France tobacco prices in detail

France raised tobacco prices on 1 January 2026 under official decree of 10 December 2025. Here is the full 2026 picture.

Cigarettes: €12.50-13 per pack of 20

Major brand cigarettes in France 2026. Camel: €13 per pack. Winston: €13 per pack. Marlboro: €13 per pack. Lucky Strike: around €12.50. Philip Morris brands: most increased by around 50 cents in January 2026. Budget brands: €11-12 per pack at the lower end of the market. The French government has explicitly stated policy aim to push all packs above €13 by end of 2026 to discourage smoking. Annual price rises are now linked to inflation indexation as well as policy increases. UK comparison: UK 2026 cigarettes £15-17 per pack so France saves around £4-6 per pack within the allowance.

Hand-rolling tobacco: €18 per 30g pouch

The biggest saving for UK travellers. France 2026 hand-rolling prices. 30g pouches (the most common size in France): €17-19 for major brands like Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, Pueblo, Amber Leaf. 14g pouches: around €8.36 (the average for premium brands). 50g pouches (less common in France than UK): around €27-30 if available. UK comparison: UK 50g hand-rolling tobacco £35-40 in supermarkets. France equivalent at €27-30 per 50g (£23-25) saves £10-15 per 50g pouch. Within the 250g UK allowance (5 standard 50g pouches) the saving is roughly £50-75 per traveller per trip.

Heated tobacco sticks: €10.41 per 20

IQOS and similar heated tobacco products. February 2026 average price €10.41 per pack of 20 sticks, slightly down from previous months as manufacturers optimised pricing within the weight-based tax thresholds. UK comparison: UK heated tobacco around £10-12 per pack. Marginal saving in France of £1-3 per pack. Heated tobacco occupies a separate UK allowance: 200 sticks per adult duty-free.

Shisha and other tobacco: €6.18 per 20g

Shisha (waterpipe) tobacco in France averaged €6.18 per 20g in February 2026, down slightly as the category remains structurally distinct from cigarettes due to different consumption patterns and tax treatment. Pipe tobacco prices were broadly stable. Loose tobacco for tubes saw negligible increases. These niche segments have seen less aggressive policy increases than cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.

Where to buy: only licensed tabacs

French supermarkets do not sell tobacco products. France maintains a state monopoly on tobacco sales through licensed tabacs (tobacconists). To buy cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco you need a tabac, identifiable by the red diamond-shaped LE BUREAU DE TABAC sign outside. Tabacs are typically standalone shops or attached to bars and cafes, widespread in cities and towns but less common in rural areas. Most are open Monday to Saturday 7am-8pm with some closing for lunch; many close Sundays. UK travellers should plan to buy tobacco at airport duty-free shops or near hotels rather than expecting to find it in supermarkets like Carrefour or Leclerc.

UK personal allowance trap

The UK 250g/200 cigarettes per adult allowance is the practical limit on France savings. Within the allowance, France saves you £40-80 per trip. Above the allowance: full UK duty applies at £412.32 per kg excise + 70% customs + 20% VAT. Bringing 1kg of French hand-rolling tobacco in over the allowance and declaring it costs roughly £650 in UK duty on £150 worth of French tobacco; the UK retail price of equivalent tobacco is £600. Smuggling above the allowance is no longer economical even before considering Border Force seizure risk. The smart move: stay within 250g per adult, take only what you can declare honestly.

For the related allowance question see our how much tobacco can you bring back from France guide. For the wider UK rules see how much tobacco can you bring back to the UK.

For more on UK tobacco rules and travel head over to our full vaping guides hub.