State Farm has the cheapest life insurance for smokers at around $29 per month for men and $26 per month for women for a 10-year, $250,000 policy.
Compare quotes from top insurers to find the best policy for you.
Updated: March 12, 2026
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State Farm offers the cheapest average rate for male smokers at $29 per month for a 10-year $250,000 policy. It also has the most affordable average monthly rate of $26 for women.
Senior smokers can find the cheapest average rates from State Farm, Lincoln Financial and John Hancock, depending on age.
Young adult smokers can find the cheapest rates from State Farm and Guardian Life, with monthly premiums ranging from $20 to $29 based on gender and age.
Overall, smokers will find higher rates than the average for life insurance. But we found that State Farm is the cheapest overall provider for smokers, with average monthly rates of $29 for men or an annual average of $353.
Rates will differ for women, with State Farm offering 10-year policies with $250,000 at $26 per month or $307 per year. Compare the cheapest life insurance companies for smokers:
| State Farm | $29 | $353 |
| Penn Mutual | $63 | $754 |
| Pacific Life | $65 | $780 |
| Columbus | $66 | $788 |
| Lincoln Financial | $66 | $789 |
| Banner Life | $67 | $800 |
| John Hancock | $67 | $803 |
| MassMutual | $67 | $804 |
| Cincinnati Life | $68 | $813 |
| Guardian Life | $68 | $816 |
| Protective | $69 | $832 |
| North American | $70 | $843 |
| Midland National | $70 | $843 |
| Nationwide | $71 | $857 |
| Gerber Life | $72 | $864 |
| Transamerica | $72 | $866 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $74 | $889 |
| Fidelity | $75 | $898 |
| New York Life | $76 | $906 |
| Prudential | $79 | $945 |
| Ethos | $241 | $2,890 |
*Rates are for 40-year-olds with $250,000 worth of coverage over 10 years. Individual rates will vary based on health, location and other factors. Rates based on MoneyGeek survey of life insurance companies and may not reflect current market pricing. Always compare quotes from multiple insurers.
Smokers over 60 can still find affordable life insurance despite the difficulty of doing so. For 60-year-olds, the cheapest life insurance provider is State Farm at $86 per month for women and $119 per month for men for a $250,000, 10-year term policy. An 80-year-old man with the same policy can get the cheapest rate from John Hancock at $2,774 per month, while an 80-year-old woman can get the lowest monthly cost from Lincoln Financial at $2,432.
Compare life insurance rates for senior smokers from top providers:
| State Farm | $119 | $1,425 |
| Penn Mutual | $281 | $3,378 |
| Banner Life | $308 | $3,695 |
| Pacific Life | $310 | $3,719 |
| Guardian Life | $328 | $3,932 |
| Columbus | $330 | $3,962 |
| Fidelity | $331 | $3,972 |
| Midland National | $340 | $4,077 |
| North American | $340 | $4,077 |
| MassMutual | $341 | $4,092 |
| Lincoln Financial | $343 | $4,111 |
| Transamerica | $343 | $4,113 |
| Protective | $346 | $4,147 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $350 | $4,196 |
| Cincinnati Life | $356 | $4,278 |
| John Hancock | $382 | $4,585 |
| Prudential | $383 | $4,590 |
| New York Life | $405 | $4,865 |
| Gerber Life | $721 | $8,655 |
| Ethos | $1,712 | $20,543 |
*Rates are for smokers aged 60 to 80 with $250,000 coverage for 10 years.
State Farm has an average monthly cost of $32 for young adult men aged 25, making it the cheapest option for this age bracket. For a 25-year-old woman smoker, the cheapest life insurance is from Guardian Life at $26 per month.
Getting life insurance while still young can result in lower rates than are available to older adults while allowing for more time to renegotiate your rate if you quit for more than a year.
| State Farm | $32 | $389 |
| Gerber Life | $43 | $511 |
| Guardian Life | $44 | $525 |
| Penn Mutual | $45 | $543 |
| Cincinnati Life | $46 | $550 |
| Banner Life | $47 | $567 |
| Lincoln Financial | $48 | $575 |
| Pacific Life | $49 | $583 |
| MassMutual | $50 | $603 |
| Fidelity | $51 | $609 |
| Columbus | $51 | $614 |
| Transamerica | $53 | $634 |
| Midland National | $53 | $642 |
| North American | $53 | $642 |
| Prudential | $55 | $659 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $56 | $673 |
| Protective | $56 | $676 |
| Nationwide | $63 | $755 |
| New York Life | $64 | $766 |
| John Hancock | $68 | $817 |
| Ethos | $140 | $1,680 |
*Rates are for smokers ages 20 to 39 with $250,000 coverage for 10 years.
