Pack count follows rated capacity, not what's inside
Boveda sizes packs by the number of cigars a humidor is built to hold. Ten cigars in a 100-count box still need four packs. The pack is humidifying the air and the cedar, not just the cigars.
No rated count? Measure the inside. Boveda puts one Size 60 at roughly 72 to 100 cubic inches. The calculator divides your volume by both ends of that range and shows the result. Round up.
A travel humidor is the exception. Boveda's Size 8 covers about 5 cigars of travel-case capacity.
Boveda's chart, 25 to 400 cigars
| Rated capacity | Size 60 packs | or Size 320 packs |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | 1 |
| 50 | 2 | 1 |
| 75 | 3 | 1 |
| 100 | 4 | 1 |
| 125 | 5 | 1 |
| 150 | 6 | 2 |
| 200 | 8 | 2 |
| 250 | 10 | 3 |
| 300 | 12 | 3 |
| 350 | 14 | 4 |
| 400 | 16 | 4 |
Integra publishes its sizing by weight of product instead: a 67 gram pack for up to a pound, a 320 gram pack for up to five pounds. Both makers say the same thing about going over. Extra packs do no harm.
Which RH pack should you use for cigars?
For most people in most rooms, 69% RH. Boveda calls it the default for first-time buyers. Move off it only for a reason.
| RH | What it's for |
|---|---|
| 62% | Below the 65 to 75% range Boveda lists for cigar storage. Made by both Integra and Boveda. |
| 65% | A drier cigar and an easier burn. Boveda also lists it for long-term aging. |
| 69% | The default. Wood or acrylic humidors, tupperdors, coolerdors and bags. |
| 72% | Drafty boxes and dry rooms, or if you like a moister cigar. |
| 75% | Extremely dry places: high altitude, desert. Not for airtight containers. |
| 84% | Seasoning an empty wood humidor only. Never with cigars inside. |
The 75% pack has one hard rule from Boveda: not in airtight containers like tupperdors or bags. In a sealed box nothing leaks, so the higher setpoint just sits there.
Seasoning packs and storage packs do different jobs
A seasoning pack is an 84% RH pack that soaks raw cedar before any cigar goes in. Boveda's method uses the same count as storage, one Size 60 per 25 cigars, in the empty box, lid shut for 14 days. Then the 84s go in the bin and the storage packs go in.
Never put cigars in with an 84. It is far above any storage level.
Replace a pack when it goes stiff
A two-way pack is spent when the gel has given up its water and the pouch turns hard. Integra adds a card whose dot turns bright blue when it's time. In a dry winter you'll swap more often. Opening the lid daily costs you too.
Humidity pack count questions
How many Boveda packs do I need for a 100-count humidor?
Four Size 60 packs, or one Size 320. Boveda counts one Size 60 per 25 cigars of rated capacity, full or not.
Can you use too many humidity packs?
No. Both Boveda and Integra say extra packs, or a larger size, will not over-humidify. Two-way packs absorb as well as release, so more packs just last longer.
Can I mix 69% and 72% packs?
No. Boveda says packs at different levels work against each other and mixing cuts their effectiveness. Pick one RH and use it for every pack in the box.
How long does a humidity pack last?
Integra puts an opened pack at a couple of months to a year, depending on the climate and how often you open the lid. Replace it when it goes hard or its indicator says so.
The pack makers' own sizing
- How many Boveda do I use?, Boveda
- What Boveda RH do I need for my cigars?, Boveda
- How do I season my humidor with Boveda?, Boveda
- Integra Boost FAQ: pack size by weight, lifespan, indicator card, Integra Products