What Is Shatter & How Do You Smoke It?

January 22, 2025

Shatter is a cannabis concentrate that’s as fascinating as it is potent. With its translucent, glass-like appearance and high THC content, it’s a favorite for seasoned cannabis enthusiasts looking for a potent experience. But shatter’s unique texture can make it tricky to handle and even trickier to smoke. In this guide, you’ll learn everything about shatter, from what is shatter, how to use it, and how it differs from other cannabis concentrates.


What Is Shatter?

Shatter is a cannabis concentrate known for its solid yet translucent appearance, often compared to shards of glass because that’s what it looks like, except that its color can range from dark yellow to honey yellow or amber. The concentrate’s distinctive texture (and the fact that it shatters like glass) gives shatter its name and makes it stand out from other cannabis concentrates.1 

It’s also incredibly potent, with THC levels that often reach 80-90%. However, its brittle consistency can make it harder to smoke than other concentrates like wax or crumble. You’ll find shatter in both THC shatter and CBD variations, catering to recreational and medicinal consumers alike.2 

Pieces of shatter concentrate on a white background


How Is THC Shatter Made?

Shatter is created through a process that uses butane hash oil (BHO) as a solvent to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant. This is why you might often hear shatter referred to as BHO. During production, the plant material is exposed to butane, which separates the desirable compounds from the rest of the plant. Afterward, the solvent is carefully purged to ensure no harmful residues remain, leaving behind the brittle, glass-like concentrate you know as shatter.3

Every shatter product typically includes detailed information about the strain it’s made from, the extraction method used, and the resulting texture. This level of transparency helps consumers make informed choices and ensures they can select a product that perfectly matches their preferences and desired effects.

Important! You should never attempt to make shatter at home. The process involves highly flammable solvents like butane, which can have serious safety risks if improperly handled. Additionally, making shatter in your state or county may be illegal, so leave shatter production to licensed professionals to ensure safety and product quality.


How Do You Smoke Shatter?

Smoking shatter is an art because of its unique consistency. It requires specialized tools or techniques so you can get the most out of your THC shatter experience. Here are a few tips for how to smoke shatter: 

A piece of shatter on a table next to several buds of flower

Dab Rig

A dab rig is one of the most effective and popular ways to smoke shatter. This setup, similar to a bong but designed for concentrates, uses a heated nail or banger to vaporize the shatter. Dab rigs are favored for their ability to deliver potent effects while preserving the full flavor of the shatter.4

Follow these steps to smoke shatter with a rig: 

  1. Heat the nail or banger with a torch until it’s hot enough. 

  2. Use a dab tool to add a small amount of shatter. 

  3. As it vaporizes, inhale through the rig’s mouthpiece for a fast and intense high.


Infused Joint or Bowl

Prefer something more traditional? Adding shatter to your joint or bowl is a simple and effective way to elevate your cannabis experience. Follow these steps to add shatter to an infused joint or a bowl:

  1. Lay out your ground flower. 

  2. Sprinkle a small amount of shatter evenly on top.

  3. Add another layer of flower to prevent the shatter from directly contacting the flame.

This technique ensures that the shatter melts into the flower for a smoother and more controlled burn.


Vaporizer

Use a dab pen or concentrate vaporizer as a portable, hassle-free way to consume shatter. These devices are designed specifically for concentrates, making them an excellent choice for beginners and cannasseurs. Load a small amount of shatter into the vaporizer’s chamber, set it to the desired temperature, and inhale the vapor. Vaporizing shatter preserves its flavor and potency while delivering a smooth, consistent experience.5


How is Shatter Different From Other Concentrates?

Shatter’s translucent, glass-like appearance sets it apart. Generally, the more translucent the shatter, the higher the quality. It’s also less malleable than wax or crumble, which have softer, sticky textures. 

Here’s how shatter compares to different cannabis concentrates:

  • Shatter is brittle, translucent, easier to store, and less sticky. It’s perfect for use with dab rigs or vaporizers but requires precise handling due to its fragility.

  • Wax is softer and stickier, making it easier to scoop and manipulate. It’s ideal for quick dabs but can store or transport messily.6

  • Crumble is dry and crumbly, easy to sprinkle on flower or mix into joints. It’s less sticky than wax but harder to use with dab tools.

  • Shatter is typically broken into shards prior to being packaged, and you will probably further break it apart when prepping it to add to your dab rig.

A curled piece of marijuana shatter


How Strong is Shatter?

Shatter is among the most potent cannabis concentrates, with THC levels ranging from 80-90%. Because of its strength, it’s not ideal for beginners. Even seasoned consumers often start with small amounts to avoid overwhelming effects.7 


FAQs About THC Shatter

Shatter can seem intimidating, especially for first-time users. Let’s address some of the most common questions:


Can you eat shatter?
You shouldn’t eat shatter unless it’s been decarbed. If it hasn’t been heated, it won’t have psychoactive effects and probably won’t taste very good either.

Can I make shatter at home?
It’s not recommended to make shatter at home. The process is dangerous and requires specialized equipment. Plus, it’s possibly illegal to make it in your state if you’re not a licensed professional. 

Is shatter the same as dabs?
Shatter isn’t quite the same as dabs. A dab is a general term for a cannabis concentrate, and shatter is a specific type of concentrate.

Is shatter stronger than wax?
Yes, shatter typically has higher THC levels than wax.

Can I put shatter in a bowl?
You can absolutely put shatter in a bowl. Just sprinkle it over your flower and enjoy.


Buying THC Shatter

Shatter is a potent and versatile concentrate, perfect for those looking to elevate their cannabis experience. It offers potent effects and unique texture, whether you dab concentrates like shatter or infuse a joint. Not sure where to begin? Visit your local LivWell dispensary and chat with a budtender to find high-quality THC shatter and tips for consuming it safely. 

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Sources:

1. “Shatter,” Weedmaps, https://weedmaps.com/learn/dictionary/shatter

2. “Shatter: What Is It, and How Do You Use It?” Leafwell, October 7, 2024, https://leafwell.com/blog/what-is-shatter

3. “How shatter is made,” Weedmaps, https://weedmaps.com/learn/products-and-how-to-consume/how-shatter-is-made

4. “How To Smoke Shatter With Or Without A Rig,” Heb, December 20, 2024, https://herb.co/learn/smoke-shatter

5. “What are cannabis concentrates and how do you consume them?” Weedmaps, https://weedmaps.com/learn/products-and-how-to-consume/cannabis-concentrates

6. “Shatter,” Leafly, https://www.leafly.com/learn/cannabis-glossary/shatter

7. “Shatter, a super-high potency marijuana, is appearing on the East Coast,” The Washington Post, December 15, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/shatter-super-high-potency-marijuana-now-appearing-on-east-coast/2015/12/23/e09dfde4-a8fa-11e5-bff5-905b92f5f94b_story.html




Use of Marijuana Concentrate may lead to: Psychotic symptoms and/or Psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, or difficulty distinguishing reality); Mental Health Symptoms/Problems; Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) (uncontrolled and repetitive vomiting); Cannabis use disorder/dependence, including physical and psychological dependence.   Please consume responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product.  State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and medical marijuana patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations. 


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