Whether you’re new to the world of cigars or are looking to try something new, understanding cigar sizes, lengths and ring gauges is a fundamental way to find smokes to suit your personality.
Cigar Sizes, Lengths, Ring Gauges & Stuff You Should Know
Consider this your crash course on cigars. Everything you need to know about size, length and ring gauges explained as well as some interesting facts thrown in for good measure.
Cigar Basics
- Length: The length of a cigar is measured in inches from foot to cap, with the average cigars ranging from 4” to 8” in length.
- Ring Gauges: The ring gauge is an indicator of how thick your cigar is and is measured in 64th of an inch (X/64). The average ring size is 28-54/64ths in diameter.
- Size: Cigar sizing refers to two things: cigar length and ring size, which means you can have any mix of short/tall and thin/thickness. What makes cigar sizing confusing is the lack of standardization within the industry. So when it comes to selecting the perfect cigar —especially for new smokers—it’s beneficial to know the most popular sizes and corresponding names.
The Most Common Cigars
These are the most common cigars, from smallest to largest, found on the marketplace.
Petit Corona (4.5 × 42)
The Petit Corona or “Half Corona” is the smallest hand-rolled cigar on the market. This pint-sized cigar is excellent if you’re in need of a quick smoke.
Gordito (4.5 × 60)
The Gordito is one of the newer sizes on the market, that’s experiencing a boost in popularity thanks to its low cost. This stubby fat cigar is a great choice for a quick and smokier experience.
Robusto (5 × 50)
Another newcomer to the cigar size scene, the Robusto has quickly dominated the US market and has become the standard size. This cigar generates a fuller smoke (akin to the Corona) thanks to its longer length and large ring size.
Corona (5.25 × 42)
The gold standard of the industry, the Corona is light on smoke, but makes up for it by burning hotter than the popular Robusto. Interestingly, the ring size fluctuates between 42-46/64ths.
Toro (6 × 50)
The Toro or “Corona Gorda” is like the Robusto; however the burn time is typically over an hour.
Gordo (6 × 60)
The Gordo means “fat” in Spanish, and is often used to describe a cigar with a ring size over 60. The Gordo is a fatter, smokier relative to the Gordito and offers a longer, more pleasurable experience.
Panetela (6 × 34)
The aristocrats choice of cigar that’s slim, long and elegant; unlike the Gordo. Even though the Panetela has fallen out of favour in recent years, it’s still being manufactured by Cuban cigar companies.
Lonsdale (6.5 × 42)
Like the Panetela, the Lonsdale, also know as the “Cervante,” has seen a decline in popularity but is still being made by Cuban cigar makers for those that enjoy smoking Lonsdales.
Churchill (7 × 48)
The Julieta No. 2, was renamed to Churchill after one of the most famous cigar aficionados, Winston Churchill. These cigars are long-lasting and evolve in flavour and complexity the longer they burn.
Lancero (7.5 × 38)
These refined cigars are seeing an uptick in popularity for their likeness to the Churchill (complexity notes).
Double Corona (7.5 × 50)
The full-bodied Double Corona burns for hours, has a pleasing aroma, and like the Churchill the flavour notes evolve.
Gran Corona (9.25 × 47)
The “Presidente” of the cigar family, the Gran Corona is big in size, length and girth and will take you hours to enjoy, with a similar smoking experience to the Double Corona.
Find Your Perfect Cigar with Our Cigar Finder
If you’re looking to find a new cigar to smoke but aren’t sure which one, try our Cigar Finder and we’ll match you with a cigar that’s sure to please. You can search & filter by both cigar size and ring gauge.
Cigar Sizes, Lengths & Ring Gauges
As with most industries, there’s always a lot of jargon which isn’t good for newcomers that are trying to figure out which product to buy. The good news is “cigar-speak” is fairly straightforward once you grasp that the length (how long it is) and ring gauge (how wide it is) make up the size or common cigar types (e.g., Corona). Now that you’ve passed cigar 101, it’s time to find the perfect cigar for you.
I like 5.5” – Churchill size cigars between $4-$5.