Smoking Pack-Years and Cost Calculator
Enter how much and how long you smoked to get pack-years and the cost.
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Smoking Pack-Years and Cost Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Smoking Pack-Years and Cost Calculator works
One pack-year is smoking 20 cigarettes a day for a year. Pack-years = packs per day × years smoked.
US Preventive Services Task Force (2021) recommends yearly low-dose CT lung screening for adults aged 50 to 80 with 20 or more pack-years who smoke now or quit within 15 years. Talk to your doctor.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Cigarettes per day | 15 |
|---|---|
| Years smoked | 20 |
| Cigarettes per pack | 20 |
| Price per pack | $8 |
- 15 a day = 0.75 packs × 20 years = 15 pack-years.
- At $8 a pack: about $43,830 spent.
Result:
| Pack-years | 15.0 |
|---|---|
| Total spent | $43,830 |
| Cost per year now | $2,192 |
| Pack-years compared with the US screening threshold (20) | Below 20 pack-years |
Frequently asked questions
Does quitting help even after many pack-years?
Yes. Lung cancer and heart disease risk start to fall after quitting and keep falling for years.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives general estimates for information and education. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Talk to a qualified health professional about your own situation. See our disclaimer.