Cost & Pricing
How Much Does Cannabis Packaging Cost? Per-Unit Pricing for Dispensary Brands (2026)
Cubit Packaging Team
May 22, 2026
Cannabis Packaging Pricing: No Guesswork
We produce cannabis packaging for dispensary brands in 18 states. Hundreds of orders a month. The pricing question comes up on every single call: "How much per unit, and what does that include?"
Here's the answer. Real numbers from real production runs. Compliance included.
What's included in these prices: Full custom CMYK printing, ASTM D3475 child-resistant certification, FDA-grade materials, opaque packaging (required in all states), and shipping to continental US. No hidden setup fees.
Cannabis Packaging Price Table
| Format | 500 units | 1,000 units | 2,500 units | 5,000 units | 10,000+ units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR Mylar Bag (1/8oz flat) | $0.42 | $0.28 | $0.18 | $0.12 | $0.08 |
| CR Mylar Bag (1/4oz stand-up) | $0.65 | $0.45 | $0.32 | $0.22 | $0.15 |
| CR Mylar Bag (1oz stand-up) | $0.95 | $0.68 | $0.48 | $0.35 | $0.25 |
| Pre-Roll Tube (98mm, opaque PP) | $0.22 | $0.15 | $0.11 | $0.08 | $0.06 |
| Pre-Roll Tube + Custom Label | $0.35 | $0.24 | $0.18 | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| CR Tin (2oz, push-twist lid) | $2.40 | $1.65 | $1.20 | $0.90 | $0.70 |
| CR Rigid Box (small, magnetic) | $5.80 | $4.20 | $3.40 | $2.80 | $2.20 |
| CR Rigid Box (large, push-slide) | $7.50 | $5.60 | $4.50 | $3.80 | $3.00 |
| Folding Carton (pre-roll 3-pack) | $1.40 | $0.95 | $0.68 | $0.50 | $0.35 |
The Compliance Cost Built Into Every Unit
Cannabis packaging costs more than equivalent non-cannabis formats. Here's why:
- ASTM D3475 testing: $3,000-$8,000 per format to certify initially. This is amortized into per-unit pricing across the first production runs.
- CR mechanisms: Child-resistant zippers, push-turn caps, and slide-lock trays cost $0.02-$0.15 more per unit than standard closures.
- Opaque materials: Opaque PP, foil laminate, and solid-color substrates cost 5-10% more than clear alternatives.
- Label compliance: State-specific label templates require artwork revisions when selling in multiple states — we include 2 state versions per order.
At Cubit, we absorb the ASTM testing costs into our standard pricing. You're never charged a separate line item for CR certification.
What Drives Cannabis Packaging Cost Up
1. Finishing Upgrades
| Finishing | Per-Unit Add (5K qty) | Why Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Matte lamination | +$0.03 | Professional feel, fingerprint resistance |
| Soft-touch lamination | +$0.06 | Luxury tactile experience (Kiva-style) |
| Spot UV (logo only) | +$0.05 | Glossy logo contrast on matte background |
| Hot foil stamping | +$0.08-$0.15 | Gold/silver metallic accents |
| Embossing | +$0.06-$0.10 | Raised logo/texture |
| Holographic foil | +$0.12-$0.20 | Anti-counterfeiting + visual pop |
2. Multi-State Label Compliance
Selling in California AND Colorado? You'll need two label versions. Each additional state version adds $200-$400 in artwork setup (one-time) and potentially requires separate SKU production runs if label text changes are significant.
3. Small Quantities
The biggest cost lever. Moving from 500 to 5,000 units drops per-unit cost by 65-75%. Cannabis brands that order quarterly at 5K instead of monthly at 1K save 40% per unit on average.
Budget Guide by Product Type
| Product | Recommended Format | Cost at 5K | % of Retail Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8oz flower ($25 retail) | CR mylar bag | $0.12 | 0.5% |
| Single pre-roll ($8 retail) | Tube + label | $0.14 | 1.8% |
| 3-pack pre-rolls ($22 retail) | Tubes + carton | $0.92 | 4.2% |
| Edible gummies ($18 retail) | CR mylar bag | $0.22 | 1.2% |
| Premium edibles ($35 retail) | CR tin | $0.90 | 2.6% |
| Gift set ($65 retail) | CR rigid box | $3.80 | 5.8% |
Industry benchmark: cannabis packaging typically runs 1-6% of retail price. Under 3% is efficient. Over 8% means you're over-packaging for your price point.
Five Ways to Cut Cannabis Packaging Costs
- Order 5K+ at a time. The single biggest cost lever. Plan quarterly orders instead of monthly.
- Use stock CR tubes for pre-rolls. Custom-molded tubes are 3x the cost of our certified stock formats with a printed label.
- Go kraft. Kraft mylar bags (kraft exterior, foil interior) cost the same as black matte but communicate "craft cannabis" without premium finishes.
- Standardize sizes. Running three bag sizes? Consolidating to two saves $0.03-$0.08/unit on die costs.
- Plan 14-day production. Rush orders add 15-25%. Standard turnaround is almost always possible with 4 weeks' planning ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ASTM D3475 certification cost?
$3,000-$8,000 per unique packaging format to certify through an accredited testing lab. At Cubit, we pre-certify our standard CR formats, so this cost is included in your per-unit pricing. You don't pay a separate certification fee.
What's the cheapest compliant cannabis packaging?
Stock opaque pre-roll tubes at $0.06/unit (10K qty) or CR mylar bags at $0.08/unit (10K qty). Both include ASTM D3475 certification and full custom printing. Add a tamper-evident shrink band for $0.01-$0.02/unit.
Do finishing upgrades affect compliance?
No. Matte lamination, spot UV, foil stamping, and embossing are purely cosmetic finishes applied to the exterior surface. They don't interfere with CR mechanisms or barrier properties. Add finishes freely without re-testing.
How much should a new cannabis brand budget for packaging?
First production run: $2,000-$5,000 for most brands. That gets you 2,500-5,000 CR mylar bags with full custom printing. Pre-roll brands spending $800-$1,500 on tubes and labels. Premium brands budgeting rigid boxes: $12,000-$15,000 for 2,500 units. Allocate 2-4% of your first-year revenue to packaging.
Can I get samples before committing to a full order?
Yes. Free sample kits of our certified CR formats are available — bags, tubes, and tins. Custom printed samples (your artwork, your size) run $75-$200, credited to your production order.
Get exact pricing for your cannabis product. Submit a quote request — we respond within 4 hours with per-unit costs, compliance documentation, and a production timeline. Or browse all cannabis packaging options.