If you’re serious about your cigars and want to keep them at their best for a long time, you need to invest in a humidor.
Every discerning cigar smoker will have one of these clever devices that are designed to prolong the life of cigars, so what is a humidor, and which model should you be looking at?
In a rush? Here’s our recommended top 3.
The best way to keep a cigar is to keep it at the perfect level of humidity. A humidor is a box that features controls to keep it at the right level of humidity for cigars.
This can differ between types of cigar, but all humidors are adjustable. Some are made for a handful of cigars, others take the form of large cupboards, and there are cigar aficionados who have a room that is humidity controlled especially for the upkeep of their cigars!
Of course, the latter is something for the very wealthy, but there are humidors that are affordable, and if you want to take your cigar smoking to a serious level, you need at least a small humidor to do the job.
A humidor is really a sort of controlled cabinet, one in which the cigar can ‘breathe’ and remain fresh. As we will see below, there are certain traditions to making humidors that are there for a purpose.
A humidor can also be a thing of beauty, as with all things to do with cigars, style and elegance plays a large part.
We’ve looked at some of the humidors available to buy right now, and we believe we’ve covered most budgets, and there’s also a buying guide for you to follow.
Best Cigar Humidor: Our Top 10 Recommendations
1. Octodor Large Black Cedar Humidor
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The first on our list is this model, the Octodor Cedar Humidor. Given a ‘Piano’ finish in very stylish black, and with carefully crafted casing from cedar wood, the cut corners lend this a very stylish octagonal look, and its taller build makes it quite an imposing if still very stylish model among the competition.
It comes with the trademark magnetic lid and clear glass top, plus the carefully designed interior that allows the same humidity across all the levels.
This model is the biggest from the brand and can hold up to 100 standard cigars, is fully adjustable for humidity and comes with a hygrometer on the front for careful monitoring.
It’s an attractive model that would not look out of place on a desk or on the boardroom table and is sensibly priced. All in all, a genuinely nice humidor from one of the best-known makers.
- Up to 100 cigar capacity
- Black piano finish
- Magnetic lid
- Controlled humidity
- Digital hygrometer
- Neat storage option
2. Case Elegance Handcrafted Cedar Humidor
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This is another example from the Case Elegance brand, which is proof if needed that you can own a beautiful, hand-crafted humidor for around $100. This one really is a bargain at the price. It features a digital hygrometer on the front of the gorgeous cedar casing so you can always see the humidity in the humidor, which is a nice touch.
We also like the glass panel, and the drawer for your cigar accessories. We should say at this point that cedar – Spanish cedar in particular – is the wood of choice for humidors thanks to its beauty, and its ability to absorb moisture.
This one is beautifully designed to be minimalist in style and is suitable for all types of cigars, and the glass lid is magnetically sealed for perfect operation. The makers are well-known in the humidor market, and at 9×8.5×5.4cm this is a perfect model for desk-top use.
Cleverly constructed with inner layers for excellent distribution of the humidity, we find this one hard to fault, and customers report that where there has been a problem the customer service is excellent.
- Hygrometer on front
- Stylish glass lid
- Even humidity
- Spanish Cedar
- Storage Drawer
3. Whynter Stainless Steel Cigar Humidor
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It’s fair to say that this model, which can handle up to 250 cigars, is one for the serious collector. Rather than a desktop model, it takes the form of an upright cupboard with a glass door, but it is very clever within.
Made from cedar – the wood of choice thanks to its ability to keep humidity and temperature – it’s a practical and yet impressive device, measuring 13.5 x 20 x 18.5”, and would look nicely imposing in the corner of your office with brightly coloured cigar wrappers on show. With five shelves, there is plenty of space to fill.
This model cools as well as acting as a humidity controller so is great for warmer climates and has full controls on a neat panel at the top with a digital display for temperature and humidity.
The finish – in stainless steel– adds to the style of the device, and it comes highly recommended by users. It’s sensibly priced, and if you don’t need one this big there is a smaller model available.
- Cabinet style
- Glass front
- Up to 250 cigar capacity
- Cools and humidifies
- Digital display
4. Mantello Large Cigar Humidor
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One of the desired elements of any humidor is style, and this model from Mantello certainly oozes good looks and class. Finished in cedar wood and in a lovely dark brown, the brass trimmings give it the look of very classy military-type furniture.
It can hold up to 100 cigars and features the usual shelving inside that is placed to ensure even humidity throughout. Measuring 13.5×9.4×6.3” this is a decent-sized desk-top humidor.
We like the traditional lock and key that this one has, as well as the analogue hygrometer on the front, and the tempered glass top is a nice design touch, allowing you to see your cigars in all their stylish glory.
