Your Guide to Cigar Shapes and Sizes

Did you know that people have been smoking cigars since the 10th century? Cigars used to be a pastime of ancient South American cultures such as the Maya. Today, you can enjoy a cigar practically anywhere in the world and there are many cigar shapes and sizes to choose from.

But what are the different types of cigar shapes and how can you know what cigar type is right for you? Keep reading and learn more about the shapes of cigars, their sizes, and why these factors matter.

The Corona

The corona is more or less a standard cigar. When an image of a cigar pops into your mind, you're most likely envisioning a corona. This cigar is ideal for both beginners and intermediaries because it is not too big and not too small.

A corona is about 5.5 inches long. It is not overly thick and has a ring gauge of 42 on average, although some coronas can be slightly thicker. The shape of this cigar is also quite standard with a rounded end.

There are some variations to the corona cigar, so keep that in mind when buying cigars of this type. For example, there is the double corona. The double corona looks almost exactly like a regular corona with its rounded end.

However, the double corona is much longer and, as the name suggests, it tends to be double the length of an average corona cigar.

The Details

The ring gauge is only slightly larger than an average corona and tends to hover between 49 and 52. Of course, because this cigar is so large, it only best for those who are more experienced at smoking cigars and those who have a lot of time to smoke such a cigar.

A double corona will easily last you an hour, if not more. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is the petit corona. Unsurprisingly, this is quite a small cigar and it is usually only around 4 inches in length with a ring gauge of around 40 or slightly larger.

Similar to the double corona is the corona gorda. However, many people call this cigar a toro. They are about 6 inches long with quite a large ring gauge of around 50, though the ring gauge tends to be slightly less in most cases. The shape of a toro cigar is more or less the same as other corona cigars.

The petit corona is the perfect cigar for beginners. It allows you to enjoy the cigar without being overwhelmed by the smoke. It is also great for those with busy schedules who don't have time to sit around and smoke a cigar for an hour or even longer.

Depending on how you're feeling on a certain day, you can debate whether you feel like a corona, a double corona, or a petit corona.

The Churchill

The Churchill is one of the biggest cigars you can buy. It is, of course, named after Winston Churchill who was well known for often smoking large cigars. However, Churchill cigars are actually not quite as large as double corona cigars.

Instead, Churchill cigars tend to be around 7 inches in length. The ring gauge is quite large and tends to be around 47. The end of this cigar is rounded.

This, of course, is the kind of cigar that you will need to set aside a large chunk of time to enjoy. The last thing you want to do is rush through your cigar. While it is true that you can save half of your cigar for later, doing this can somewhat ruin the flavor and aroma of the tobacco.

When buying a Churchill cigar, you better make sure that you like the taste and smell, otherwise, you're going to end up with a very large cigar that you're not all that crazy about.

The Robusto

The robusto is quite a popular type of cigar. You'll be able to find it without any problems in any place that sells cigars. It is perhaps just as classic of a choice as a corona cigar.

What makes a robusto cigar unique is its thickness. There are few cigars that are thicker than a robusto with its 50 ring gauge. Some robusto cigars are even thicker than this.

This cigar shape also has a rounded end, so it looks more or less the same as the other cigars already discussed except for its size. Because robusto cigars are so thick, they will produce a lot of smoke. If you are not used to handling so much smoke at one time, it may be a good idea to build up to the robusto by smoking some smaller cigars first.

The Perfecto

The perfecto is quite a unique cigar in terms of its shape. Instead of having a typical rounded end, it has a notable tapered end which is known as a closed foot. Besides that, the head of the cigar is also slightly tapered.

This gives the cigar a somewhat torpedo-like shape. The center of the cigar bulges out slightly. It can sometimes be hard to identify a perfecto cigar at first since the length can vary so much.

Some perfecto cigars are only 4 inches long while others may be 8 or 9 inches.

What You Need to Know About Cigar Shapes

There are many other types of cigar shapes and sizes that you can buy and some may fit your smoking preferences better than others. For example, the corona is a classic cubanesque style, mid-range choice as it's not too big or too small. There are then the giant perfecto and Churchill cigars along with the very thick robusto cigars. Also Toro Shape is in between a Robusto and a Churchill. Also a traditional size.

Then, Cigar manufactures love to recreate their very own cigar shapes and sizes. One of the most south after shape is called Eye of the Shark. This is a Belicoso type of cigar with a square box pressed format that is soft in the high part of the cigar and squarish at the foot. Another super interesting shape is the Arturo Fuente Hemingway cigars Line. The whole line is in a Perfecto shape with variations on length and gauge. It is extremely interesting shape and the variations in flavor profile are also very intriguing. 

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