Every cigar band and shop label lists two numbers, like 5 × 50 or 6 × 60. Once you know what they mean, you can predict how long a cigar will take to smoke, how it will draw, and whether it will fit in your case. Here is the quick version, plus a chart of the sizes you'll see most often.
WHAT IS RING GAUGE?
The first number is length, in inches. The second is ring gauge: the cigar's diameter measured in 64ths of an inch. A 64 ring gauge cigar is exactly one inch thick, so a 50 ring gauge is 50/64 of an inch (about 0.78 inches, or roughly 20 mm).
Quick conversions:
- 42 ring gauge: about 0.66 in / 16.7 mm
- 50 ring gauge: about 0.78 in / 19.8 mm
- 54 ring gauge: about 0.84 in / 21.4 mm
- 60 ring gauge: about 0.94 in / 23.8 mm
To convert any ring gauge to millimeters, multiply it by 0.397.
COMMON CIGAR SIZES CHART
Names and exact dimensions vary by brand, so treat these as typical ranges rather than fixed rules. Smoking times depend on your pace.
| Size name | Typical length × ring | Approx. smoking time |
|---|---|---|
| Petit Corona | 4.5" × 40–42 | 30–40 min |
| Corona | 5.5" × 42–44 | 40–50 min |
| Robusto | 5" × 48–52 | 45–60 min |
| Toro | 6" × 50–54 | 60–75 min |
| Torpedo / Belicoso | 6–6.25" × 52 (pointed head) | 60–75 min |
| Lancero | 7–7.5" × 38–40 | 60–75 min |
| Churchill | 7" × 47–50 | 75–90+ min |
| Gordo | 6" × 58–60+ | 75–90 min |
DOES SIZE CHANGE THE FLAVOR?
Yes, even within the same blend. A thicker cigar holds more filler tobacco relative to wrapper, so it tends to smoke cooler and slower with flavor driven by the filler. A thinner cigar puts proportionally more emphasis on the wrapper, which often makes it more concentrated and nuanced, but it can run hotter if you puff too quickly. A bigger ring gauge does not automatically mean a stronger cigar; strength comes from the tobacco itself. That's why many smokers try the same line in two or three sizes before picking a favorite.
New to all of this? Start with the cigars for beginners guide, where we suggest a Robusto or Corona for a first smoke.
RING GAUGE AND YOUR CUTTER
Ring gauge also decides which cutter works best. Punches suit medium sizes but feel tight on very thick cigars, while a V-cut shines on 50+ ring gauges. Our guide on how to cut and light a cigar walks through each one.
WHICH CASE FITS YOUR CIGARS?
This is where size matters most for carrying. A case that is too tight crushes the wrapper; one that is too loose lets cigars roll and crack. Before buying, check two things: the largest ring gauge you smoke, and your longest cigar.
- Robustos, Toros and thick Gordos up to 60 ring gauge: the personalized leather cigar case with adjustable 1 to 4 slots and the fixed 3-cigar case with cutter slot both fit cigars up to a 60 ring gauge.
- Mixed sizes for a weekend: cases with retention straps instead of fixed tubes, like the 4-cigar dual zipper case or the 7-cigar travel humidor with hygrometer, are more forgiving of different lengths.
- Tube cases: the Crazy Horse leather 2-cigar tube case protects cigars inside aluminum tubes, which have a fixed diameter, so check the dimensions on the product page if you mostly smoke very thick cigars.
Every case is available with optional personalized laser engraving. For capacity and occasion advice, see how to choose the right leather cigar case, or compare everything in the Leather Cigar Cases & Travel Humidors collection.
MORE CIGAR GUIDES
Keeping cigars in good shape between smokes: how long do cigars last outside a humidor. Packing them for a flight: traveling with cigars, TSA rules and duty-free limits.
