This guide will tell you about TOP-5 best automatic cigarette rolling machines, their most important properties and advantages of using these devices. A comparison chart of the product’s effectiveness will help you decide which one you will opt for.

Most smokers have two major complaints in the modern world. For one, the ostracism we face now is downright obnoxious. We can’t smoke around buildings, people give us dirty looks, they feel the need to lecture us on health problems the habit can cause, etc. Sadly, all we can do is stand our ground and tell the lecturers to move along.

The other problem – the cost of cigarettes – is something we actually can abate, if we’re willing to put a little effort into it and look into the proper equipment to make it happen. Cigarettes are expensive. Where I come from in LA, they cost up to $15 a pack, with the cheaper generic alternatives (which tend to be less than enjoyable) still costing $7 or more.

What we have to do, to get back to basics, is the original solution for cigarettes – rolling our own. This has a number of benefits, which we’ll look at in a moment. But, first, let’s discuss why you don’t have to be able to hand-roll a cigarette, to do this.

At one time, that was your only option aside from what most smokers call “tailor-mades”. You had to buy a pack of rolling papers, and hand-roll the cigarette. This resulted in an unfiltered cigarette, which many people dislike, and a lot of people would agree that it’s tricky to master rolling a good cigarette – not too tight, not too loose, not horribly deformed.

For several decades, though, cigarette rolling machines have been available, and they’re mostly not even that terribly expensive. As we’ll learn in a moment, “roller” is actually a misnomer with these, but the end result is the same – a proper, pleasant, filtered cigarette ready for a leisurely smoke.

What You Will Learn From This Guide:

Advantages of Rolling Your Own

Rolling your own cigarettes has a host of benefits. For one, it’s a lot more affordable, with most bags of tobacco costing less than two packs of brand-name cigarettes, and equaling an entire carton, sometimes more, in tobacco volume. A box of 100 filter tubes costs less than a pack of generic cigarettes.

There are many varieties of these filter tubes (some to enhance or add flavors), and many different brands and blends of tobacco. If you’re adventurous, like me, you can create your own, quite delightful blends of tobacco that the brand names would never bother to make.

Another big advantage is that a lot of these tobaccos have fewer additives to them. Manufactured cigarettes add more harmful chemicals, including ones that enhance the addictive nature of them. You can avoid that with rolling your own.

How Do Automatic Cigarette Rolling Machines Work?

Cigarette rollers don’t actually roll the cigarette. A paper cigarette tube (which is like a filter cigarette without the tobacco) is used, with loose tobacco. The open end of the tube slides over a receptacle. The tobacco is placed into another receptacle/bin. A mechanism is then activated by a lever, which pulls the tobacco into a chamber, where it’s formed and compressed slightly, and then a piston injects this tobacco into the tube.

Variations on this have a reciprocating slide that may pull the tube inward to inject the tobacco. Some machines have a stack receptacle for multiple tubes and a large amount of tobacco, with slides and mechanisms to place and inject the tubes, dropping them out into a tray. These big models are generally not consumer models.

It is worth noting that a manual, travel version of these exists, which looks kind of like a stapler, the top sliding back like cocking a gun, to inject the tobacco.

What Types Are There?

In general, there are two types of automatic cigarette rolling machines, though the “automatic” is a generalization. There are manual ones, which have a rotating lever which drives gears, to inject the tobacco through a forming chamber, into the tube. These usually have an oblong, cigarette-shaped receptacle in which you place the tobacco and tamp it down a bit, first.

Others are electronic, with a bin for the tobacco, which the machine feeds into a forming chamber, and motors then inject the cigarette and release it. These are faster, but more can go wrong with them.

What To Look For When Buying The Product?

There are a few factors to look for when buying one of these, and a lot of them are all about what kind of smoker you are, and the lifestyle you lead. Let’s take a look at a few of these because buying the wrong roller can be maddening, trust me.