State Farm is the cheapest life insurance company for smokers looking for a high coverage amount, with an average monthly cost of $78 for male smokers and $65 for female smokers, both with a $1 million coverage amount and a 10-year term.
| State Farm | $78 | $942 |
| Banner Life | $198 | $2,376 |
| Transamerica | $198 | $2,377 |
| Pacific Life | $198 | $2,377 |
| Penn Mutual | $200 | $2,404 |
| Cincinnati Life | $208 | $2,499 |
| Midland National | $219 | $2,624 |
| North American | $219 | $2,624 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $223 | $2,676 |
| New York Life | $233 | $2,798 |
| Columbus | $235 | $2,815 |
| Protective | $236 | $2,831 |
| Fidelity | $239 | $2,866 |
| Prudential | $239 | $2,872 |
| Guardian Life | $241 | $2,894 |
| MassMutual | $248 | $2,970 |
| Nationwide | $252 | $3,019 |
| Lincoln Financial | $255 | $3,065 |
| Gerber Life | $260 | $3,125 |
| John Hancock | $261 | $3,133 |
| Ethos | $800 | $9,596 |
*Rates are for 40-year-old smokers with average weight and health rating.
The cheapest life insurance provider will likely vary depending on your coverage level and personal situation. But for most smokers, State Farm is the most affordable option. A further breakdown of the provider follows:
Cheapest Life Insurance Company for Smokers
Average Monthly Cost
Average Annual Cost
The most affordable life insurance policy depends on your coverage needs, health, age and financial goals. Tips for getting the cheapest policy depending on your situation are as follows:
Life insurance providers take into account a variety of factors to determine life insurance rates, which differ by company. Follow the steps below as you calculate your coverage needs and get personalized life insurance quotes to help find the cheapest rates for you.
Different companies have varying rate structures for smokers. And companies classify smokers into different tobacco use categories. Companies like Protective, SBLI, North American and Midland National often offer more competitive rates for tobacco users.
Your age also affects the cost of your life insurance, so signing up as early as possible helps lower the premium cost despite your smoking history. When buying, comparing life insurance quotes for smokers from multiple providers can help you find the best rates and coverage options tailored to your situation.
Maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels can qualify you for "preferred smoker" rates, saving you 15% to 20% on premiums.
Term life insurance offers lower premiums than whole life insurance, making it a more affordable option for smokers who already face higher rates due to their tobacco use.
The best way to lower your rates permanently is to quit smoking altogether. Some life insurance providers allow you to retake the nicotine test after a year and renegotiate your rates. You can also switch to other providers, which could give you standard rates when you've been smoke-free for more than 12 months.
Life insurance for smokers comes with higher premiums, but there are ways to minimize these costs. Learn the right strategies to help secure adequate coverage for smokers while keeping rates as affordable as possible.
Companies verify tobacco use through questionnaires and medical tests that detect nicotine or cotinine, which can identify use from the past week. Our research shows most insurers classify you as a smoker if you've used any of these products within the past 12 months, as most providers require a 12-month tobacco-free period before qualifying for nonsmoker rates.
Even occasional cigarette use results in a smoker classification. Smokers pay two to three times higher premiums than nonsmokers, with rates remaining elevated until you've been nicotine-free for at least 12 months.
Some insurers offer nonsmoker rates for limited cigar consumption (one to two monthly) with negative lab results. Companies like Prudential and Lincoln National are more favorable for occasional users. Pipes and hookahs are generally classified like cigars, with most companies applying standard tobacco rates.
Select insurers offer standard non-tobacco rates even for daily users. This can reduce premiums by over 50% compared to tobacco rates, making company selection crucial for smokeless tobacco users.
Tobacco classifications vary by insurer and state regulations. Consult with licensed agents for specific policy terms.
Despite being marketed as alternatives, most insurers classify vaping the same as cigarettes due to health concerns about additives and chemicals. Expect smoker rates if you use these products.
*Importantly, nicotine replacement therapies (patches, gum, lozenges) are generally NOT classified as tobacco use, as they're viewed as cessation aids. If you use nicotine pouches, like Zyn, it's likely to appear in your lab tests. You will likely be considered a smoker.
You should never lie on a life insurance application. Being honest about your smoking status is always the best approach, even if it means paying higher premiums in the short term. Lying on your life insurance application is a bad idea for these reasons:
Lying on an application is illegal and constitutes fraud, which can have serious legal consequences.
Most life insurance policies have a two-year contestability period during which the company can investigate and deny claims if it finds evidence of misrepresentation.
If you die and the insurance company discovers you lied about smoking (which they often can through medical records or autopsy), they can refuse to pay the death benefit to your beneficiaries.
