CR Mylar Bags vs Pre-Roll Tubes vs Rigid Boxes: Cannabis Packaging Compared (2026)

Three Formats, Three Price Points, Same Compliance Bar

Every cannabis product on a dispensary shelf sits in one of three containers: a CR mylar bag, a pre-roll tube, or a rigid box. Each passes ASTM D3475. Each looks completely different. And each costs a very different amount per unit.

This guide puts them next to each other so you can pick the right format for your product, your brand position, and your margin.

Quick Comparison

CR Mylar Bags: The Volume Play

Child-resistant mylar bags dominate cannabis packaging by unit volume. Walk into any dispensary — 60-70% of products on the shelf are in mylar.

Why most brands use mylar:

• Lowest cost per unit of any compliant format: $0.12/bag for a 1/8oz at 5K quantity
• The foil layer (PET/AL/PE) gives you the best oxygen and moisture barrier available. Flower stays fresh for 6+ months.
• Full-panel printing — both front and back are your canvas. No label seams or wrap distortion.
• Light-proof. Critical for THC and terpene preservation.

Where mylar falls short:

• Limited premium perception. Even with matte finish and spot UV, a bag is a bag.
• Hard to display standing up on dispensary shelves. Stand-up gusseted versions help, but they cost 40% more than flat bags.
• Not recyclable in most municipal programs due to the aluminum foil layer.

Best products for mylar:

Flower (all sizes), edible gummies, dried concentrates, single-dose edibles, and small-batch brands that need to keep packaging costs under $0.50/unit.

Pre-Roll Tubes: Cheap, Compliant, Forgettable

Pre-roll tubes are the commodity packaging of cannabis. They work. They comply. They cost almost nothing. They also look identical to every competitor on the shelf.

Why brands use tubes:

• Cheapest compliant format: $0.08/unit at 5K. Even with a custom label, you're under $0.15.
• Push-and-turn CR mechanism is inherently built into the cap design. No special components.
• Opaque by default (PP plastic comes in solid colors)
• Perfect product fit for pre-rolls and vape cartridges — no wasted space.

Where tubes fall short:

• Branding space is tiny. A wraparound label on a 98mm tube gives you about 3 square inches of printable area.
• Zero shelf differentiation. Every dispensary has a bin of nearly identical tubes.
• No room for additional compliance text — some brands need a secondary carton just for labeling.

Best products for tubes:

Single pre-rolls, vape cartridges, and any product where packaging cost must stay under $0.20/unit. Some brands pair tubes inside a branded outer carton for shelf presence.

CR Rigid Boxes: The Premium Position

Child-resistant rigid boxes are what dispensary brands use when they want to compete with luxury CPG products. Think Apple-style packaging for cannabis.

Why premium brands use rigid boxes:

• Maximum brand real estate. Five printable panels with room for full brand storytelling.
• Soft-touch lamination, hot foil, embossing, spot UV — all the luxury finishes are available.
• The unboxing experience drives social sharing. Kiva, Wyld, and CANN all use rigid boxes for this reason.
• CR mechanism is hidden inside — a push-slide tray that passes ASTM D3475 without looking child-proof.

Where rigid boxes fall short:

• Cost. You're paying $2.50-$6.00/unit at 5K quantity. At retail price points under $30, that's a significant margin hit.
• Lead time. Hand-assembly of CR mechanisms extends production to 12-16 days vs. 10 for bags and tubes.
• Size. Rigid boxes take more shelf space, which matters in crowded dispensary displays.

Best products for rigid boxes:

Multi-pack edibles, gift sets, premium flower 1/4oz+, vape pen kits, and any product with a retail price above $40 where the packaging can justify 5-10% of cost.

Hybrid Approach: Tube-in-Box

Smart brands combine formats. A $0.10 pre-roll tube inside a $1.80 branded folding carton gives you ASTM compliance (from the tube) plus shelf presence (from the carton) at $1.90 total — half the cost of a rigid box.

This is what most mid-tier pre-roll brands are moving to in 2026. Explore the full range at our cannabis packaging hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cannabis packaging format is cheapest?

Pre-roll tubes at $0.08/unit (5K quantity). CR mylar bags start at $0.12/unit. Rigid boxes start at $2.50/unit. All include ASTM D3475 child-resistant certification.

Can I mix packaging formats across my product line?

Absolutely — and you should. Use tubes for single pre-rolls (margin play), mylar bags for flower (balance of cost and branding), and rigid boxes for premium gift sets (brand elevation). Your compliance requirements stay the same across all formats.

Which format has the best shelf life for flower?

CR mylar bags. The aluminum foil layer blocks 99.9% of oxygen and moisture. Properly sealed flower stays fresh for 6-12 months. Pre-roll tubes offer adequate protection for 2-3 months. Rigid boxes depend on the inner seal — with a foil pouch insert, you match mylar performance.

Do all three formats meet ASTM D3475?

Yes — when sourced from a certified manufacturer. All Cubit CR packaging includes ASTM D3475 test certification documentation. We don't sell any cannabis packaging format that hasn't passed the 200-child panel test protocol.

Need samples to compare? Request a free cannabis packaging sample kit — we'll send all three formats so you can feel the difference before ordering.