  • Cigarette Type – Do you smoke kings or 100’s? Some rollers only do one or the other, while others are adjustable. I’m fond of the adjustable ones, because, as we’ll learn in a moment, sometimes places are out of the 100mm tubes, and you’re stuck smoking kings for a while. A 100mm-only roller will devastate a king tube.
  • Speed – Do you need to make a pack of cigarettes (or more) for a day away from home? Most professionals who smoke would need to do this unless they don’t mind lugging a bag of tobacco, some tubes, and a manual roller with them. A faster, less labor-intensive machine makes this less onerous to deal with.
  • Maintenance – Electric ones require more maintenance because they can jam more easily than the mechanical solutions. They can also malfunction because where there’s a circuit board or electric motor, there are parts that can go bad, and not easily be replaced.
  • Difficulty – If you have any kind of joint or muscular issues, mechanical ones, which require more motion and strength, may be problematic for you. In this case, an electronic solution is definitely more up your alley.

My Personal Experience with Automatic Cigarette Rollers

I am a smoker. I have smoked since I was thirteen (my whole family were smokers, I stood no chance). It is indeed not a healthy life choice, I do wish I’d never picked the habit up, but now I have it and I can’t be bothered to endure the tribulations involved in trying to quit. For years, I used to buy tailor-made cigarettes, opting for the cheaper ones when the prices got too darn high. But the generic cigarettes are still expensive, and they rarely taste very good (I recently smoked a cigarette that used to be a generic brand I bought all the time, and it was awful).

I eventually became fed up, and started rolling my own by hand. I’m actually pretty good at that, but it’s tedious, it wastes tobacco, and I don’t like non-filtered cigarettes. They’re harsh and too strong that way. You can buy filters to put into them, but it doesn’t work that well.

My first cigarette roller

I finally broke down, a few years ago, and bought a roller, the model I bought is in fact on our list, and I’ll point it out. However, I only use mine when I need to make a whole pack of cigarettes take out with me, using my little manual injector shooter to make one on the fly, while around the house. This is to extend the lifespan of my automatic roller, not out of dislike of using it.

Something I have noticed with these, and it’s not the fault of the rollers, is that the tubes can be fickle things. The slightest crimp or dent on the end of a tube will cause it to not roll properly, tearing or even jamming the machine. A lot of times, the tobacco will be a bit loose at the end (excess), which will drop to the floor, making a mess. Similarly, loading the roller can make a mess as well.

Before I worked out ways to contain all this, I probably used to sweep up a quarter pack of cigarettes’ worth of tobacco from my floor daily. The story I want to share is an advisory about keeping your tobacco and your roller away from invasive things, however.

How I became the “cigarette alchemist”

A few years ago, I rented a room in a house, with a couple of other people, a little further north of here, in Florida. A roommate was without tobacco for a day (waiting for his check), so I told him to feel free to smoke some of mine, if he replaced it, since I’d be away from the house for about 24 hours.

He took the roller and the tobacco and tubes to his room, which I had no problem with. But he burned all of this awful Nag Champa incense in there (tobacco wasn’t his only smoking habit), and it seeped into the roller, the tubes, and the tobacco.

I had to leave the tobacco to sit in a resealable bag, for a day and a half, with orange peel, to override that taste. I had to replace the roller. Or rather, I had to see to it that he did. He had no idea that would happen, he didn’t complain nor contest replacing it, so I wasn’t that angry at him. But man, when I think back, I can still taste that awful incense-flavored tobacco.

Today, my smoker friends call me the “cigarette alchemist”, because I buy a few different blends of tobacco (a light menthol, a mild gold), and I also use some fruit oils (very sparingly) to make mild menthol-fruit flavored cigarettes. This has nothing to do with the above point, it’s just something you should totally try if you like cigarettes with actual flavors in them.

TOP-5 Best Automatic Cigarette Rolling Machines

Below, you will find cigarette rolling machines within the price range from $20 to $80. These models can roll cigarettes up to 100 mm and have a slide-on loading mechanism. There are devices made of metal and the cheaper ones that are made of plastic.