Companies can cancel your policy entirely if they discover misrepresentation, leaving you without coverage when you might no longer qualify for a new policy.
Blood and urine tests can detect nicotine from tobacco use, making it difficult to hide smoking status.
Options exist for smokers seeking no-exam life insurance, but they require careful consideration. MoneyGeek recommends comparing insurers like American General, Mutual of Omaha and Prudential, as their smoker definitions vary. Though convenient, these policies cost 20% to 40% more than standard coverage and still require honest disclosure about tobacco use since medical records are checked regardless.
If you occasionally smoke or use tobacco with cigars or other methods, you can still get affordable life insurance. One option is Prudential, which offers nonsmoker rates and potentially even its Standard Plus non-smoker rate classification to healthy users. It also offers its "Non-Smoker Plus" rate to cigar smokers, and uniquely, even to daily cigar smokers.
Quitting smoking can reduce life insurance costs by over 66%, with middle-aged ex-smokers paying as little as $26 monthly for a $250,000, 10-year policy compared to $76 for smokers. Most insurers offer rate reconsideration after 12 to 24 tobacco-free months, requiring verification through health questionnaires and nicotine tests.
| No | $26 | $313 |
| Yes | $76 | $911 |
*Rates are based on a 40-year-old male with a $250,000 10-year term policy.
Alternatively, consider canceling your existing policy and shopping for a nonsmoker policy elsewhere. The table below shows how certain major companies define quitting.
Company | Quitting Definition |
|---|---|
Allstate | Requires at least one year tobacco-free to qualify for nonsmoker rates |
Transamerica | Offers preferred rating class after 24 months (two years) of not smoking |
Protective | Offers preferred rates after 24 months (two years) since your last cigarette |
Prudential | Uniquely offers nonsmoker rates to people who chew tobacco while requiring 12 months of cigarette-free for former smokers |
Mutual of Omaha | Follows standard industry practices requiring at least 12 months tobacco-free before qualifying for nonsmoker rates |
State Farm offers the cheapest life insurance rates for smokers across multiple demographic categories, with average rates as low as $26 monthly for women and $29 for men. For smokers seeking coverage, Lincoln Financial, John Hancock and Guardian Life also offer affordable rates. Compare multiple providers to get the lowest price on your life insurance as a smoker.
People's top pick
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These answers cover common questions about life insurance coverage and costs for smokers.
Smoking affects life insurance rates substantially. Smokers pay higher premiums than nonsmokers due to increased health risks. Former smokers qualify for lower rates after remaining tobacco-free for 12 months, giving them financial incentive to quit.
Life insurance for smokers is available in all 50 states with affordable quotes, but expect higher premiums than nonsmokers pay for comparable coverage.
Smoker vs nonsmoker life insurance rates differ a lot. Nonsmokers pay average monthly premiums of $26 while smokers pay $76 monthly, meaning nonsmokers save about 66%.
Life insurance companies classify cigarette, e-cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking as tobacco use. Chewing tobacco and nicotine replacement products like gum and patches also qualify as smoking for coverage purposes.
Life insurance policies don't require reporting lifestyle changes like starting to smoke after your policy begins. Your original premium rates remain unchanged regardless of new tobacco use.
Life insurance providers reevaluate smoking history and reduce premiums after you've been tobacco-free for 12 months or longer.
Shopping for life insurance as a smoker feels frustrating. You know you'll pay more, but it's hard to figure out which companies offer the best rates for tobacco users. That's why we focused our research specifically on smoker premiums to help you find affordable coverage despite higher rates.
Research Scope and Data Collection
We gathered life insurance quotes specifically for smokers to identify which companies offer the most competitive rates for tobacco users. Rather than relying on advertised rates or industry averages, we collected actual quotes from companies with broad national coverage and online quoting capabilities.
Our approach prioritized companies that could provide immediate, transparent pricing for smokers: eliminating the guesswork and phone tag that often comes with shopping for life insurance as a tobacco user.
Sample Customer Profile
MoneyGeek used a standard profile to obtain life insurance quotes:
Our pick for the cheapest overall life insurance company is based on the standard profile. Premiums are based on the standard profile unless otherwise noted.
Coverage Analysis and Variations
Beyond our standard profile, we adjusted several factors to reflect how life insurance rates vary for smokers:
Why This Methodology Matters for Smokers
Smokers often see higher life insurance costs than non-smokers, with premiums that can run two to three times more. Insurers also approach tobacco use differently. Some offer pricing that is more favorable for smokers, while others apply the same added charges across the board.
Our research identified these patterns and rate variations so you can focus your shopping efforts on companies that actually compete for smoker business, rather than wasting time with insurers that view tobacco users as unwanted risk.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
