Carton, pack, case: what the sizes actually mean
If you have only ever bought single packs at a register, the way tobacco is sold in bulk can be confusing — a carton is not a "big pack", and a case is not a shipping box. Here is the whole ladder, and where the savings actually come from.
The three sizes
| Unit | What's inside | Cigarettes |
|---|---|---|
| Pack | 20 cigarettes | 20 |
| Carton | 10 packs | 200 |
| Case | 50 cartons (typically) | 10,000 |
Every brand we carry follows the same convention: one carton = ten packs = 200 cigarettes. When a listing says "10 packs · 200 cigarettes", that is the whole carton — not a partial box.
Where the price difference comes from
Three things drive the gap between a carton price and ten separate pack prices:
- Retail margin. A convenience store makes most of its money on single packs. Cartons move faster with less handling, so the margin per unit is thinner.
- Excise tax handling. Cartons carry a single tax stamp per carton rather than ten separate pack stamps — one stamp, one clearance.
- Shipping weight. A carton ships as one sealed unit. Ten loose packs need more padding and more handling.
On a typical $78.90 carton, that works out to roughly $7.89 per pack. The same pack at a register in a high-tax state can easily clear $12–$15.
Why sealed matters
A factory carton is wrapped in cellophane with the tax stamp applied over the seam. That seam is the only reliable freshness signal a buyer has: once it is broken, the packs inside have been exposed to air and handling. If the cellophane is loose, re-taped, or the stamp sits under the wrap instead of over it, the carton has been opened.
How many cartons is normal
Most of our customers order 2–5 cartons per order — enough for a few weeks to a couple of months depending on how much they smoke, without tying up too much cash in one shipment. Cases are rare outside of resellers and are handled individually on WhatsApp.
What shipping looks like
Cartons ship flat in an unmarked box with a tracking number. Age is verified before dispatch, and an adult signature is required at delivery. We do not ship outside the United States.
Browse this week's cartons — adult signature required on delivery.
View cartons →No WhatsApp? Order on our website →
Frequently asked
Is a carton really 10 packs?
Yes. Every carton in our catalog holds 10 packs of 20 cigarettes, so 200 cigarettes total. A case is normally 50 cartons.
Is it cheaper to buy a carton than ten packs?
Almost always. The per-pack price inside a carton is typically 30–50% below single-pack retail in high-tax states, because the carton is taxed and handled as one unit.
How can I tell if a carton has been opened?
Look at the cellophane seam and the tax stamp. On a factory-sealed carton the stamp sits over the wrap. Loose or re-taped wrap means it has been opened.