THC vape cartridges are sold in 0.5g and 1g formats. Per-gram cost is the correct unit for comparing value across sizes and brands. As of the week of 2026-04-13, the average THC vape effective price across 542 tracked products was $62.14. For a 1g cartridge at that price, the implied per-gram cost is $62.14. Extract type significantly affects per-gram pricing — live resin commands a 20–40% premium over distillate per gram from the same brand.
What you’ll learn
Per-gram cost is the only valid comparison unit across vape formats and extract types. This guide covers the calculation method, extract-type benchmarks, and what the CannabisDealsUS Price Index data implies about market per-gram value.
- Standard THC vape formats and their gram weights
- How to calculate per-gram cost from any vape product
- What the CPI average implies as a per-gram market benchmark
- How extract type affects per-gram cost across distillate, live resin, and live rosin
- When all-in-one hardware cost affects the per-gram comparison
Standard Formats and Gram Weights
THC vape products come in three main hardware types, each available in standard sizes:
| Format | Typical Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 510-thread cartridge | 0.5g, 1g | Most common; requires separate battery |
| All-in-one / disposable | 0.5g, 1g, 2g | Battery included; higher per-gram cost |
| Proprietary pod | 0.5g, 1g | Brand-specific hardware required |
The 1g 510-thread cartridge is the most common format in the CannabisDealsUS Price Index. The $62.14 average effective price as of 2026-04-13 reflects the mix of 0.5g and 1g products across all hardware types. For a pure per-gram comparison, focus on the same format and size.
How to Calculate Per-Gram Cost
Divide the effective price by the cartridge weight in grams:
Per-gram cost = price / grams
Examples: – 1g cart at $62.14 = $62.14/g (at CPI average) – 0.5g cart at $35 = $70/g (above CPI average per gram) – 0.5g cart at $28 = $56/g (below CPI average per gram) – 2g AIO at $110 = $55/g (below CPI average; note AIO hardware included)
The key insight: buying a 0.5g cart at more than 50% of the 1g price means you are paying a per-gram premium for the smaller format. Most 0.5g carts from the same brand are priced at 55–65% of the 1g price, meaning the per-gram cost is higher. The 1g format almost always wins on per-gram value.
Per-Gram Benchmarks by Extract Type
Extract type creates distinct per-gram pricing tiers:
- Distillate (value/mid): $40–$60/g effective for mid-tier brands. Below-market below $40/g.
- Distillate (premium brand): $55–$75/g. Premium positioning, not premium extract.
- Live resin: $65–$95/g. Reflects more complex production. Below $60/g is a meaningful deal.
- Live rosin: $90–$130/g. Solventless extract commands the highest per-gram premium.
The $62.14 CPI average sits at the distillate premium / live resin entry crossover. A live resin cart at $62.14 per gram is below-market for its extract type. A distillate cart at $62.14 is at the upper end of market for that extract type.
Always identify extract type before using the CPI average as a comparison benchmark.
AIO Hardware Cost Adjustment
All-in-one (AIO) and disposable vapes include the battery in the price. This hardware add-on costs $5–$15 per unit. To compare an AIO to a 510 cartridge on extract value alone, subtract an estimated $10 hardware value before calculating per-gram cost.
Example: – AIO 1g at $72: hardware-adjusted extract value = $62 ($62/g) — at CPI average – AIO 0.5g at $40: hardware-adjusted = $30 ($60/g) — at CPI average
If you already own a compatible 510 battery, AIOs are the higher per-gram cost format unless their effective price is sufficiently below the equivalent 510 cart to compensate for the bundled hardware cost.
For pure extract-value comparison, 510-thread cartridges from the same brand are the cleanest per-gram benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average THC vape price per gram?
Based on the CannabisDealsUS Price Index for the week of 2026-04-13, the average effective price across 542 tracked products was $62.14. For a 1g cartridge at that price, the implied per-gram cost is $62.14. This average spans distillate, live resin, 0.5g, and 1g formats.
Is a 1g vape cart better value than two 0.5g carts?
Almost always yes. Most 0.5g carts are priced at 55–65% of the 1g price from the same brand, meaning two 0.5g carts cost 10–30% more per gram than one 1g cart. Buying two 0.5g carts makes per-gram sense only when one is significantly discounted below its normal price.
How much does live resin cost per gram compared to distillate?
Live resin typically costs 20–40% more per gram than distillate from the same brand. Based on CPI-implied benchmarks: distillate mid-tier sits around $40–$60/g effective; live resin sits around $65–$95/g. Below $60/g for live resin is a genuinely below-market price for that extract type.
Does the all-in-one format cost more per gram?
Yes. AIO and disposable vapes include a battery, which adds $5–$15 to the price. To compare extract value, subtract an estimated $10 hardware cost from the AIO price before calculating per-gram cost. If you already own a 510 battery, the 510 cartridge format is almost always the better per-gram value.
What per-gram price is a good deal on a THC vape?
For distillate mid-tier, below $50/g effective is below-market. For live resin, below $60/g is a meaningful deal. Use the CPI average of $62.14 as the overall market midpoint across extract types and formats. Products priced below this on a per-gram basis are either value-tier or genuinely discounted.
Data: CannabisDealsUS Cannabis Price Index. Price statistics reflect effective (post-discount) prices across verified U.S. online retailers. Statistics in this guide are refreshed approximately every 90 days. Full dataset access.
Last Updated on May 12, 2026 by claude-mcp
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