In any humidor or online cigar store you’ll see names like Robusto, Toro, Churchill and Torpedo. They describe cigar sizes and shapes, which the trade calls vitolas. Once you know them, you can tell roughly how long a cigar will last, how it will taste and whether it fits the time you have. Here’s what the measurements mean and how the most common sizes compare.
How cigar sizes are measured
Every cigar has two numbers: length and ring gauge. Length is in inches. Ring gauge is the diameter in 64ths of an inch, so a 50 ring gauge cigar is 50/64 of an inch thick. A cigar listed as “6 x 52” is six inches long with a 52 ring gauge.
Why ring gauge changes the flavor
A thicker cigar has more filler compared to wrapper. It usually smokes cooler, and the filler tobaccos drive the flavor. In a thinner cigar the wrapper does more of the work, which often makes it taste more concentrated and spicy. One isn’t better than the other. It comes down to what you like.
Common cigar sizes and shapes
- Corona, 5½ x 42. A classic, balanced size that takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- Robusto, 5 x 50. The most popular premium size. Rich, and fairly quick at 45 to 60 minutes.
- Toro, 6 x 50 to 52. A longer robusto that lasts about an hour or more.
- Churchill, 7 x 47 to 48. Long and slim enough to take 90 minutes or more.
- Gordo, 6 x 60. Very thick, and it smokes cool and slow.
- Lancero, 7½ x 38. Long and thin, and people like it for how much you taste the wrapper.
- Torpedo and belicoso. Figurado shapes with a tapered, pointed head.
- Cigarillo, about 4½ x 28. Small, quick and often flavored.
Parejo vs figurado
A parejo has straight sides and a rounded head, like a robusto or Churchill. A figurado is any irregular shape, such as a torpedo, perfecto or pyramid. Figurados are harder to roll, and the tapered head can concentrate the flavor.
Picking the right size
If you’re new to cigars, try a robusto or corona. They’re big enough to show what the blend tastes like and short enough to finish without trouble. If you only have 15 minutes, a cigarillo or filtered cigar makes more sense. For a long weekend evening, pick a toro or Churchill from our premium cigars. Whatever the size, a sharp cigar cutter gives you a clean cut, and that matters most on tapered figurados.
Shop cigars in every size
We stock thousands of sizes and shapes, from slim Swisher Sweets cigarillos to hand-rolled Oliva toros, and every product page lists the size. For more, read our guides on premium cigars vs cigarillos and how to store cigars, or Wikipedia’s cigar article for more on vitolas and ring gauge.
For adults 21 and older only. Tobacco products contain nicotine.