Cigarette Injector Machine – Quintessential Electric Shooter | Powermatic 2 Plus

This is a classic engineering approach to the electric cigarette roller, with a simple-to-use loading mechanism, a push-lever mechanism, and simple LED indicators. It’s very low-maintenance, with a long-lived electric motor, and a durable plastic finish.

It includes three cleaning tools, which are essential for these machines. It works on standard wall power and makes one cigarette at a time.

Features

  • Type: Electronic.
  • Cigarettes at a Time: One.
  • Power Source: Wall power.
  • Operation: Push lever.
  • Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
  • Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
  • Noise: Minimal.

Performance

This machine rolls a very nice cigarette, not too tightly-packed, but not too loose either. The catching tray will catch the cigarette and any excess tobacco. It does, however, have a chamber that likes to jam. Fortunately, with the cleaning tools provided, it’s easily-abated.

Loading this machine is a bit on the messy side, and it doesn’t like overly dry or overly-moist tobacco. This is a problem with a lot of rollers, though, so keeping the right humidity balance is just something you have to cope with when using devices like this.

Pros Cons
  • Very fast.
  • Catching tray for cigarettes and tobacco. 
  • Supports both sizes. 
  • Electric. 
  • Easily-cleaned. 
  • Easily-loaded.
  • Can jam sometimes, meaning you have to clean it often.
  • Kind of pricy. 
  • The tray is fragile. 
  • The cord is fragile. 
  • It’s messy.

Conclusion 

Is this device perfect? No, but then, nothing is. This rolls a very nice cigarette, with the perfect balance of compactness, and at a very quick rate. My friend has one of these, and I’ve used it, and smoked cigarettes it’s produced, and have never had any complaints, aside from how messy this machine is. If you want the best cigarette you can get, this is a contender. However, I’m willing to put up with ever so slightly looser cigarettes to reduce the price, myself.

Powermatic 2 Plus: Check the current price

Classic Mechanical Cigarette Rolling Machine | Lighter USA

I have this one, and I can vouch for it being a great roller. It’s manual, so if you have joint problems, it may become tedious to use, but it’s quiet, it’s easy, and it’s also easy to regulate the density of your tobacco with this.

Features

  • Type: Mechanical.
  • Cigarettes at a Time: One.
  • Power Source: Elbow grease.
  • Operation: Push lever.
  • Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
  • Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
  • Noise: Quiet mechanical sounds.

Performance

With Top, you know you’re getting something from a reputable company well-known among smokers. This is a quiet, easy, smooth-turning machine that rarely jams, and makes a nice cigarette. When I need to make a pack of smokes to go, this is the device I personally use.

Pros Cons
  • Easy.
  • Not messy. 
  • Solid. 
  • Affordable.
  • Requires muscles.
  • Heavy, if it falls.

Conclusion 

I recommend this to heavy smokers who don’t want an electric roller, hands down. This is my favorite, though since this is the one I have, maybe I’m a little biased?

Lighter USA: Check the current price

PoweRoll Portable Electric Cigarette Machine | TOP-O-Matic

If you like the electric model we looked at earlier, this is a more portable implementation of the same basic concept, albeit by a different company. Aside from that, it’s practically the same.

Features

  • Type: Electronic.
  • Cigarettes at a Time: One.
  • Power Source: Wall power.
  • Operation: Button.
  • Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
  • Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
  • Noise: Moderate.

Performance

Being almost identical to the previous one, aside from its portability, it has the same solid performance, though the cigarette isn’t quite as good, from what I’ve noticed. However, it also has the same problems of jamming easily, and being messy.
It’s also louder, reminding me of a Keurig coffee maker with its noise I call “the foghorn of doom”.

Pros Cons
  • Fast.
  • Easy to use. 
  • Portable. 
  • Has carrying case.
  • Messy.
  • Loud. 
  • Expensive. 
  • Cigarettes are a bit loose.

