Pre‑Rolls Surpass Flower as the Top‑Selling Cannabis Category in 2025
According to the newly released State of the Pre‑Roll Market 2026 report from Custom Cones USA, pre‑rolled joints have become the best‑selling cannabis product in the United States by unit volume. The analysis, which draws on 2025 sales data from cannabis analytics firm Headset and survey insights from more than 125 leading pre‑roll operators across North America, shows the category generated $3.6 billion in revenue and moved 383 million units, capturing a 15.9 % market share and posting the strongest growth of any major cannabis segment.
Key Findings from the Report
Pre‑roll revenue rose 9.8 % year‑over‑year, while unit sales surged 18.6 %—far outpacing the broader cannabis market, which expanded just 1.5 % during the same period. The report notes that pre‑rolls have more than doubled in revenue since 2021 and have enjoyed five consecutive years of growth, even as overall market momentum slows.
Market Trends Shaping Growth
- Infused products drive revenue: Infused pre‑rolls accounted for $1.68 billion (47 % of the category) and delivered the fastest growth in both units and sales.
- Multi‑pack formats dominate: Nearly 48.5 % of all SKUs are sold in bundled packs, with the leading 2.5 g five‑pack generating over $600 million. The 1‑gram single pre‑roll remains the top individual format, bringing in $1.44 billion in 2025.
- Wide pricing spectrum: Products range from roughly $2 to more than $38, enabling both premium and high‑volume strategies to succeed.
- Strong margins: The category averages a 46.6 % margin, while vertically integrated house brands achieve 55 % margins.
- Millennial leadership: Millennials contribute 43.9 % of total pre‑roll revenue, underscoring the category’s alignment with core cannabis consumers.
Competitive Landscape: Premium vs. Value Brands
The report outlines two distinct winning models.
- Premium focus: California‑based Jeeter leads in revenue, generating more than $253 million through infused products and multi‑pack offerings. Its average price point sits near $23 per unit, emphasizing potency, flavor, and brand recognition.
- Value focus: Michigan‑based Dragonfly Cannabis tops unit sales, moving 22.6 million pre‑rolls in 2025 while earning just over $30 million. Its strategy centers on low‑priced, single‑gram products with an average price of roughly $1.34.
Between these extremes, brands such as STIIIZY, Dogwalkers, and Cali‑Blaze blend price and quality, leveraging brand equity, product innovation, and targeted distribution to capture share.
Emerging Opportunities for Innovation
Despite rapid expansion, several niches remain underdeveloped:
- Premium filter tips: Glass, wood, or ceramic tips represent only 0.03 % of sales, yet survey data indicates more than one in five consumers purchase premium‑tip products at least weekly—signaling a clear demand‑supply gap.
- Pre‑rolled blunts: Official data places blunt sales at $16.3 million, but a deeper dive of product‑level figures shows closer to $148 million in revenue and 8.5 million units sold. The discrepancy stems from infused blunts being categorized under the “infused” segment, masking the true market size.
- Branding and packaging: Nearly 60 % of producers still use unbranded cones, while top performers invest heavily in customized cones and packaging. Branding now ranks as a top‑three purchase driver, behind potency and price.
- Operational efficiency: Advances in automation allow >70 % of operators to run pre‑roll lines with just one to two employees, lowering labor costs and enabling rapid scaling of infused and multi‑pack lines.
Looking ahead, innovation is expected to focus on format and experience—new infusion techniques, alternative materials, and packaging that emphasizes convenience, freshness, and portability.
Outlook and Projections
Custom Cones USA projects continued expansion, forecasting 2026 revenue between $3.8 billion and $4 billion. Long‑term models suggest the market could surpass $5.2 billion by 2030 as brands leverage product design, positioning, and consumer experience to differentiate.
About Custom Cones USA
Founded in 2017 by Harrison Bard and Fredrik Rading, Custom Cones USA is a leading pre‑roll resource in the cannabis industry. The team offers expertise in custom‑branded pre‑rolled cones, wholesale bulk cones, packaging, pre‑roll machines, and full product customization. Their compliance‑focused brand, DaySavers, adheres to the same standards as regulated cannabis companies, providing a transparent smoking‑accessories option.
For the full report, including detailed market analysis, brand assessments, and forward‑looking insights, visit: https://customconesusa.com/pre-roll-expert-blog/pre-roll-reports/.
Source: Here
