Cigar Facts: Sizes, Shapes & How Cigars Are Made
Whether you’re new to cigars or just want to brush up, here’s a quick guide to how cigars are measured, the most common shapes you’ll see in our shops, and what actually goes into a handmade cigar.
Cigar Sizes
Cigars are measured two ways: length (in inches) and ring gauge (the cigar’s diameter, measured in 64ths of an inch — so a 50 ring gauge is 50/64″, or just under 13/16″ across).
Size names like “Robusto” or “Toro” are traditional categories, not exact standards — a Robusto from one maker might be 4.75 x 50, while another’s is 5 x 52. The table below gives the general range for each common size.
| Shape | Typical Length | Typical Ring Gauge |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarillo | up to 4″ | up to 30 |
| Petit Corona | 4″ – 5″ | 40 – 44 |
| Corona | 5.25″ – 5.75″ | 42 – 44 |
| Robusto | 4.5″ – 5.5″ | 48 – 54 |
| Toro | 5.5″ – 6.5″ | 48 – 54 |
| Churchill | 6.75″ – 7.5″ | 46 – 48 |
| Torpedo | varies | tapered, usually 52-54 at the widest |
| Double Corona | 6.75″ – 7.75″ | 49 – 54 |
Common Cigar Shapes
Parejo: The classic straight-sided cigar with an open foot (for lighting) and a rounded head. Coronas, Robustos, Toros, and Churchills are all parejos.
Belicoso: A straight-sided cigar with a tapered, pointed head.
Torpedo: Tapered at both the head and the foot, with a bulge in the middle.
Pyramid: Tapers from a narrow, pointed head down to a wider open foot.
Perfecto: Tapered at both ends, often with a closed foot — the shape varies more than any other.
Culebra: Three thin cigars braided together; mostly a novelty these days.
How a Cigar Is Made
A handmade, long-filler cigar is built from three components:
- Filler — the tobacco leaves that make up the body and bulk of the blend, and the biggest contributor to flavor.
- Binder — a sturdier leaf wrapped around the filler to hold its shape.
- Wrapper — the finest, smoothest leaf, applied last for both appearance and a final layer of flavor.
A roller hand-bunches the filler leaves, wraps them with the binder, and shapes the bunch in a wooden mold under light pressure so the cigar holds a consistent shape. Once unmolded, the wrapper leaf — dampened and prepped separately — is applied, and the cigar is trimmed and finished by hand.
A Few Terms Worth Knowing
Ring gauge — the cigar’s diameter in 64ths of an inch.
Vitola — the technical term for a cigar’s size and shape combination (it’s also where our name comes from).
Box-pressed — a cigar shaped with flat sides from being packed tightly in the box during aging.
Maduro — a darker wrapper leaf, fermented longer for a richer, sometimes sweeter profile.
Have questions about what to try next? Stop by one of our shop locations — our staff is always happy to help you find the right cigar.