NOTE: The pricing information listed below are only estimates and we suggest that you to contact the companies for accurate quotes.
2024: Best Automated Pre-Roll Machines
We manufacture the Blackbird and believe that to be the best automated pre-roll machine in the cannabis industry, for virtually every use case. We're so confident in our equipment, in fact, that we encourage potential customers to do their due diligence and research the competition as well. That's why we created this comprehensive list of the best automated pre-roll machines of 2024, including pointers for best-fit, website links, notable users, and pricing estimates.
Top Features to Look for in Automated Pre-Roll Machines
When it comes to selecting the best automated pre-roll machine for your business, knowing what to look for is key. Here are some top features that matter most:
• Production Speed: Different pre-roll machines come with varying speeds, impacting how quickly you can produce joints. High production speed is essential for keeping up with demand, especially in larger operations.
• Automation Level: Machines range from fully automated systems that handle everything from flower to product to semi-automated models that still require some manual input or batch production. Your choice here depends on how hands-off you want to be.
• Customizability: A solid pre-roll machine should offer options for tailoring the size, weight, and even the color of pre-rolls to fit your brand’s needs. Flexibility is key, especially for businesses that offer a variety of products.
• Ease of Maintenance: Maintenance downtime can eat into production. Features that simplify upkeep, like easy-to-access components and robust support options, are crucial for keeping operations running smoothly.
RollPros Blackbird
This is our website, so of course we’re going to put ourselves on top! The Blackbird is the world’s only automated pre-roll machine that actually rolls joints. You can use flower with a much higher moisture content and a coarser grind, and adjust the tension to ensure the perfect air flow. Using rolls of paper rather than pre-formed cones, we’re able to get the COGS per joint as low as .03, far less than any other competitor on this page. There are more than 140 units in the wild that have collectively produced over 70 million joints, and our onboarding and support program is unbeatable. Want to see a Blackbird run live? Just click here and we’ll set it up.
Best For: Businesses that want to produce exceptional quality joints at a lower price than anyone else; those interested in maximizing profit in the pre-roll space; companies looking for unique tech in a category full of “me too” products and equipment.
Notable users: Benson Arbor, Ayr, Raw Gardens, Cresco, Phat Panda, Rebel Spirit
Price Range: Contact us for accurate quote
Preroll-Er
Preroller-Er is the cannabis-focused brand of equipment supplier Procepack, who is more prominent in other industries like beauty, coffee, and craft beer. They have been around for years and typically sport the largest booth amongst automated pre-roll machine manufacturers exhibiting at trade shows. Prerollerer’s lineup includes a smaller unit that uses centrifugal force to fill cones, as well as several larger units that are cone-filling machines using more typical methods like tamping. They also also have a range of packaging machines, a cart filling machine, and several labeling machines.
Best For: Businesses based in Canada (the company is based in Quebec.)
Notable users: Garden Remedies
Price Range: $275,000-325,000 for PreRoller-Er 200
ActionPac
We would consider ActionPac’s pre-roll automation system to be semi-automated. It’s not a single unit but three machines. The first machine weighs out the ground cannabis into tubes. The user then carries the tube jig over to a second machine that drops the cannabis into cones (that must be loaded by hand). It then vibrates, and has a hand-tamping tool you can use as well. Finally, you need to take them over to the “Twistmaster” to actually close the tops of the pre-rolls. Like all other knockbox-style systems, this is a batch-style system rather than a continuous flow.
Best For: Businesses just getting started with pre-roll automation
Notable Users: Verano
Estimated Price Range: $100-140k for the complete system
Hefestus
Hefestus has two machines in their pre-roll line up: the AuraOne and the AuraX. According to their website, the One is intended for small to mid size operators while the X is for larger operators. They have a slightly smaller footprint than some of the other similar cone-based machines, and their big thing is they close the top of the pre-rolls with a folding mechanism rather than twisting. They call it a “Dutch Crown.”
Best For: Brands that want to use a closure method to differentiate their products
Notable Users: King’s Garden
Estimated Price Range: $230-230k (AuraX)
Futurola Knockbox 500
Futurola has been around since the 90s and have a range of knockbox-style pre-roll machines in their lineup. The largest version is the Knockbox 500, which is the only version suitable to mention here amongst much higher capacity competitors. Futurola machines are semi-automated, meaning they work in batches and not a continuous flow. They are a common entry point into pre-roll automation for very small producers.
Best For: Small producers interested in dipping their toes in the pre-roll category
Notable users: Mike Tyson brand
Price Range: $25,000
Accelerant
Accelerant’s cornerstone machine is called PRO which stands for Pre Roll Operator. It comes in two variations, PRO2 and PRO4, based on what volume your after. It has a kief coating option that can be integrated into the machine, which we haven’t seen elsewhere. What’s notable about Accelerant isn’t the machine though, its their business model. They offer the machine at $0 to users and instead charge a fee per pre-roll. They have monthly minimums in place: 120,000 to 150,000 units, according to their website. It’s important to note that the operator never actually owns the machine, it remains property of Accelerant, and the minimums equate to a monthly payment that is in many cases more than you could pay per month when financing purchases with some of their competitors.
Best For: High-volume users that are nervous to pull the trigger on CapEx
Notable Users: Ilera Holistic
Apehex
The Apehex is Perfectionist Rolling Equipment’s cone-based machine. In an Instagram post in June of 2024 they note that Apehex units have created 57 million pre-rolls since May of 2021. (By comparison, Blackbirds have rolled more than 70 million joints since January of 2022). At only six square feet it sports a small footprint compared to most of the machines on this list. Their unit comes with a grinder and a wholesale account with HBI that you can use to purchase your cones.
Best For: Unknown
Notable Users: Unknown
Estimated Price Range: Unknown