This model scores notably highly with many buyers, as high as 4.5/5 in fact, and at the price represents a surprisingly affordable humidor for the cigar lover.
- Up to 100 standard cigars
- Tempered glass top
- Cedar wood case and lining
- Brass lock and key feature
- Analogue hygrometer
5. Yannabis Cigar Humidor
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The models we have listed so far all conform to the expected style, with polished wood exteriors and a ‘gentleman’s club’ approach. Not this one; this Yannabis cigar humidor is funky, fun, and different, finished in a very modern look exterior with raised pyramid features, and startling yet effective bright orange.
If that’s not to your taste, try black, silver, or yellow, each of which is impressive!
Inside, however, this is a sophisticated and effective cedar wood humidor with the usual crafted shelves to hold up to 125 cigars in perfect controlled humidity.
It’s effective through the selection of shelves and compartments and features a hygrometer on the inside of the lid. If you want something different or have a modernist apartment, this may be the answer for you.
- Funky design
- Orange or various colour options
- Cedar wood for best effect
- Liners and shelves
- Internal hygrometer
6. Humidor Supreme Gold Rush
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This extremely attractive humidor is styled to look like a traditional nautical chest, so is another with something of a novelty look. After all, not everybody wants the dour office-look, and some cigar smokers want to be different.
Made from cedar wood, for the best results and longer cigar life, the novelty element ends at the outside, with the interior being classic, sophisticated, and effective humidor throughout.
This one can hold up to 200 cigars in a series of compartments and trays, with even humidity throughout, and features handles on either side. Measuring 16x11x8” it is also surprisingly compact and would look great as a part of your furniture in perhaps a traditionally-styled room.
There’s a hygrometer inside and it’s recommended by many users, so is certainly worth a second look if you don’t want one that’s too ‘stuffy’ in appearance.
- ‘Treasure Chest’ design
- Cedar wood in and out
- Up to 200 cigar capacity
- Interior hygrometer
- Handles
7. The Tradition Solid Wood Humidor
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This design is a rather nice mock-antique example of a humidor, which would look the part in a contemporary setting or on a desk. It’s made from cedar wood, so is perfect for the purpose, and is finished very ornately.
Perhaps a touch ‘too much’ for some, this one will appeal very much to the classic cigar smoker who has a taste for antiques, and beyond the design itself it is a very capable humidor.
With space for up to 200 cigars in a multi-layered compartment, the trays being carefully designed to allow airflow and even humidity, the interior hygrometer keeps you advised of the humidity within the box.
A lock and key – complete with tassels – complete the exterior look, and overall it’s a nice piece. Not for everyone, but a good and highly rated humidor.
- Antique-look finish
- Solid cedar wood
- Up to 200 cigars
- Locking mechanism
- Sure-seal technology
8. Megacra Desktop Humidor
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This is a simple and yet stylish, small, and portable desktop humidor that will do the perfect job for anyone who does not have a large collection to deal with.
It can hold up to 50 cigars thanks to the clever interior shelving design and is made from the usual preferred cedar wood for perfect humidity and longer life.
This one is superbly finished with a leather look and is a simple rectangular box design.
The interior dividers can be moved around to suit and the overall size of the box is 9.25×7.87.3.15” which is nice and compact for the desk or a table, and it has fully-sealed lid for additional performance.
The hygrometer is internal on the underside of the lid. For cigar smokers who are new to the market this is an ideal first humidor at what is an extremely attractive price.
- Compact design
- Leather look exterior
- Cedar wood box and liners
- Sealing lid
- Up to 50 cigars
9. Mantello Glass Top Humidor
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This is the smaller version of the Mantello model we talked about above. Finished in cedar wood and in a lovely dark brown, the brass trimmings give it the look of very classy military-type furniture.
It can hold up to 50 cigars and features the usual shelving inside that is placed to ensure even humidity throughout. Measuring 10x8x4.5” approximately, this is a Nicely compact desk top humidor.
We like the traditional look that this one has, as well as the analogue hygrometer on the front, and the tempered glass top is a nice design touch, allowing you to see your cigars in all their stylish glory.
This model scores notably highly with many buyers, as high as 4.5/5 in fact, and at the price represents a surprisingly affordable humidor for the cigar lover.
- Stylish finish
- Brass fittings
- External hygrometer
- Up to 50 cigars
- Glass lid
10. XIFEI Humidor with Glass Lid
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This stylish and simple model comes with an unusual half-glass lid and is made from the required cedar wood for long life and fragrance.
