Are rollies better than cigarettes? The crucial health comparison

September 30, 2025 •

3 min read

Contrary to the widespread belief that they are more "natural," roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco products often contain a higher concentration of additives by weight than the tobacco found in factory-made cigarettes. The dangerous misconception that rollies are a healthier option has led many smokers to question: are rollies better than cigarettes?

Quick Summary

Rolling your own cigarettes offers no health advantages over manufactured cigarettes. Studies show rollies can contain higher levels of toxic chemicals and expose smokers to more tar and nicotine, especially without a filter, debunking the myth that they are a safer alternative.

Key Points

No Health Advantage: Rolling your own cigarettes offers no health benefits over manufactured versions and is just as dangerous.
Higher Toxicity: Some studies suggest rollies may expose smokers to higher levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide per gram of tobacco due to smoking patterns.
More Additives: Contrary to the 'natural' image, loose tobacco often contains a higher concentration of additives, such as humectants and sugars.
Increased Chemical Exposure Without a Filter: Many rollie smokers omit filters, which significantly increases exposure to thousands of toxic chemicals and carcinogens.
Intense Puffing Patterns: RYO smokers may take longer and more intense drags, leading to greater inhalation of smoke and harmful substances.
Equivalent Health Risks: Both rollies and manufactured cigarettes carry the same serious health consequences, including cancer, respiratory illness, and heart disease.
Quitting is the Only Option: The only way to avoid the health risks of smoking is to quit all tobacco products entirely, as there is no safe alternative.

The Dangerous Myth of 'Natural' Tobacco

Many smokers who switch to roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes do so believing they are a more natural, and therefore healthier, option compared to factory-made versions. This perception is false and dangerously misleading. Decades of scientific research consistently show that smoking rollies is just as harmful, if not more so, and carries the same severe health risks as smoking manufactured cigarettes. The idea that less manufacturing makes them safer is a complete misconception.

Additives and Chemical Content

One of the most surprising truths about RYO tobacco is its high additive content. While factory-made cigarettes typically contain a small percentage of additives, loose tobacco for rollies is laden with significantly more. These additives serve various purposes, from retaining moisture to enhancing flavor. When these additives burn, they can produce additional toxic substances that contribute to the overall harmfulness of the smoke. The smoke from both rollies and manufactured cigarettes contains over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are poisonous and carcinogenic.

The Impact of Smoking Without a Filter

A critical factor in the increased harm from rollies is the common practice of smoking them without a filter. When no filter is used, the smoker's lungs become the primary filter, leading to the inhalation of more tar and nicotine. This intensifies the addiction and exposes the body to a higher concentration of cancer-causing chemicals. Even when filters are used, they are not a magic shield and do not reduce all the toxic chemicals or carbon monoxide absorbed by the body.

Smoking Patterns and Intensity

Research has shown that rollie smokers often smoke more intensively than those who use factory-made cigarettes. The less compacted tobacco in rollies means they can burn more slowly and may need more intense, longer drags to stay lit. This puffing behavior increases the amount of smoke and toxins inhaled with each cigarette, contributing to greater exposure to harmful substances. A study found that RYO smokers inhaled 28% more smoke per cigarette than factory-made smokers and took 25% more puffs.

A Comparison of Rollies vs. Manufactured Cigarettes


Feature	Rollies (Roll-Your-Own)	Manufactured Cigarettes
Additive Concentration	Often significantly higher, including humectants and sugars.	Typically a lower percentage of additives by weight.
Tar & Nicotine Levels	Can be higher, especially when smoked without a filter or more intensively.	Standardized levels, but still highly toxic and addictive.
Filter Usage	Often smoked without a filter, increasing direct lung exposure.	Always include a filter, which only partially reduces some compounds.
Smoking Intensity	Smokers may take more intense, longer puffs to keep them lit.	Standardized puffing patterns, though user intensity varies.
Chemical Exposure	Thousands of toxic chemicals, including those from burning additives.	Thousands of toxic chemicals, including carcinogens.

The Common Health Risks of All Smoking

No form of combustible tobacco is safe. The combustion process of burning tobacco releases a cocktail of thousands of chemicals, regardless of whether it was hand-rolled or machine-made. The resulting health risks are devastating and affect nearly every organ in the body.

Here are some of the serious health consequences associated with smoking:

Increased Cancer Risk: Smoking greatly increases the risk of multiple cancers, including lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx cancers. Rollie smokers, in particular, may face higher risks for certain oral cancers.
Respiratory Disease: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and chronic bronchitis are all serious lung conditions directly linked to smoking.
Heart Disease: Smoking damages blood vessels, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
Addiction and Dependence: The high levels of nicotine in both types of cigarettes are extremely addictive, making it difficult to quit.

Conclusion: The Only Safe Option is Quitting

The notion that rollies are a safer or healthier alternative to manufactured cigarettes is a dangerous myth. The evidence is clear: roll-your-own tobacco is equally, and in some cases even more, harmful due to higher additive content and smoking patterns. Any perceived benefits are simply not supported by scientific fact. For those seeking to improve their health, the only safe and effective course of action is to quit smoking altogether. No matter the method of delivery, the health risks associated with burning and inhaling tobacco are undeniable and severe. Quitting offers immediate health benefits and is the single best decision a smoker can make. Resources and support are widely available for those who want to quit for good. For more information on the dangers of tobacco and quitting resources, visit the FDA's official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, this is a myth. Roll-your-own tobacco often contains more additives by weight than factory-made cigarettes, and the burning process of any tobacco releases thousands of harmful chemicals.

No, both roll-your-own and manufactured cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. The harmful substances are a result of burning the tobacco, not just the manufacturing process.

Smoking rollies without a filter means your lungs directly absorb more tar and nicotine with every drag. This increases addiction and exposure to harmful chemicals, intensifying the health risks.

Some studies indicate that tar and nicotine levels can be higher in rollies, especially because they are often smoked without a filter or with a different, more intense puffing pattern.

No, filters do not make smoking safe. While they might catch some particulates, they do not eliminate the toxic chemicals or the carbon monoxide that are absorbed by the body.

Smoking rollies is linked to the same types of cancer as manufactured cigarettes, including lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx cancers. In some cases, the risk for specific cancers may even be higher.

Yes, research indicates that loose tobacco for rollies often contains a higher percentage of additives, such as humectants to keep it moist and other flavorings, compared to factory-made cigarettes.