What Is Heated Tobacco
What is heated tobacco?
A clear UK 2026 guide. Short answer: heat-not-burn tobacco devices that warm real tobacco without combustion. Less harmful than cigarettes, more harmful than vaping. 2027 generational ban applies.
The short answer
Real tobacco; 2027 ban appliesHeat not burn. Tobacco product.
Real tobacco heated to 250-350°C without combustion. Less harmful than cigarettes but more harmful than vaping. UK 2027 generational ban applies (born 1 Jan 2009+).
250-350°C
Heating temperature
£4-8
Per 20-pack sticks
Heated tobacco (also called heat-not-burn or HNB) is a category of tobacco products that heat real tobacco to produce a nicotine-containing aerosol without combustion. Key characteristics. Real tobacco contained; heating not burning at 250-350°C (vs 600-800°C for cigarettes); sealed tobacco sticks (HEETS, terea, neo, NEOPODS) inserted into electronic heating device; aerosol output with reduced toxicants vs cigarette smoke but more than vape. UK 2026 popular brands: IQOS by Philip Morris, glo by British American Tobacco, lil by KT&G, Ploom by Japan Tobacco International. UK regulatory points. Classified as tobacco product not e-cigarette; subject to UK Tobacco Duty not Vaping Products Duty. UK Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 generational ban (born 1 Jan 2009+) applies to heated tobacco from 1 January 2027 because it contains real tobacco. Heated tobacco distinct from vaping (vapes contain no tobacco).
UK heated tobacco in figures
350°C
Max heating temp
vs 600-800°C for cigarette combustion. No combustion means reduced toxicants vs cigarette smoke.
90-95%
HPHC reduction (PMI)
Industry-funded research claims for IQOS. UK NHS does NOT use this figure for cessation recommendations.
2027
UK generational ban
From 1 January 2027 anyone born on/after 1 Jan 2009 cannot buy heated tobacco. Vapes NOT subject.
UK heated tobacco: full guide
How heated tobacco works
IQOS and similar devices use electronic heating to vaporise tobacco without combustion. Six-step process: insert tobacco stick (HEETS, terea, neo) into device; button activates heating element; tobacco heated to 250-350°C (vs 600-800°C for cigarettes); heating produces aerosol; user inhales through mouthpiece; session lasts 5-6 minutes with 12-14 puffs per stick; remove used stick. UK device technology: IQOS uses blade heating through tobacco stick centre; glo uses chamber heating around tobacco; lil uses blade heating similar to IQOS. Different brands use proprietary tobacco sticks; not interchangeable. Battery life typically 20 sticks per charge; full charge 90 minutes.
UK legal status 2026
Legal for adults aged 18+ but heavily regulated. TRPR 2016: heated tobacco classified as tobacco product. Children and Families Act 2014: 18+ legal age. UK Tobacco Duty: around £350/kg in 2026; typically £4-8 per pack of 20 sticks. UK Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (Royal Assent April 2026). Generational tobacco ban (born 1 Jan 2009+) applies to heated tobacco from 1 January 2027 because it contains real tobacco. New on-the-spot fines for Trading Standards on underage sales. National licensing scheme for tobacco retailers. Heated tobacco distinct from vaping: vapes contain NO tobacco; vape age stays 18+ no generational ban. Major UK brands: IQOS (Philip Morris) widely available; glo (BAT) growing; lil (KT&G) smaller; Ploom (JTI) UK launch underway.
Heated tobacco vs cigarettes vs vaping
Three-way comparison. Cigarettes (most harmful): combustion at 600-800°C; 7,000+ chemicals including 70+ carcinogens; UK 2027 generational ban applies. Heated tobacco (intermediate): heating at 250-350°C; reduced toxicants vs cigarette smoke; still contains real tobacco; addictive nicotine; less harmful than cigarettes but not harmless; long-term effects under continued study. Vaping (least harmful per PHE): PHE 2018 estimated 95% less harmful than cigarettes; no combustion; no tobacco; NHS-recognised harm reduction tool. UK NHS guidance: vaping recommended as primary cessation tool not heated tobacco; vaping has stronger UK evidence base.
