How Do You Store Cigars?
Sep 3, 2026 / Alyssa Duranty
Store cigars in a properly maintained humidor or airtight cigar container with a hygrometer and cigar-specific humidity-control products. Keep cigars away from direct sunlight, heat, temperature swings, and strong odors, then check the humidor regularly.
Keep cigars that are especially important to you at home. Appropriate everyday cigars worth less than $5,000 may be stored in a climate-controlled Public Storage unit for personal use when the selected location’s rental agreement and local rules allow tobacco products.
Cigar Storage Essentials:
- Store cigars in a humidor or airtight container with cigar-specific humidity control.
- Use a hygrometer to monitor conditions inside the humidor.
- Keep the humidor away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and strong odors.
- Organize cigars by size, wrapper, purchase date, or when you plan to enjoy them.
- Avoid packing the humidor too tightly.
- Keep the humidor closed when not reviewing or selecting cigars.
- Check cigars and humidity-control products on a regular schedule.
- Keep cigars that are especially important to you at home.
- Keep cigars closed and do not smoke or use open flames in a storage unit.
Cigar Storage at a Glance:
What Is the Best Way to Store Cigars?
The best way to store cigars is in a clean humidor with a hygrometer and cigar-specific humidity-control products. A humidor can help maintain a more consistent environment while keeping cigars organized by type, size, or planned use.
For a few everyday cigars you plan to enjoy soon, an airtight container with a cigar-specific humidity-control product can work for short-term storage. For a larger supply, a humidor can provide a more structured way to organize and review cigars.
Keep the humidor closed when not in use. Moving cigars frequently between rooms, bags, and containers can make the storage setup harder to maintain.
What Temperature and Humidity Are Best for Cigars?
Many cigar enthusiasts aim for temperatures around 65°F to 70°F and relative humidity around 65% to 70%. The best target can depend on the cigar type, personal preference, humidor design, and humidity-control product instructions.
Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidor. Follow the humidity-control product instructions for placement, replacement, and maintenance.
Use this process:
- Check the hygrometer regularly.
- Follow humidity-control product instructions.
- Keep the humidor closed between check-ins.
- Place the humidor away from windows, heating vents, ovens, and direct sunlight.
- Check cigars for dryness, wrapper cracking, unusual odors, or visible mold.
If you notice mold or another condition concern, separate the affected cigar and consult a qualified tobacconist.
How Should You Organize Cigars in a Humidor?
Organize cigars in a humidor by size, wrapper, purchase date, or planned use. Use removable dividers or simple labels to separate groups without writing directly on cigar wrappers.
Use categories such as:
- Open Soon
- Keep in Reserve
- By Size
- By Wrapper Type
- New Purchases
- Travel Supply
- Special Occasion
Place newer purchases behind earlier ones if you want to rotate the collection. Leave enough space to remove a cigar without pressing against the surrounding cigars.
Can You Store Cigars in a Plastic Container?
Yes. An airtight plastic container with a cigar-specific humidity-control product can work for short-term cigar storage. Use a clean container that has not held food, cleaning products, scented candles, or other strongly scented materials.
Keep the container closed and away from direct sunlight and heat. Use a humidor for a larger cigar collection or a longer storage period.
Can You Store Cigars in a Public Storage Unit?
Appropriate everyday cigars worth less than $5,000 may be stored in a climate-controlled Public Storage unit for personal use when the selected location’s rental agreement and local rules allow tobacco products. Keep cigars inside a properly maintained humidor or airtight cigar container.
Keep cigars that are especially important to you at home. Contact the selected Public Storage location before moving cigars into the unit to confirm current tobacco-product guidelines.
Should You Use Climate-Controlled Storage for Cigars?
Climate-controlled storage can be useful for everyday cigars stored off-site because high heat and changing humidity can affect cigar wrappers, tobacco, humidor materials, and humidity-control products. A climate-controlled unit is designed to help maintain more consistent temperature or humidity levels than non-climate-controlled storage.
More than 90% of Public Storage properties offer climate-controlled units. Keep cigars in a properly maintained humidor or airtight cigar container, then place the container on shelving or another raised surface.
What Should You Check Before Storing Cigars Off-Site?
Check the selected location’s rental agreement and contact the property before storing cigars off-site. Confirm that sealed tobacco products are allowed and that the location offers the storage features that fit your plan.
Ask about:
- Tobacco-product guidelines
- Climate-controlled unit availability
- Available unit sizes
- Access hours
- Office hours
- Location-specific odor restrictions
- Other rental requirements
All Public Storage rentals are month to month. More than 45% of Public Storage properties offer drive-up storage units for loading and unloading household items from a vehicle.
How Often Should You Check Stored Cigars?
Check stored cigars about once a month. Review the hygrometer, humidity-control product, humidor condition, and cigar organization during each check-in.
During a review:
- Check the hygrometer reading.
- Replace humidity-control products as directed.
- Confirm that the humidor closes properly.
- Look for wrapper changes, unusual odors, or visible mold.
- Rotate cigars if that fits your organization system.
- Update a simple inventory list.
Create a Cigar Storage Routine That Fits Your Space.
Cigar storage works best when cigars remain in a clean humidor or airtight container with a reliable humidity-control system. Keep the container away from heat, sunlight, and strong odors, then check the setup regularly.
Find a Public Storage location near you to compare climate-controlled storage options for appropriate everyday cigars and household belongings. Confirm the location’s tobacco-product guidelines before reserving.
A clear humidor routine makes every cigar easier to organize and enjoy.
Cigar Storage FAQs
Can you store cigars in a plastic container?
Yes. Use a clean airtight container with a cigar-specific humidity-control product for short-term storage.
Can you store cigars in a Public Storage unit?
Appropriate everyday cigars worth less than $5,000 may be stored in a climate-controlled Public Storage unit when the location allows tobacco products. Contact the selected property and review the rental agreement first.
What temperature and humidity are best for cigars?
Many cigar enthusiasts aim for approximately 65°F to 70°F and 65% to 70% relative humidity. Use a hygrometer and follow the humidity-control product instructions.
Should you use climate-controlled storage for cigars?
Climate-controlled storage can be useful for everyday cigars because heat and changing humidity can affect tobacco, wrappers, and humidor materials. More than 90% of Public Storage properties offer climate-controlled units.
Can you smoke cigars in a storage unit?
No. Do not smoke, light cigars, or use open flames in a storage unit.
