What size units of shisha tobacco are there?

Last updated: 25.06.2026 | Reading time approx. 06:00 min

Quick summary:

• The 25g rule for private customers was lifted in 2024 – meaning all common tobacco sizes are now available again.
• The industry has since stabilised: more choice, larger tins, broader range.
• 200g tins have re-established themselves as the standard, as they are practical and the tobacco generally stays fresh until it's used up.
• Smaller taster sizes are slowly disappearing, but smaller sizes continue to exist for expensive Dark Blends.
• Overall, both retailers and consumers benefit from the new freedom: better availability, less packaging waste, and greater variety are returning.

The history of the 25-gram rule – and why it's now (thankfully) history

If you've been part of the shisha community for a while and have been smoking hookah tobacco regularly over recent years, you've probably come across one number: 25g.

Due to a legally mandated regulation introduced by the Federal Ministry of Finance under Finance Minister Christian Lindner, shisha tobacco was required to be produced and sold exclusively in this tin size.

The aim was to curb tax evasion in shisha cafés. Many shisha bar operators had for years been purchasing large quantities of shisha tobacco and then selling it on to customers in individual portions. This meant the tax authorities were losing a significant amount of revenue.

To prevent this, bars were only permitted to use 25-gram tins. And to ensure that further abuse of this rule would be ruled out in future, this upper limit also came into force for every private shisha smoker. Official shisha tobacco producers were therefore no longer permitted to manufacture standard sizes above 25g.

What was the outcome of this regulation?

The impact of the small packaging was a real challenge for retailers and consumers alike. The shisha industry was flooded with tiny packets that were anything but practical for regular shisha enthusiasts. Anyone who wanted to enjoy a nice evening with friends suddenly had to buy lots of small tins, pay significantly more for the privilege – and generate a huge amount of packaging waste in the process. Tobacco manufacturers had to overhaul their entire production, the range shrank, and many popular varieties even disappeared from the market temporarily, because the effort simply wasn't worth it.

Contrary to the Federal Ministry of Finance's desired outcome, tax revenues actually fell even further. Because the regulation caused both the black market and other creative workarounds to circumvent the 25-gram rule to flourish.

In the end, nobody benefited from the law. The considerable loss in tax revenue ultimately led to the 25-gram rule for private individuals being lifted again in July 2024. Bars must continue to use these small tins – but for the regular end consumer, the market has finally been opened up again.

The 25-gram rule – and what changed back then

The law came into effect on 1 July 2022 and significantly took the fun out of things for many shisha enthusiasts. The idea of regulating shisha bars was understandable, but penalising all private consumers in the process was more than questionable.

For over two years, only 25-gram packets were permitted to be sold. Anyone who smoked a lot faced considerably more hassle and had to pay more on top of it. On top of that came significantly higher production costs. Some manufacturers scaled back or even paused their production during this period, because the effort simply wasn't worthwhile.

Since July 2024, thankfully, things look different again. The regulation was relaxed for the retail sector. Private customers are now once again permitted to buy shisha tobacco in larger quantities, which is not only cheaper but also far more practical. And that has really got the industry moving again – and also put a bit of a dent in the black market.

200g tins are still the most popular size.

Why 200g tins are the most popular again

With the return of larger tobacco packaging, one shisha tobacco size is enjoying particular popularity: 200 grams. And that's no coincidence – this size is the perfect compromise for many shisha smokers.

You get enough tobacco to enjoy many relaxed sessions without the quality suffering because it gets old, loses its aroma, or dries out – which can genuinely be an issue with shisha tobacco.

In our article: Can shisha tobacco expire? If so, how long does it keep?
we explain everything you need to know about the shelf life and storage of shisha tobacco.

On top of that, 200-gram tins are more attractively priced. The cost per gram is significantly lower than with smaller packets, and many manufacturers – including Must H, stral, 187 Strassenbande, Al Fakher, and Holster – have long since brought their most popular varieties back to market in this size.

