Smoking can lead to an early death. For help quitting • call Quitline 13 7848 • talk to your doctor or pharmacist • visit quit.org.au It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a person under 18. It is illegal to purchase a tobacco product for use by a person under 18.
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Premium cigarettes in 2026: what the extra price actually buys

By Smoke Mart Australia on

Smoke Mart Australia graphic: What premium buys

Premium tier pricing rests on three things: blend quality, format finish and retail margin. It does not rest on tax, because duty is the same per stick for every brand — about $31 in a 20-pack and $310 in a carton, before GST and margin.

Component Premium pack Value pack
Excise ~$31.05 per pack ~$31.05 per pack
GST 10% on the duty-inclusive price Same
Retail margin and blend cost Higher Lower
Packaging Identical plain brown Identical plain brown

Why the tier gap narrowed

As excise has risen every March and September, the fixed tax component has grown as a share of the price, squeezing the room for brand-to-brand price differences. That is why the spread between tiers is now a few dollars rather than the multiples it once was.

How to judge a premium claim

Judge the smoke, not the story: same format, same number, compared over a week. And remember that a premium carton advertised far below the duty floor is not a bargain — the maths does not allow it.

Before you order — four checks that never change

  1. Price against the excise floor. Duty is $1.55274 a stick from 1 September 2026 — about $31 in a 20-pack and $310 in a carton. Premium changes the blend and the margin; it never changes the duty.
  2. The pack in the photo. Legal Australian stock is drab brown (Pantone 448C) with graphic warnings covering at least 75% of the front and 90% of the back — no logos, no brand artwork.
  3. Age and delivery. Distance sellers must verify you are 18 or over, and somebody who can sign and show ID has to be at the address. Lockers and unstaffed addresses can be refused.
  4. State rules. South Australia prohibits mail and online tobacco orders outright; everywhere else requires an age-verification system.

Related reading

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. All tobacco products are harmful and state rules change — check your state or territory regulator before ordering. For help quitting call Quitline on 13 7848.