Das Filter Blog
Rolling Papers vs Cones: Which Should You Use?
Quick answer: Use cones if you want speed and an easy, consistent result: a pre-rolled cone is already shaped and tipped, so you just fill it and twist it shut. Use papers if you want the lowest cost per roll and full control over size, shape and tip. Plenty of people keep both.
Papers vs cones side by side
| Rolling papers | Pre-rolled cones | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Grind, add a tip, fill, shape, tuck, roll, seal | Grind, fill, pack, twist |
| Skill needed | Takes practice | Very little |
| Speed | Slower while you learn | Fast |
| Cost per roll | Lower | Higher |
| Tip | Your choice of size, or none | Usually built in |
| Shape | Straight, cone, or anything you can roll | Cone |
| Consistency | Depends on your rolling | Same shape every time |
| Good for | Daily rollers, custom rolls | Beginners, groups, rolling ahead |
Why choose cones?
- No rolling. The tuck is where most new rollers struggle, and a cone skips it.
- Same shape every time. Every cone in a pack is the same size, so each one fills and smokes about the same.
- Faster for groups. Filling several cones is quicker than rolling several joints. Cone fillers exist for doing many at once, though for a few cones you don't need one.
The trade-off is that you're stuck with the size, paper and tip the maker chose. The pre-rolled cones guide covers sizes, and how to fill a cone shows how to pack one so it burns evenly.
Why choose papers?
- Lower cost per roll. A booklet of papers usually costs less per roll than a pack of cones, since you aren't paying for the shaping or a tip.
- Control. You choose the paper size, the amount, the shape and the tip, including a wider tip or no tip at all.
- More kinds of rolls. Straight joints, pinners, cross joints, spliffs and cones of your own all start with a paper.
The trade-off is the learning curve. Start with how to roll a joint; a rolling machine is a middle ground.
Is a cone cheaper than papers?
Usually not. A cone includes paper, shaping and a tip. A paper is just the paper, and you add your own tip. To compare, divide the pack price by the count.
Packs get cheaper per piece as they get bigger. Our banana leaf Nanner Barrels, for example, work out to $3 each in the 3-pack ($9), about $2.33 each in the 6-pack ($14) and $2 each in the 20-pack ($40). Check the same math on any paper or cone pack before you buy.
Do cones and papers smoke differently?
The paper itself burns the same way, because cones are made from the same papers: hemp, rice or wood pulp. What changes is the shape. A cone is wider at the lit end, so it holds more there. Either one can canoe if it's packed unevenly; see why does my joint canoe.
Banana leaf cones are a different material: thicker than paper and usually slower burning. Banana leaf vs paper cones compares the two.
Which should you pick?
- New to rolling: cones.
- Rolling for a group or rolling ahead: cones.
- Rolling every day on a budget: papers.
- Want a specific size, tip or shape: papers.
- Not sure: keep a few cones for busy days and practice with papers when you have time.
If you want to try a leaf cone, our 6 Nanner Barrels are a small pack. Rolling papers instead? The Midway tip (7mm x 28mm) fits 1 1/4 papers.
Frequently asked questions
Are cones better than rolling papers?
Not better, just easier. A pre-rolled cone is already shaped and tipped, so you only fill and close it. Papers take practice, but they cost less per roll and let you choose the size, shape and tip.
Are cones cheaper than rolling papers?
Usually not. You pay for the shaping and the tip that come with a cone, so a cone almost always costs more per roll than a paper from a booklet. Compare the price per piece on the pack.
Do cones burn differently from rolled joints?
The paper burns the same, since many cones are made from the same papers. The difference is the shape: a cone is wider at the end you light. How evenly either one burns comes down to how evenly it's packed.
Are cones good for beginners?
Yes. Cones skip the tuck and roll, which is the hardest part to learn. Many people start with cones and move to papers later.
What tip size do I need for papers vs cones?
Most paper cones come with a tip already in place. For papers, match the tip to the paper: 6mm for single wide, 7mm or 8mm for 1 1/4, and 8mm or 12mm for king size.
Products are for adults 21+.
