Pre-Roll Sales Surge in Summer
Posted by Custom Cones USA on Jun 16th 2026
Ah, summer; long, sunny days, barbecues with family and friends, camping under the stars ... and pre-rolls.
Pre-rolls? Yes, Pre-rolls.
Every summer, as people head outside to gather with friends, pre-roll sales see a bump as smokers on the move reach for the portability, convenience and ease-of-use that pre-rolls provide.
So how big is the summer pre-roll bump? What types of pre-rolls do people buy in the summer? And what states have the biggest jump in sales when the weather turns warmer?
The summer-ready Pre-Roll Experts have the answers.
Summer Pre-Rolls by the Numbers
If it seems like more people are picking up pre-rolls in the summertime, it's because they are. Pre-rolls are the most portable, shareable product format in cannabis, which makes them perfect to take camping, to festivals or just over to a friend's for a day by the grill.
But don't just take our word for it. Let's check out the numbers, as tracked by cannabis analytics firm Headset.
According to point-of-sales data from the past five years, pre-rolls experience a sales bump of nearly 10% in July and August. In every year tracked, pre-rolls saw a jump in the summer months, ranging from between 6% to 13%, depending on the year.
In July, pre-roll sales increased an average of 8% while in August, they jumped at least 9% on average. Those two months tie with December (9% increase due to the holidays) and October (8% increase tied, in part, to Halloween) as the best months for pre-roll sales.
That equates to an estimated $65 million in additional pre-roll revenue over July and August.
What Types of Pre-Rolls Sell Better in Summer?
But not all pre-rolls are created equal, and some clearly sell more than others, so what are the types of pre-rolls that sell best in the summer?
While all of the tracked segments see a boost in the summer, it's the hybrid pre-roll that outperforms the rest, with a 5-year average of 10% growth in July and August, followed by infused pre-rolls (9%) and indica and sativa pre-rolls (7% each).
However, there are some trends over that five-year period worth noting. For example, while the infused segment overall maintains a 9% boost on average, infused pre-rolls had its largest boost in 2021 at 13% and has generally been falling ever since, dropping to just a 5% bounce in 2025.
Hybrids, on the other hand, have been more consistent, jumping 13% in 2021, falling to a 6% bounce in 2022 and stabilizing around a 9% boost in 2025.
The data also notes that 2022 appears to be an outlier, showing a "muted" bump across all segments that summer, due potentially to new markets that had yet to establish seasonal tendencies or possibly a record-breaking summer heatwave across much of the country that may have put a damper on summer activities.
Where Is the Summer Pre-Roll Bump the Largest?
The Summer bump we see in pre-roll sales across the summer months also, unsurprisingly, vary by state and region and may be connected to weather patterns, much like 2022 was.
We see the largest bump, for example, in states where the summers are times when people head outdoors after being trapped inside over the winter. Whereas states where summer temperatures can be overwhelming, like in the southwest, do not see the same bounce or even show a slight dip in sales as people head to the air conditioned indoors to escape the sun.
For example, New York sees the largest summertime increase in pre-roll sales, with sales surging an average of 31% during July and August. Maryland and Michigan follow at 23% and 14% increases, respectively.
Meanwhile, the desert states of Nevada and Arizona show the smallest summer increases with Nevada seeing only a 4% boost and Arizona sales actually dropping an average of 2% in the summertime as folks get away from the heat.
Summer Pre-Roll Sales Bump by State
| State | Avg Summer Index | Summer Bump | Consistency (Min–Max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1.31 | +31% | 1.14 – 1.59 |
| Maryland | 1.23 | +23% | 1.08 – 1.48 |
| Michigan | 1.14 | +14% | 1.10 – 1.19 |
| Missouri | 1.13 | +13% | 1.08 – 1.22 |
| Colorado | 1.13 | +13% | 1.11 – 1.15 |
| Massachusetts | 1.12 | +12% | 1.10 – 1.17 |
| Oregon | 1.10 | +10% | 1.08 – 1.11 |
| Washington | 1.08 | +8% | 1.07 – 1.09 |
| Illinois | 1.07 | +7% | 1.04 – 1.08 |
| California | 1.05 | +5% | 1.01 – 1.12 |
| Nevada | 1.04 | +4% | 1.01 – 1.08 |
| Arizona | 0.98 | -2% | 0.89 – 1.11 |
Branding Your Pre-Rolls
With more pre-rolls being passed around in the summer months, it's more important than ever to make sure your pre-rolls are properly branded so that everyone in the circle knows where that high-quality pre-roll came from and can go buy more.
After all, potency, price and brand are the top three factors consumers take into consideration when buying a pre-roll. It's why the top-10 best-selling brands all use custom filter tips, overwraps, cigar bands or some combination of all three and a fairly easy way to distinguish your brand, considering that 60% of pre-roll manufacturers use unbranded cones that all look the same or are branded with the logo of the cone manufacture.
The best way to ensure your branding and messaging come across is by adding custom filter tips to your pre-rolls. From the simplest choices like adding colors to full custom printed logos, overwraps or cigar bands, custom branding your pre-rolls is a major way to build brand recognition.
Contact the Custom Cones USA Pre-Roll Experts Design Team today to bring your vision to life and take your pre-roll brand to the next level.
Final Thoughts on Summer Pre-Rolls
The summer is the most important season of the year for pre-roll sales, with pre-roll revenues jumping as the sun comes out and people head to outdoor gatherings, with an average increase of nearly 10% in July and August.
It's particularly important in states that have more temperate summer temperatures or harsh winters.
Producers and manufacturers not looking to be left behind should not only potentially increase production to meet demand, but potentially lean into Pre-Roll Season with special releases, branding and/or pricing strategies to capitalize on a nearly 10% boost in pre-roll sales.
Contact the Pre-Roll Experts today to find out how to best prepare your pre-roll brand to take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity.
Around summertime, pre-roll sales see a bump as smokers on the move reach for the convenience and ease-of-use that pre-rolls provide.