At a glance
- Cigarette tubes are pre-made paper cylinders with a filter already attached — you fill them with tobacco using a tube-filling machine (injector).
- The two main sizes are king size (84 mm total length, approximately 58–59 mm tobacco column) and 100s (100 mm total length).
- Tube types include standard filtered, carbon-filtered, unbleached/biodegradable, and flavor-capsule (“click”) tubes.
- Filter length on most tubes is 15–20 mm. Carbon-filtered tubes contain activated carbon granules in the filter.
- Tubes are designed to work with injector machines — they are not designed to be filled by hand.
Cigarette tubes are empty paper cylinders with a filter already attached at one end. You fill them with loose tobacco using a tube-filling machine (also called an injector), which pushes tobacco into the open end of the tube. The result is a finished cigarette. Tubes come in two main sizes — king size and 100s — and several filter types, from standard cellulose acetate to carbon-filtered and flavor-capsule varieties. This article covers what those sizes and types are and how they differ.
For information on the machines used to fill tubes, see the tube-filling machines hub. For context on filters and tips more broadly, see the filters and tips hub.
What sizes do cigarette tubes come in?
King size (84 mm)
King size is the standard cigarette tube length. The total tube length is approximately 84 mm, which includes the filter (typically 15–20 mm) and the paper column that holds tobacco (approximately 58–64 mm, depending on filter length).
The diameter is approximately 7.8–8.0 mm — the same as a standard manufactured cigarette.
King size is the most widely produced tube format and is compatible with most tube-filling machines. When a machine specifies “king size,” it is designed for this 84 mm tube.
100s (100 mm)
100s tubes are approximately 100 mm in total length — about 16 mm longer than king size. The additional length goes into the tobacco column, not the filter. The diameter is the same as king size (approximately 7.8–8.0 mm).
100s tubes produce a longer cigarette and hold more tobacco per tube. They require a tube-filling machine that supports the 100 mm format — not all machines do, so compatibility should be checked before buying.
Slim tubes
Some manufacturers produce slim tubes with a reduced diameter — typically 5.4–6.0 mm instead of the standard 7.8–8.0 mm. Slim tubes produce a thinner cigarette and use less tobacco per tube. They require a compatible slim-format injector.
Slim tubes are less widely available than king size or 100s in the US market.
Cigarette tube size comparison table
| Size | Total length | Typical filter length | Tobacco column | Diameter | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King size | ~84 mm (3.3 in) | 15–20 mm | ~58–64 mm | ~7.8–8.0 mm | Standard — most widely available, fits most machines |
| 100s | ~100 mm (3.9 in) | 15–20 mm | ~74–80 mm | ~7.8–8.0 mm | Longer — more tobacco, requires compatible machine |
| Slim | ~84 mm | 15–20 mm | ~58–64 mm | ~5.4–6.0 mm | Thinner diameter — less tobacco, requires slim injector |
Note: dimensions are typical ranges based on manufacturer product information. Individual brands vary slightly.
What types of cigarette tubes are there?
Standard filtered tubes
The most common type. A paper tube with a cellulose acetate filter plug at one end — the same filter material used in manufactured cigarettes. The filter provides mechanical filtration, trapping particulate matter as air passes through the fiber matrix.
Standard filtered tubes are available in both white (bleached) and brown (unbleached) paper from most major tube brands.
Carbon-filtered tubes
Carbon-filtered tubes contain activated carbon granules within the filter, in addition to the standard cellulose acetate. The activated carbon provides an adsorption stage — gaseous compounds adhere to the porous carbon surface as the air stream passes through.
This is the same adsorption mechanism described in types of filter tips — the carbon’s high surface area attracts and holds certain compounds through weak intermolecular forces.
Carbon filters on tubes are typically 15–20 mm long. Brands such as Cartel produce carbon-filtered tubes in king size format, according to manufacturer product information.
Unbleached and biodegradable tubes
Some tubes use unbleached paper (not whitened during manufacturing) and cellulose-based filters instead of cellulose acetate. The cellulose filter is designed to biodegrade faster than standard cellulose acetate.
Unbleached tubes have a natural tan or brown color, similar to unbleached rolling papers. The functional difference is in the paper processing and filter material — the tube dimensions and machine compatibility are the same as standard tubes of the same size.
Cartel is among the brands offering unbleached tubes with cellulose filters, according to manufacturer product information.
Flavor-capsule (“click”) tubes
Flavor-capsule tubes contain a small capsule embedded in the filter that holds a flavored liquid — commonly menthol. The capsule is activated by squeezing the filter between the fingers until the capsule breaks (the “click”), releasing the flavor into the filter.
Until the capsule is broken, the tube functions as a standard filtered tube. Once broken, the flavoring is distributed through the filter material.
Regulatory note: In the European Union, cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco with a characterizing flavor (including menthol) have been prohibited since May 2020 under Directive 2014/40/EU (the Tobacco Products Directive). This ban covers capsule mechanisms in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. Flavor-capsule tubes may be subject to the same restrictions in EU member states. In the US, there is no equivalent federal ban on menthol in cigarettes as of the date of this article. The FDA proposed rulemaking on this topic in 2022, but the proposed rules were withdrawn in early 2025 and no active federal rulemaking is pending. Availability of flavor-capsule tubes varies by jurisdiction.
How do tubes differ from rolling papers and cones?
Tubes, rolling papers, and cones are three different ways to make a hand-filled cigarette:
| Property | Cigarette tube | Rolling paper | Pre-rolled cone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape when purchased | Finished cylinder with filter | Flat sheet | Cone shape with tip |
| Filter included | Yes — built-in | No — added separately | Yes — built-in tip/crutch |
| Filling method | Tube-filling machine (injector) | Hand-rolling | Fill and tamp by hand |
| Skill required | Machine operation | Rolling technique | Minimal — fill and pack |
For a full overview of rolling papers, see the rolling papers hub.
Where to buy cigarette tubes
Cigarette tubes are available from tobacco retailers, convenience stores, and online marketplaces. When buying online, check that the tube size (king size vs. 100s) is compatible with your filling machine.
FAQ
Q: What size are standard cigarette tubes? The standard size is king size, at approximately 84 mm total length (including a 15–20 mm filter). 100s tubes are approximately 100 mm long. Both have a diameter of approximately 7.8–8.0 mm.
Q: What is a carbon-filtered cigarette tube? A carbon-filtered tube has activated carbon granules in the filter in addition to the standard cellulose acetate. The carbon provides an adsorption stage that holds certain gaseous compounds on its porous surface as air passes through.
Q: What are click tubes? Click tubes (flavor-capsule tubes) contain a small capsule in the filter that releases a flavoring — typically menthol — when squeezed until it breaks. They are subject to regulatory restrictions in some jurisdictions, including the EU.
Q: Can I fill cigarette tubes by hand? Tubes are designed to be filled with a tube-filling machine (injector) that pushes tobacco into the open end. Hand-filling is not practical — the tube is a rigid cylinder and the opening is too narrow to pack by hand effectively.
Q: What is the difference between king size and 100s tubes? King size tubes are approximately 84 mm long; 100s are approximately 100 mm. The extra 16 mm goes into the tobacco column, so 100s hold more tobacco and produce a longer cigarette. Not all filling machines support 100s, so check compatibility.
Sources
- EU Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU — characterizing flavor ban and capsule provisions: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32014L0040 (Publisher: manually confirm URL loads)