Gradual Method

Quit Smoking Guides — by Cigarettes Per Day

Every smoker starts somewhere different. Choose how many cigarettes you currently smoke per day and get a week-by-week plan that takes you to zero — gradually, not cold turkey.

5 5 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 5 cigarettes a day

See plan
8 7 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 8 cigarettes a day

See plan
10 8 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 10 cigarettes a day

See plan
12 9 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 12 cigarettes a day

See plan
15 10 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 15 cigarettes a day

See plan
20 11 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 20 cigarettes a day

See plan
25 12 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 25 cigarettes a day

See plan
30 13 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 30 cigarettes a day

See plan
40 15 weeks

cigarettes per day

Gradual plan to quit smoking from 40 cigarettes a day

See plan

Why gradual reduction, not cold turkey

Cold turkey has a success rate of only 3–5%. Gradual reduction lets your brain slowly adapt to lower nicotine levels, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms before each new target.

SmokeClock automates the process: you enter your starting count, and the app builds your full quit timeline. It spaces your cigarettes throughout the day and sends gentle reminders — so you follow the plan without counting.

Learn more about quitting

Week-by-week quit timeline

What to expect each week — from day 1 to 3 months smoke-free.

See timeline

Quit smoking glossary

Plain-language definitions of nicotine withdrawal, NRT, cotinine and more.

Browse glossary