Preroll Machine ROI & Production Costs
Hummingbird Preroll Systems is built around a modular automation workflow designed for cannabis manufacturers that want to increase output without overcomplicating production. Our goal is simple: help operators make more prerolls with fewer labor hours while maintaining product quality.
Designed by former preroll operators, the Hummingbird PR-1 and Finisher 2.0 are simple to run, flexible across multiple preroll formats, and built to scale with your production needs.
Below are example ROI calculations based on one trained operator using the Hummingbird PR-1 alone or the PR-1 with the Finisher 2.0.
With one trained operator on the Hummingbird PR-1, you can expect to produce approximately 2,200–2,700 finished prerolls per shift, depending on product format and workflow. Using the PR-1 with the Finisher 2.0, production can increase to 5,000+ dutch-crowned prerolls per shift.
| Category | KnockBox | Hummingbird | Hummingbird + Finisher 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| System Cost | $10,000 | $15,000 | $27,500 |
| Prerolls Per Employee Per Day | 750 | 2500 | 5000 |
| Daily Labor Cost | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| Labor Cost Per Preroll | $0.27 | $0.08 | $0.04 |
| Cost to Outsource Per Preroll | $0.45 | $0.45 | $0.45 |
| Payback Period. Break Even | 54,545 | 40,541 | 67,073 |
| Preoll PayBack (Days) | 73 | 16 | 13 |
To calculate your labor cost per preroll, divide your daily production labor cost by your finished preroll output. For example, at $200 in daily labor and 2,500 finished prerolls, labor cost is approximately $0.08 per preroll. With experience and the right workflow, production on the Hummingbird PR-1 can approach 3,000 prerolls per 8-hour shift.
Using the PR-1 with the Finisher 2.0 can increase output to 5,000+ finished prerolls per shift, reducing labor cost to approximately $0.04 per preroll at the same $200 daily labor assumption. Actual labor costs will vary based on local wages, product format and production workflow.
At these production levels, equipment payback can happen quickly. Based on the assumptions shown above, the PR-1 reaches payback at approximately 40,500 prerolls, while the complete Hummingbird workflow reaches payback at approximately 67,000 prerolls.
Compare Hummingbird system options and production configurations on our Products Page
