109mm, 98mm, 84mm, tube and reefer formats — how to choose a pre-rolled cone size by fill weight, filling-machine compatibility, and market position. A sourcing reference for brands building their SKU line.
Size is the first spec decision a pre-rolled cone buyer makes, and it drives almost everything downstream. The paper length and filter combination sets the fill capacity; the fill capacity sets the price point; the price point sets which market format the SKU competes in. Get the size right and the rest of the specification follows naturally. This guide covers the full QBI standard size range, how to choose between formats, and where custom dimensions fit.
A pre-rolled cone is defined by two numbers: the paper length and the filter (tip) length, written together as 109/26, 98/26, 84/26 and so on. Those two numbers determine how much material the cone holds. Fill capacity, in turn, positions the product. A cone that holds roughly a gram sits in the premium single format; one that holds around half a gram sits in the value or multipack format. Before choosing substrate, print, or packaging, a buyer needs to know the fill weight the market expects — everything else is built around it.
"Paper length and filter set the fill capacity; the fill capacity sets the price point; the price point sets the market format. Size decides the rest."
QBI manufactures eight standard sizes across three tapers — standard, slimmer reefer, and straight tube. Every size ships in 800, 900, or 1000-count tower boxes.
| Size | Paper + Filter | Fill Capacity | Typical Use Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 109/26 | 109mm + 26mm | 1.0–1.2g | Premium gram — the global default single |
| Standard 109/21 | 109mm + 21mm | 0.8–1.2g | Full-length with a shorter tip for more fill |
| Standard 98/26 | 98mm + 26mm | 0.6–0.8g | Half-gram — value and multipack SKUs |
| XS Reefer 109/26 | 109mm + 26mm, slimmer taper | 0.6–0.8g | Full length, slim profile — lighter draw |
| Reefer 98/26 | 98mm + 26mm | 0.6–0.8g | Slim mid-length — measured serving size |
| Reefer 84/26 | 84mm + 26mm | 0.4–0.6g | Compact slim — sampler and multipack |
| Tube 109/35 | 109mm + 35mm, straight tube | 0.9–1.0g | Straight-wall format, long filter |
| Tube 84/24 | 84mm + 24mm, straight tube | 0.7–0.9g | Compact straight tube |
Three practical filters narrow the range quickly.
Start with the fill weight your market expects. Premium single formats target a full gram — the 109/26 standard is the global reference point. Value and multipack formats target half a gram, where 98/26 and the reefer sizes fit. Compact 84mm formats hold 0.4–0.6g and suit samplers, promotional multipacks, and lower price points. Working backward from fill weight is the fastest way to shortlist a size.
Every QBI size is machine-compatible with standard automated filling equipment and produced to ±0.1mm tip and head diameter tolerance with 99% dimension consistency across the run. That consistency is what keeps a cone feeding cleanly at speed. If you fill in-house, confirm your equipment's accepted length and diameter window and match the size to it. If you outsource filling, your co-packer will usually specify which sizes run best on their line.
Filter length is a lever, not a fixed value. A longer tip — the 35mm on the Tube 109/35, for instance — gives a cooler draw and a more substantial mouthfeel, at the cost of a little fill length. A shorter 21mm tip on a 109mm paper trades tip length for more fill capacity. Match the tip to how the end consumer holds and draws the product.
The three tapers are not just cosmetic — they change how the cone fills, draws, and reads on shelf.
The eight standard sizes cover most of the market, but they are a starting point, not a limit. QBI produces custom pre-rolled cones from 50mm to 165mm, with both length and diameter customisable to requirement. That range covers everything from compact sampler formats to oversized specialty singles. Custom sizes carry the same ±0.1mm tolerance and machine compatibility as the standard range. Pilot runs are available on request to validate a new size before committing to full volume.
Confirm the finished length and diameter against your filling equipment's operational window before ordering at volume. A custom size that runs perfectly by hand can drift on an automated line if the diameter sits outside the machine's accepted range. Validate with a pilot run first.
Standard production runs 4–6 weeks, with expedited 2–3 week runs available. Free samples ship worldwide, and quotes are returned within 24 hours.