UK heated tobacco brands and pricing
Four main UK 2026 brands. IQOS by Philip Morris International: most established UK heated tobacco; uses HEETS or terea sticks. glo by British American Tobacco: growing UK presence; uses neo or NEOPODS sticks. lil by KT&G (South Korea): smaller UK presence. Ploom by Japan Tobacco International: UK launch underway. UK pricing: £4-8 per pack of 20 sticks (2026 prices including UK Tobacco Duty around £350/kg). Compared to cigarettes (£15-17 per 20-pack): heated tobacco sticks cheaper. Compared to vape (£20-50/month): heated tobacco can be more expensive at heavy use. UK Vape Tax does NOT apply to heated tobacco (separate UK Tobacco Duty applies).
Heated tobacco safety evidence
Heated tobacco likely safer than smoking but more harmful than vaping per UK research. PMI-commissioned IQOS research: 90-95% reduction in 9 specific Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) compared to cigarette smoke. UK Royal College of Physicians: heated tobacco less harmful than cigarettes but not as much harm reduction as vaping. Cochrane Review 2022: insufficient evidence to classify heated tobacco as effective smoking cessation tool. Important caveats: long-term effects unknown (heated tobacco mainstream since 2014; 12 years insufficient for long-term cancer outcome data); industry-funded research dominates; independent research limited compared to vaping evidence base. UK NHS Stop Smoking Service does NOT recommend heated tobacco as primary cessation tool.
Should you switch to heated tobacco
UK NHS guidance prefers vaping over heated tobacco. Reasons NHS prefers vaping: stronger evidence (PHE 2018 95% less harmful, UKCTAS 2025 72% fewer respiratory symptoms after 18 months); independent research base; UK 2027 generational tobacco ban applies to heated tobacco but NOT to vapes; better cessation success (smokers using vapes roughly twice as likely to quit vs NRT alone). When heated tobacco might be considered: smoker wanting tobacco taste during cessation; smoker who has tried vaping unsuccessfully; smoker concerned about flavoured vapes wanting tobacco-only experience. UK 2026 practical: consult NHS Stop Smoking Service free 12-week programme; combine with NRT, varenicline, or vaping; heated tobacco a possible alternative if other approaches fail.
For heated tobacco safety see is heated tobacco safer than smoking. For UK pod kit options head to our pod kit collection.
Four facts every UK smoker should know
Real tobacco product
Heated tobacco contains real tobacco leaves; vapes contain no tobacco. Different UK regulations apply.
2027 ban applies
UK generational tobacco ban (born 1 Jan 2009+) applies to heated tobacco from 1 January 2027.
Less harmful than cigarettes
Heating not burning. Reduced toxicants vs cigarette smoke. But more harmful than vaping per UK evidence.
NHS prefers vaping
Stop Smoking Service recommends vaping as primary cessation tool not heated tobacco.
Heated tobacco vs vaping
Vaping
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✓PHE 2018: 95% less harmful than cigarettes: NHS endorsed.
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✓No tobacco: vapes use PG, VG, nicotine, flavourings only.
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✓NHS-recognised harm reduction: Stop Smoking Service supports.
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✓NOT subject to 2027 generational ban: vape age stays 18+.
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✓Doubles quit success vs NRT alone: strongest UK cessation tool.
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✓£20-50/month moderate use: typically cheapest option.
Heated tobacco
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✗Real tobacco contained: grouped with cigarettes for ban.
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✗Subject to 2027 generational ban: born 1 Jan 2009+ excluded.
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✗Industry-funded research dominates: independent evidence limited.
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✗NHS does not recommend as primary cessation: vape preferred.
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✗£4-8 per 20-pack sticks: can be expensive at heavy use.
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✗Long-term effects under study: mainstream only since 2014.
For more on UK harm reduction options head over to our full vaping guides hub.
UK pod kits as NHS-recognised cessation tool
Vaporesso XROS, OXVA Xlim, Uwell Caliburn and other UK pod kits. NHS-recognised harm reduction tool. PHE 2018 estimated 95% less harmful than smoked tobacco. Stronger UK evidence base than heated tobacco. NOT subject to 2027 generational ban.
More on heated tobacco
For safety comparison see is heated tobacco safer than smoking. For tobacco ruling see is tobacco haram. For vape vs smoke see is vaping better than smoking.
