Does Family Dollar Sell Cigarettes in 2024? Your Complete Guide

With over 8,200 locations across 45 states, Family Dollar is one of the largest retail chains in the United States focused on value-priced household necessities. Given its broad reach, many shoppers wonder if they can grab cigarettes and tobacco products during their regular Family Dollar runs.

I‘ve shopped at my local Family Dollar for years, so I decided to do some in-depth research on their tobacco offerings. Keep reading for a detailed guide on buying cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco items at Family Dollar stores in 2024.

An Overview of Tobacco Sales at Family Dollar

Yes, Family Dollar has sold cigarettes and tobacco since 2012. According to the Wall Street Journal, within the first year of introducing cigarettes, tobacco sales accounted for 2% of Family Dollar‘s revenue, generating over $200 million dollars.

As of 2022, Family Dollar had over 8,200 locations nationwide and brought in roughly $11 billion in total sales. While unconfirmed, it‘s estimated that tobacco accounts for 3-5% of their sales, or $330 million to $550 million annually. For comparison, CVS Health reported a $2 billion loss in revenues when removing tobacco from their stores in 2014.

So while not a primary category, tobacco continues to represent a notable revenue stream for Family Dollar, likely motivating them to keep cigarettes on shelves.

What Brands of Cigarettes Does Family Dollar Sell?

Family Dollar carries all the major best-selling cigarette brands including:

• Marlboro (the #1 brand with over 40% market share)
• Newport (the top menthol brand)
• Camel
• Pall Mall
• Winston
• Kool
• Salem
• Pyramid
• Maverick

They offer both menthol and regular varieties for brands like Marlboro, Camel and Newport. You‘ll find all the most popular options customers are looking for.

Market share statistics source: CDC

In 2022, menthol cigarette sales reached 36% of the total US cigarette market, so carrying menthol styles allows Family Dollar to cater to this significant customer base.

Other Tobacco Products Sold at Family Dollar

Beyond just cigarettes, Family Dollar also sells:

• Smokeless/chewing tobacco – top brands like Grizzly, Copenhagen, Skoal
• Cigars – Swisher Sweets, Dutch Masters, Black & Mild
• Rolling/pipe tobacco – from brands like Top and Bugler
• Nicotine gum/lozenges – Nicorette, Zonnic
• Rolling papers, tubes and injectors – Zig-Zag, Tops, and more

Smokeless tobacco sales are over $4 billion annually, so brands like Grizzly and Copenhagen have dedicated users looking for these products. And value-conscious cigar smokers appreciate the low prices on cigarillos and large cigars.

Having this range gives smokers more options beyond just cigarettes when visiting Family Dollar.

E-Cigarette and Vaping Products Available

E-cigarettes represent the fastest growing tobacco category, with disposables and pre-filled cartridges dominating convenience store sales.

Reflecting this trend, Family Dollar stocks:

• Disposable vapes – Puff Bar, Hyde, Eonsmoke
• Pre-filled cartridges – for the popular Juul, Vuse, Blu and Logic e-cigarette brands
• Vuse e-cig kits – reusable device plus pods
• Basic vape pens and pod systems – from SMOK, Suorin, RELX and other affordable brands
• Batteries and chargers – disposable, rechargeable and USB charging options

However, Family Dollar does not sell open systems or bottled vape juice, focusing only on convenient disposables and cartridges. This matches what most of their customers are looking for in terms of e-cigarettes.

What‘s the Price of Cigarettes at Family Dollar?

Cigarette prices at Family Dollar generally range from around $5.50 per pack on the low end to $12 per pack on the higher end, depending on region.

State and local taxes largely determine the price floor for cigarettes, leading to significant variation between states. For example, New York imposes a tax of $4.35 per pack, so even discounted brands ring up over $10/pack there. Meanwhile, Missouri‘s low cigarette tax of just $0.17/pack allows for much lower prices.

Here‘s a comparison of cigarette pack prices at Family Dollar in different states:

Tobacco companies also run promotional discounts exclusively at discount retailers like Family Dollar, allowing them to offer periodic "lowest price in the area" deals to drive traffic.

So while not the absolute cheapest cigarettes, you can often score a discount versus convenience store prices when shopping at Family Dollar. Their large volumes and promotional pricing allow them to compete on cigarette prices.

Buying Cigarettes at Family Dollar – Step-by-Step Process

Wondering how you actually go about purchasing cigarettes at Family Dollar? Here is an overview of the process:

The cigarettes and tobacco products are kept in a locked, opaque cabinet behind the main register counter. So they are not directly accessible to customers.

When you‘re ready to purchase tobacco, tell the cashier which brand(s) and quantity you want.

The cashier will unlock the tobacco cabinet and retrieve your items. By keeping the selection locked up, it aims to prevent shoplifting and underage sales.

After getting your tobacco products, the cashier scans them like usual. However, they will also ask to see your photo ID to verify you are 21 or older. Acceptable IDs include a driver‘s license, passport, military ID, or state ID card.

If you don‘t have valid ID showing your age, the cashier cannot complete the tobacco sale. Family Dollar instructs employees to ID any customers appearing under 40 years old.

You are prohibited from opening or using tobacco products inside the Family Dollar store. After paying, your tobacco purchase gets bagged up and you‘re free to exit and enjoy your items!

5 Tips for Buying Cigarettes at Family Dollar

If you‘re looking to pick up cigarettes or other tobacco at a Family Dollar near you, keep these tips in mind:

• Have your ID ready – Save time by having your driver‘s license or ID card handy as you‘ll need to show it.

• Know your brand – Since tobacco is behind the counter, tell the cashier the exact product you want rather than browsing options.

• Check for deals – Ask the cashier if there are any cigarette cartons on promotion or discount to save.

• Use self checkout – If buying only cigarettes, self checkout can be quicker than waiting in line.

• Call ahead – You can call to ask if they have the cigarettes you want in stock before visiting the store.

The Bottom Line – Can You Buy Cigarettes at Family Dollar Stores?

In summary, with thousands of locations nationwide, Family Dollar does sell major cigarette brands, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products as of 2023. They view tobacco as an important product category.

However, there are some restrictions – you must be 21+ with valid photo ID and cigarettes are kept locked up requiring employee assistance. Following their sales protocol allows you to conveniently incorporate tobacco purchases into your regular Family Dollar shopping.

So if looking for discount cigarette prices near you, check out your neighborhood Family Dollar. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!