Cigar sizes and shapes
Robusto, toro, Churchill and torpedo explained, plus what ring gauge means and how size changes the smoke.
Every cigar has two numbers on the box: a length in inches and a ring gauge. Together they set how long the cigar lasts, how cool it burns and how the flavors balance. The name of a size is called its vitola.
Ring gauge
Ring gauge is the diameter measured in 64ths of an inch. A 64 ring gauge is one inch across. A 50 is 50/64, or a little over three-quarters of an inch.
- Thinner cigars (under about 44) give more wrapper relative to filler, so the wrapper’s flavor stands out. They burn a bit hotter and need a slower pace.
- Thicker cigars (52 and up) put more filler in play, burn cooler and tend to taste rounder.
Common sizes
These are typical ranges. Every maker sets its own exact measurements.
| Vitola | Length | Ring gauge | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petit corona | 4–4½ in | 40–42 | 30 min |
| Corona | 5½–6 in | 42–44 | 45 min |
| Robusto | 4¾–5½ in | 48–52 | 45–60 min |
| Toro | 6 in | 50–54 | 60–75 min |
| Churchill | 7 in | 47–50 | 75–90 min |
| Gordo | 6 in | 60 and up | 75–90 min |
| Lancero | 7–7½ in | 38–40 | 60 min |
Smoking times vary a lot with pace. Slower is better.
Shapes
Parejo is the straight-sided cylinder most cigars are. Figurados are anything else:
- Torpedo and belicoso: a tapered, pointed head that concentrates the smoke.
- Perfecto: tapered at both ends, with a narrow foot that’s easy to light and a smoke that changes as the gauge widens.
- Box-pressed: squared off by pressing in the box. Comfortable in the hand and often a slightly slower burn.
Which to choose
- Short on time? A petit corona or corona.
- First cigar? A robusto. It’s forgiving and finishes in under an hour.
- Want to taste the wrapper? A corona or lancero.
- Long evening in the lounge? A toro or Churchill.
The same blend often comes in several sizes and tastes noticeably different in each. If you find a cigar you love, try it in another vitola. More fundamentals in New to cigars? Start here.