To relight a cigar, tap off the loose ash, gently blow out through the cigar to clear old smoke, then toast and relight the foot the same way you lit it the first time. This White Birch Post guide covers the steps, why cigars go out, and how long a cigar can sit before relighting stops making sense.
Why do cigars go out?
It's built into how they're made. Cigarette paper is designed to keep burning on its own; a cigar is rolled from tobacco leaf and isn't. If you go a few minutes without drawing on it, the ember cools and the cigar goes out. That's normal and isn't a sign that anything is wrong with it.
Other common reasons a cigar goes out:
- Too much moisture. A cigar stored at very high humidity can struggle to stay lit.
- A tight draw. If the filler is packed tightly or the head wasn't opened enough, it's harder to keep the ember going.
- An uneven light. If only part of the foot was lit, the burn can die out on one side.
- A long gap between draws. The most common one.
How do you relight a cigar step by step?
1. Knock off the ash
Gently tap or roll the ash off against the edge of an ashtray. You want a clean, flat foot to relight, not a loose layer of ash on top.
2. Purge the old smoke
Before you relight, blow gently out through the head of the cigar once or twice. This pushes out stale smoke sitting inside. Some people do this while holding the flame near the foot, which also helps warm the tobacco.
3. Toast the foot again
Hold the foot just above the flame and rotate it, exactly as you did when you first lit it. Warm the whole surface until it starts to glow at the edges. Our guide on how to light a cigar covers toasting in more detail.
4. Relight while drawing
Bring the cigar to your lips, hold the flame just under the foot and draw gently while rotating. Check the foot afterwards: you want an even glowing ring. Touch up any dark patches.
Should you cut off the burnt end before relighting?
Usually not necessary. If the foot is badly uneven or charred, some people trim a few millimetres off the foot with a cutter to get a clean, flat surface. For a cigar that's just gone out, knocking off the ash and purging is enough.
Don't re-cut the head unless the opening has become blocked. Cutting deeper into the head risks going past the cap line and loosening the wrapper — see how to cut a cigar.
How long can a cigar sit before you relight it?
Within an hour or so: relight as normal. A cigar that went out while you were busy can be relit with the steps above.
After several hours: it's a judgment call. As a half-smoked cigar sits, the residue in the burnt end and the tobacco near it settles and cools. Many cigar smokers won't relight a cigar the next day; others will. There's no fixed rule.
Overnight or longer: storage matters. A half-smoked cigar left out in the open dries out the same way a fresh one does. If you plan to come back to it, let it go out fully on its own, knock off the ash, and keep it away from your other cigars — the burnt end carries a strong smell that other cigars pick up.
How do you put a cigar out on purpose?
Let it go out on its own. Rest it in an ashtray and it will go out within a few minutes. Crushing a cigar like a cigarette is unnecessary and makes a mess.
Make sure it's fully out before you leave it, empty the ashtray, or put anything near it. Cigars hold heat longer than cigarettes do.
Do cigarillos relight the same way?
Yes, and more easily. Cigarillos are thinner, so they relight in a few seconds with a regular lighter. Because they're short, most people simply finish one in a single sitting. See cigarillo vs little cigar for more on small cigar formats.
How can you stop a cigar going out so often?
- Draw about once a minute. Not constantly, but not with long gaps either.
- Light it evenly in the first place. Most cigars that keep going out were never fully lit across the foot.
- Keep it at steady humidity. Overly moist cigars struggle to stay lit; dry ones burn too fast. See how to store tobacco and our explainer on humidity packs.
- Match the cigar to the time you have. If you often abandon cigars halfway, a smaller format may suit you better. How long does a cigar last gives rough smoking times by size.
A safety note
A cigar that looks out can still be smouldering. Never leave a cigar unattended on furniture, a railing or a deck, and keep lighters and tobacco out of reach of children and pets.
The bottom line
Knock off the ash, purge the old smoke, toast the foot and relight while drawing gently — the same routine as the first light. A cigar going out is normal, and it can be relit within the same sitting without any trouble. 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.