This is a very neat model that is left in its natural wood colour for added style, and that can hold up to 50 cigars thanks to the moveable interior shelves and fittings. It’s fitted with a digital exterior readout for temperature and humidity.
Brass fittings make this one genuinely nice to look at and classy too, while the twin accessory drawers are a welcome addition to any humidor.
The lid features a magnetic lock to achieve the perfect seal, and the glass window allows you to see your treasured cigars within!
This one scores highly with customers and thanks to the natural wood finish is perhaps not as overtly ‘board room’ as some of those on the list.
- Natural wood look
- Half glass lid
- Magnetic seal
- Cedar wood
- Up to 50 cigars
That’s our list of the 10 best humidors available right now, but which is for you? Choosing a humidor is like choosing a cigar – it’s a very personal choice.
You will be influenced by many factors including the size, finish and looks, as well as the price. What we will say is that there is one for all budgets and preferred styles on this list, but for us to recommend one would not be correct.
Instead, we’ll now give you a brief buyer’s guide so that you know what to look for when choosing a humidor.
Buyers Guide: What to Look For
There are several things to consider when buying one of these for your cigar collection, and we are helped greatly by the fact the above all follow one theme: cedar wood.
Cedar wood is preferred for humidors as it is absorbent – which helps greatly when it comes to moisture and therefore humidity – and it also has a pleasant aroma which transfers to the cigars.
It is the traditional wood associated with cigars and humidors, and is used in both outers and inners for most of the above choices.
Cedar wood is also used for the trays and dividers, further extending its usage in humidors, and is also an attractive wood that can be finished in different ways – indeed, there are many examples in the list above.
What else do you need to consider when choosing your humidor?
Size
The size of humidor you choose will be influenced by your cigar collection. If you are a serious collector with many or valuable cigars, you’ll need a humidor that takes perhaps more than 100 cigars. Some of those on our list do so, while others are designed to cater for those with just a few select cigars they need to keep fresh and ready. Check the size before you buy, and bear in mind that of those we listed, the makers do offer other models with greater capacity.
Hygrometer
This essential device measures and indicates the humidity in your humidor. The ideal humidity of a humidor will be between 65 to 74%, and this is what a good humidor will be geared towards. You will be able to adjust this in some way, and a humidor will feature either an internal or external hygrometer, with many people preferring the external version as you do not need to open the door or lid to check the humidity.
Style
You may be buying a humidor for practical purposes, but you also want it to look good. What style do you want? The above list includes everything from antique look to extremely modern, with traditional and amazingly simple styles, as well as a floor standing cabinet option. There’s plenty for you to choose from so you will certainly find one that is attractive to you and will fit the surroundings.
Seal and Lid
Many people prefer a glass lid for their humidor, and often this is so they – and others – can admire the beautiful cigars within! Some of those on the list have glass lids, others solid, and all have a seal that is guaranteed to keep the humidity level. This is extremely important as a poor seal will mean your cigars will not remain fresh. Also, it’s important you open the humidor only when necessary so as not to disturb the air within too often.
That is largely it when it comes to what to look for, and we would include cost, but we have ensured that all budgets are covered. We will also add that while some of those on our list have a lock, others do not, so that may be worthy of consideration if you have valuable or rare cigars in your collection.
Before we go, there are a few questions we are often asked about cigars and humidors, so let’s cover a few in brief to help you get a better picture of why you need a humidor and some further frequently asked questions.
FAQ’s
Do I Need a Humidor?
If you want to keep your cigars for any length of time and be sure they will be fresh for their intended life, then a humidor is a must. It’s also an attractive item to own, and a talking point when you have friends visiting.
How Long Should I Store My Cigars?
A cigar will improve with age if it is kept at perfect humidity in a humidor. The general rule is to leave new cigars in the case for up to three months, after which they will have absorbed the flavour and give you the taste you want. This is up to you as your cigars will last longer than this, so you can be sure they will be fresh when they are removed.
Do Leave the Wrapper on in the Humidor?
As with many things to do with cigars, this is personal choice. Most cigar afficionados will leave the wrapper on a cigar when it is put into a humidor, as it is designed to help keep it fresh. It also tells you what cigars you have, as it can be easy to forget when you are building a collection. We would suggest putting the cigars in the humidor as they are, to keep them as fresh as possible for the longest time.
Conclusion
The humidor is not just a nice thing to look at – although most are designed to look very elegant, as you will have seen above – but is also a necessary accessory for anyone who is serious about smoking and collecting cigars. Designed to prolong the life of a cigar and render it perfect for smoking when ready, you will be the envy of your friends when you invest in one of the above humidors, so have a read through again and find the one that is right for you.
