds steady.
When to Choose 98mm Over 116mm
Choose 98mm when your target retail price is under $10. At that price point, a king-size tube with a king-size cone has margin issues — the packaging cost as a percentage of retail price gets uncomfortable. A 98mm tube with a 98mm half-gram cone keeps your packaging-to-retail ratio under 10%, which is where profitable operators aim.
84mm: The Mini / Dog Walker
The 84mm tube is the smallest standard format — designed for 0.3–0.5g "dog walker" or "shorty" pre-rolls. This is a niche format, but it's a growing one, especially in markets where consumers want a lower-commitment option.
What fits: 84mm cones, some 78mm cones with filter, and mini blunt formats.
Market position: Dog walkers are popular in tourism markets (Las Vegas, Traverse City) and near college campuses (Ann Arbor, Columbus). They retail at $4–$8 and are often sold in multi-packs of 3 or 5.
Per-Unit Economics
84mm tubes are the cheapest per unit at $0.038–$0.052/unit factory-direct. But here's the catch: if you're selling minis in multi-packs (which most operators do), you need a secondary container — a PET jar or a box — to hold the individual tubes. Your total packaging cost per multi-pack is actually higher than a single king-size tube.
The math: 3 mini tubes at $0.04 = $0.12, plus a PET jar at $0.15 = $0.27 total packaging. A single 116mm tube at $0.05 is cheaper. Minis make sense only when your retail multi-pack price point (usually $18–$25) justifies the additional packaging layers.
The Format Strategy: What to Stock
For most dispensary operators running their own pre-roll line, here's the framework:
Single-Location Dispensary (200–500 pre-rolls/week)
Start with 116mm pop-top tubes only. Stock 100K from Michigan local stock at $0.048/unit. That's a $4,800 investment covering 4–10 months of production. Add 98mm tubes when you introduce a half-gram SKU — order 100K at the same tier.
Multi-Location Operator (1,000+ pre-rolls/week)
Stock both 116mm and 98mm in volume. Order 250K of each for best per-unit pricing. Consider 84mm only if you're running a mini/dog-walker multi-pack at a specific retail price point. Total packaging investment: $25,000–$35,000 for a 6–12 month supply across all locations.
Processor / White-Label
You need all three sizes to serve different dispensary clients. Order at the 500K+ tier for each size. Custom printing or labels become important at this scale — your branding on the tube is the only thing differentiating your product from competitors on the same dispensary shelf.
Glass Tubes vs Pop-Top Tubes: A Size-by-Size Comparison
Everything above assumes PET pop-top tubes. Glass tubes exist in all three sizes and serve the premium tier ($15+ retail). Glass costs 5–10x more per unit than PET but supports higher retail pricing and a premium brand perception.
The simple rule: if your pre-roll retails under $12, use pop-top PET. If it retails over $15, consider glass. If you're in a premium market like Ann Arbor, Denver, or NYC, glass tubes can justify the per-unit premium through higher average transaction values.
What to Do Next
If you know your tube size and you're ready to order, Get Factory Pricing
If you're still deciding, our team can walk you through format strategy based on your specific pre-roll line, retail price targets, and production volume. Call 248-982-2920 or request a quote and we'll build a recommendation.
