Apparatus for working blanks to make rigid packets with a hinged lid for smoking articles, starting from a substantially flat blank (100), wherein the apparatus comprises a wheel to transfer the blanks (12) provided with an entrance station (14) and an exit station (16), between which a predefined transfer path (P) develops, and with a flexing and bending station (18) provided in an intermediate position between the entrance station (14) and the exit station (16), and wherein the entrance station (14) is associated with a blank feeding store (22). In correspondence with the flexing and bending station (18) there is a device to work blanks comprising a structure in a single body provided with a pair of first flexing or pre-bending members (32), configured to flex a transverse bending line (115') between a first smaller upper panel (122') and a second smaller upper panel (124') of the blank (100) and to pre-bend the first smaller upper panel (122'), a pair of second flexing or pre-bending members (34), configured to flex longitudinal bending lines (120') of the blank (100) and to pre-bend at least the longitudinal lateral panels (1 18', 1 19') of the blank (100) associated with the longitudinal bending lines (120'), at least one complete bending member (52), configured to bend at 180° the first smaller upper panel (122') adjacent against the second smaller upper panel (124') of the blank (100) for gluing purposes.