Conclusion 

If you travel a lot, and want to take an electric roller with you, I recommend this one, because it seems to have been made with that in mind. However, for around the house, given the price and the persisting issues, I’m not so sure.

TOP-O-Matic: Check the current price

Quality Mechanical T2 Cigarette Machine - Top-O-Matic

This is a similar model to the other mechanical roller I have, the difference being the materials used are less susceptible to corrosion, and it has somewhat smoother turning.

Features

  • Type: Mechanical.
  • Cigarettes at a Time: One.
  • Power Source: Elbow grease.
  • Operation: Slide lever.
  • Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
  • Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
  • Noise: Quiet mechanical sounds.

Performance

This performs a lot like my Top, but I will admit the handle turns more smoothly, and it seems to make a slightly firmer cigarette. Unfortunately, it likes to jam, and the build feels cheaper to me overall.

Pros Cons
  • Easy.
  • Reliable. 
  • Durable. 
  • Smooth turning.
  • Jams.
  • Messy.

Conclusion 

If you don’t want the Top I have, this is a good alternative, just be aware that you’ll have to clean it more often. Still, I am comfortable recommending it.

T2 Top-O-Matic: Check the current price

Budget Electric Cigarette Rolling Machine - GERUI

If you want a fast budget electric roller, look no further than this one. Compact and tidy, easy to carry around, and very affordable, the reduced life cycle doesn’t matter with the low price.

Features

  • Type: Electronic.
  • Cigarettes at a Time: One.
  • Power Source: Wall power.
  • Operation: Button.
  • Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
  • Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
  • Noise: Substantial.

Performance

This is a cheap model, meaning it does break after a while. It’s also very loud. But, given it’s so affordable, so easy to use, and remarkably tidy to load, these are all a balance of give and take that all work out.

Pros Cons
  • Easy.
  • Affordable. 
  • Tidy to load.
  • Poor life cycle.
  • Loud.

Conclusion 

If you want an affordable, clean, electric solution, I am very comfortable recommending this. Just expect to replace it.

GERUI: Check the current price

Comparative Chart Of Effectiveness Of Automatic Cigarette Rolling Machines

Product Features

Powermatic 2 Plus

Type: Electronic.
Cigarettes at a Time: One.
Power Source: Wall power.
Operation: Push lever.
Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
Noise: Minimal.

Lighter USA

Type: Mechanical.
Cigarettes at a Time: One.
Power Source: Elbow grease.
Operation: Push lever.
Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
Noise: Quiet mechanical sounds.

TOP-O-Matic

Type: Electronic.
Cigarettes at a Time: One.
Power Source: Wall power.
Operation: Button.
Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
Noise: Moderate.

T2 Top-O-Matic

Type: Mechanical.
Cigarettes at a Time: One.
Power Source: Elbow grease.
Operation: Slide lever.
Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
Noise: Quiet mechanical sounds.

GERUI

Type: Electronic.
Cigarettes at a Time: One.
Power Source: Wall power.
Operation: Button.
Loading Mechanism: Slide-on.
Cigarette Types: Kings and 100mms both.
Noise: Substantial.

FAQ 

What is the best brand of an automatic cigarette rolling machine?
Top.

How do you roll a cigarette with this device?
Slide the tube on to the nub. Load the tobacco into the receptacle. Push/turn the lever or the button.

Is rolling your own cigarettes cheaper?
Oh my yes.

How much does an automatic cigarette rolling machine cost?
Between $20-$80 depending on the device.

When was it invented?
Around the turn of the 20th century. It became available for home use in the 1970s.

Tips For Using These Products

  • If your tobacco dries out, put a slice of potato or orange peel in to moisten it.
  • Keep your tobacco and your roller in a large Tupperware container to prevent messes.

Conclusion

If you’re a smoker, you owe it to yourself to look into one of these machines, to save yourself money, enjoy a better smoke, and free yourself from the crap people put in brand name cigarettes. One of these will definitely meet your needs.

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