Cost analysis: Which pack size is the best value for money?

One of the most important questions is of course: how does the value of shisha tobacco break down, and which packaging size gives you the best price per gram?
Let's do a direct shisha tobacco price-per-gram comparison:

The result is clear: the 200g tin offers the best combination of price, quantity, and everyday practicality.

Shisha tobacco sales: Small tins, big impact – why special sizes exist too

Despite the new freedom, "smaller" tins have by no means disappeared – and for good reason. With premium tobacco such as Dark Blends, prices are often significantly higher than with classic Virginia tobacco. While you might pay €25–30 for a 200g tin of Virginia, a comparable Dark Blend can easily set you back €35–40 or more.

A good example is stral Basil Barry, which costs around €27.90 in a 200g tin – while Must H Pinkman in the same size costs around €35.90. Understandably, you think twice about buying a whole tin before knowing whether you'll even like the flavour. For this reason, many manufacturers offer their Dark Blend varieties in smaller sizes such as 50g, 100g, or 125g. That way you can try them out at your leisure before committing.

These "taster sizes" have since become a fixed part of the range – especially with Russian brands like Blackburn, Darkside, and Must H. The German Musthave Tabak, for example, does not offer these.

Which shisha tobacco sizes are currently available?

To give you a clear overview, we've summarised the currently common packaging sizes – based on the situation following the lifting of the 25-gram rule in July 2024:

20/25g Legally required for shisha bars when serving tobacco to guests. Remaining stock is still available in retail, but no longer common for private use.

50g Was the smallest taster size from Must H for private customers, but demand was fairly low, so only limited remaining stock of this size is available.

65–75g and 110g These somewhat unusual sizes emerged during the 25g regulation period and were used for Dry Base / pipe tobacco. Dry Base tobacco was not subject to the 25g rule, as legally it did not meet the criteria for shisha tobacco but rather those of pipe tobacco. To prepare it for a shisha, it had to be moistened with glycerine. Legally this was a grey area, and sales have since declined sharply, so this category is slowly disappearing from shops. The varieties still available with us are therefore remaining stock only.

100g Particularly common with Darkside or Blackburn – great for testing without having to dig too deep into your pockets.

120g This size is available in the ready-made mixes from Shakes by Darkside – perfect for anyone who doesn't want to bother with their own blends.

125g Also available from Must H – a solid taster size for the premium Dark Blend varieties.

150gRevolution Tobacco offers handcrafted, natural tobacco in this quantity – more for connoisseurs.

200g The current gold standard – almost every manufacturer is offering their tobacco in this size again. It provides the best combination of price, quantity, and shelf life.

500g to 1kg These really large tins are only available for true classics that people keep coming back to: for example Adalya Love 66, 187 I Love Hamburg, Al Fakher The Double Crunch, or Nameless Black Nana. Here you get the best price per gram, but naturally you also need to be consuming enough to justify it.

Prices are subject to change; these are average values and may vary depending on the brand and future price increases.

The result is clear: the price advantage of the 200g tin is enormous. You save almost half compared to buying eight individual 25g packets – a clear win for loyal customers.

Conclusion: Shisha fans rejoice – finally, choice again!

The last few years haven't been easy for shisha enthusiasts. The 25-gram rule complicated a lot of things that should simply be enjoyable – from the range on offer to prices and storage. But since mid-2024, the tide has turned: larger tins are back, and with them the full variety of flavours. Including varieties that had temporarily vanished from shelves entirely. Whether you're into classic Virginia tobaccos or prefer bold Dark Blends – you finally have the freedom to choose again.

The 200g tin has established itself as the clear favourite – but smaller sizes have their place too. Especially when you want to try your way through different options without spending a small fortune.

It's wonderful to have free choice again, and we're delighted to be able to offer larger tins once more, as these offer many advantages for our customers and for us. We also offer our in-house stral shisha tobacco in the popular 200g tin, as in our opinion it represents the best all-round compromise between freshness, quantity, and price.