A cigarillo takes a few minutes to smoke, while a full cigar takes anywhere from about half an hour to well over an hour depending on its size. On the shelf, a cigar kept at steady humidity can last for years, but one left in open air can dry out within days to weeks. This White Birch Post guide covers both meanings of "how long does a cigar last."
How long does it take to smoke a cigar?
Size is the main factor. The longer and thicker the cigar, the more tobacco there is to burn. Thickness is measured as ring gauge — the diameter in 64ths of an inch — and length in inches.
Pace is the second. Someone who draws every 30 seconds will finish a cigar far faster than someone who draws once a minute. The times below assume a relaxed pace.
Rough smoking times by format
| Format | Typical size | Rough smoking time |
|---|---|---|
| Little cigar | Cigarette-sized, filtered | A few minutes |
| Cigarillo | Slim, often tipped | A few minutes to about 15 minutes |
| Corona | About 5½ inches | Around 30–45 minutes |
| Robusto | About 5 inches, thick | Around 45–60 minutes |
| Churchill | About 7 inches | An hour or more |
These are ballpark figures, not rules. Our guide to cigars vs cigarillos explains the formats, and cigar sizes and shapes goes deeper on named sizes.
What else changes smoking time?
- Construction. A tightly packed cigar burns slower than a loosely packed one.
- Humidity. A dry cigar burns noticeably faster; a well-humidified one burns at a steadier pace.
- Outdoors vs indoors. Wind speeds up the burn.
- Going out and relighting. If a cigar goes out, the clock stops. See how to relight a cigar.
How long do cigars keep before they go bad?
It depends almost entirely on storage. Tobacco doesn't spoil the way food does, but cigars change as they lose or gain moisture.
In a humidor or humidified container
Full cigars stored at steady humidity — commonly around 65–72% relative humidity at 18–21°C — can keep for years. Some collectors deliberately age cigars for a long time. Our cigar humidor basics guide covers the setup.
In the original box or cellophane
Cellophane slows moisture loss but doesn't stop it. Cigars kept in their cellophane, in a cool closet away from heat, will generally be fine for a few weeks. Over months, they'll dry out.
In open air
A cigar left out in a dry room — especially a heated Northern Ontario house in winter — can dry out within days. A dry cigar is brittle, cracks when cut, and burns fast and unevenly.
Sealed packs of cigarillos
Cigarillos and machine-made cigars sold in sealed foil or plastic packs keep much like cigarettes: months while sealed, and are usually smoked within a couple of weeks once the pack is opened.
How can you tell if a cigar has dried out?
- It crackles when gently squeezed between your fingers, or the wrapper flakes.
- The wrapper cracks when you cut the head.
- It burns very fast and the ash falls off early.
A cigar that's only slightly dry can often be brought back by putting it in a sealed container with a two-way humidity pack for a week or more. Do it slowly — moving a very dry cigar straight into high humidity can make the wrapper split. Our explainer on humidity packs covers how they work.
Can a cigar be too moist?
Yes. A cigar kept above the usual humidity range can be hard to light, struggle to stay lit and, in the worst case, grow mould. Mould shows as fuzzy blue or green spots and the cigar should be thrown out. A fine white or grey powder that brushes off easily, known as "plume" or "bloom," is sometimes mentioned in cigar circles; if you can't tell the difference, err on the side of discarding it.
How long does a cigar last once lit and set down?
A few minutes. Cigars aren't designed to keep burning on their own, so one set in an ashtray goes out fairly quickly. Make sure it's fully out before you leave it.
Does a half-smoked cigar keep?
Not well. A half-smoked cigar left out dries quickly and the burnt end carries a strong smell. Most people relight within the same sitting or discard it. If you often don't finish full cigars, a smaller format may suit your time better.
The bottom line
Smoking time scales with size: minutes for a cigarillo, roughly half an hour to over an hour for a full cigar. Shelf life scales with storage: years at steady humidity, weeks in cellophane, days in dry open air. Read how to store tobacco for the storage basics, and browse the current range in our Cigars section.
White Birch Post sells to adults 19 and over only. Smoking is harmful to your health. If you're thinking about cutting back or quitting, our responsible use page lists free Canadian support services.