Aims To examine the association between future orientation (how individuals consider and value outcomes in the future) and smoking cessation at four weeks and six months post quit‐date in individuals enrolled in a smoking cessation study. Design Cohort analysis of randomised controlled trial data. Setting UK primary care. Participants Adults aged ≥18 years smoking ≥15 cigarettes daily, prepared to quit in the next two weeks. Measurements Future orientation was measured prior to quitting and at four weeks post‐quitting using the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale. Smoking cessation at four weeks and six months was confirmed biochemically. Those lost to follow up were assumed to not be abstinent. Potential confounders adjusted for were: age, gender, educational attainment, nicotine dependence and longest previous period quit. Findings 697 participants provided data at baseline. 422 provided information on future orientation at four weeks. There was no evidence of an association between future orientation at baseline and abstinence at four weeks (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals): 1.05 (0.89 to 1.38) or six months (0.85 (0.60 to 1.20). There was no change in future orientation from baseline to four weeks and no evidence that the change differed between those who were and were not quit at four weeks (adjusted regression coefficient (95% confidence intervals): ‐0.04 (‐0.16 to 0.08). Conclusions In smokers who are prepared to quit in the next two weeks, extent of future orientation is unlikely to be a strong predictor of quitting over four weeks or six months and any increase in future orientation following quitting is likely to be small.