On average, a single cigarette contains about 10 to 12 milligrams (mg) of nicotine. However, the nicotine content can vary widely by brand, ranging from as low as 6 mg to as high as 28 mg per cigarette. Despite this, smokers typically inhale only about 1.1 to 1.8 mg of nicotine from each cigarette, as not all nicotine is absorbed during smoking
. In summary:
- Average nicotine content per cigarette: ~10-12 mg
- Range: 6 mg (low end) to 28 mg (high end)
- Nicotine actually absorbed per cigarette: approximately 1.1 to 1.8 mg
This means that for a pack of 20 cigarettes, a smoker might inhale between 22 and 36 mg of nicotine in total
