What Humidity Should a Cigar Humidor Be?

On this page (8 sections)

1. What is the best humidity for a cigar humidor?
2. Is 70% the right cigar humidor humidity level?
3. How can you choose a hygrometer for the best humidity for a cigar humidor?
4. How do you check cigar humidor humidity accurately?
5. What should you do if the reading is too low or too high?
6. What mistakes can make humidor readings less useful?
7. How often should you check cigar humidor humidity?
8. Which humidity target and hygrometer should you choose?

A practical starting range for the best humidity for a cigar humidor is 65% to 70% RH. Follow the care instructions for your cigars and humidor if they recommend a different target.

A hygrometer lets you monitor the air inside the humidor instead of guessing from touch or room conditions. Choose one whose humidity range covers your target, whose accuracy suits your needs, and whose size or connection options fit where you plan to place it.

What is the best humidity for a cigar humidor?

About 65% to 70% relative humidity is a useful starting range for a cigar humidor. Use the guidance for your cigars and humidor if it gives a different target.

Relative humidity, or RH, compares the moisture in the air with the maximum it could hold at that temperature. A hygrometer displays RH as a percentage, such as 68% RH.

A steady reading within your chosen range is more useful than chasing a single exact number. The display has a margin of error, and a short shift after opening the humidor does not always call for an adjustment.

Temperature can affect relative humidity readings. Check both measurements and keep the humidor away from direct sunlight, vents, and other places where temperature changes often.

Is 70% the right cigar humidor humidity level?

A reading of 70% RH can be a reasonable target, but it isn't the only suitable one. Some cigar keepers choose a point in the mid-to-upper 60s, while others use a target closer to 70%.

Start with the humidor or cigar maker's care instructions. Once you have a target, give the reading time to settle after an adjustment before changing the humidification again.

A persistent high or low reading is a reason to check the hygrometer, humidor seal, and humidification device. Don't make a large correction based on one reading, especially just after opening the lid.

How does temperature affect cigar humidor humidity?

Temperature changes can shift the RH reading, so check both temperature and humidity. Keep the humidor in a stable indoor location, away from direct sun, vents, and other sources of temperature swings.

A thermometer-hygrometer shows both values together. For monitoring a room around the humidor, a Wi-Fi temperature sensor may help you track room conditions.

A room sensor won't replace a hygrometer inside the humidor. Use the inside reading to guide humidor adjustments.

How can you choose a hygrometer for the best humidity for a cigar humidor?

Choose a hygrometer based on where it will sit, how you want to read it, and the accuracy you need. For a small humidor, a compact display may be easier to place; for remote checks, choose a monitor with a supported connection and alerts.

Check the humidity range first. The range should include your target, and the stated accuracy helps you understand how close the reading may be to the actual RH.

Then consider how often you want to check the number. A monitor with a clear display is simple to read at the humidor, while Bluetooth monitoring, alerts, and history can help you notice changes without opening it.

Which hygrometer suits your cigar humidor setup?

The JEDEW 6-pack suits you if you want small displays to compare readings in several spots. Each monitor measures 10% to 99% RH and refreshes every 10 seconds.

Its stated humidity accuracy is ±3% RH. Choose it for multiple locations and straightforward local readings; skip it if you want app alerts, recorded trends, or just one display.

The Govee H5075 suits you if you want Bluetooth monitoring, alerts, and recorded readings. It measures 10% to 90% RH, refreshes every 2 seconds, and supports a Bluetooth connection up to 164 ft in open, unobstructed conditions.

The H5075 supports Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi. Choose it if app history and alerts will help you check conditions; skip it if you want a simple standalone display or need connectivity beyond Bluetooth range.

The TempPro TP49 3-pack suits you if flexible placement and several displays matter more than app features. It offers tabletop, magnetic, and hanging placement options, measures 10% to 99% RH, and refreshes every 10 seconds.

Its stated humidity accuracy is ±2% to 3% RH. Choose it to compare spots in a larger setup; skip it if you only need one monitor or want remote alerts and graphs.

How do you check cigar humidor humidity accurately?

Put a hygrometer inside the humidor, let its reading settle, and check its stated accuracy before making changes. Calibrate it when needed so you can interpret readings near your target with more confidence.

Place the device where it can measure the air around the cigars without being blocked. Avoid putting it directly against the humidification device or a wall where airflow may be limited.

If your humidor has a built-in holder, follow its placement instructions. Otherwise, use a stable spot you can see without moving the cigars each time.

A reading near your target may still be off by a few percentage points. Follow our guide on how to calibrate a cigar humidor hygrometer for calibration steps.

For more choices and placement advice, see our guide to the best hygrometers for humidors. If a digital display is your priority, compare the best digital hygrometers for humidors.

What should you do if the reading is too low or too high?

Confirm the reading, then adjust humidification gradually. Check the hygrometer and follow the humidor and humidification device instructions before making a change.

If the reading is low, make sure the humidification device is prepared and positioned as its instructions say. Give the humidor time to respond, then check again instead of adding extra moisture all at once.

If the reading is high, check for a wet or overfilled humidification device and follow its care directions. Keep the humidor closed while readings settle unless its instructions call for another step.

A persistent reading outside your target could come from a calibration issue, a poor seal, or changing room conditions. Check one factor at a time so you can see whether the reading moves in the right direction.

What mistakes can make humidor readings less useful?

The most common mistake is reacting to one reading before checking its context. A fresh reading after opening the lid or refilling the humidification device may not reflect the humidor's settled conditions.

Don't place the hygrometer right beside the humidification device. A reading from that spot may not represent the air around the rest of the cigars.

Don't assume a room monitor gives the same information as a monitor inside the humidor. Room conditions matter, but the inside reading is the one to use when deciding whether to adjust the humidor.

Avoid changing the target repeatedly to chase every small shift. Choose a target from the care guidance, give each adjustment time to take effect, and check the reading again.

How often should you check cigar humidor humidity?

Check humidity regularly and whenever something changes. Pay closer attention after adding cigars, refilling the humidification device, relocating the humidor, or seeing a sustained shift on the display.

A monitor with a history graph can make gradual changes easier to notice. Alerts can tell you when a reading crosses a range you set, but confirm the current reading at the humidor before adjusting anything.

A visible hygrometer or remote monitor can reduce the need to open the lid just to check the number. Choose the option you are most likely to use consistently.

Which humidity target and hygrometer should you choose?

Start near 65% to 70% RH, then follow your humidor or cigar maker's care guidance. Pick the JEDEW pack for several compact displays, the Govee H5075 for Bluetooth alerts and history, or the TempPro pack for flexible placement across several spots.

Before buying, check whether the monitor fits inside your humidor and whether you prefer a local display or app access. Make sure its humidity range covers your target and read its stated accuracy so you know how to interpret small differences.

Keep the target steady, check temperature as well as humidity, and calibrate the hygrometer when readings seem unreliable. That gives you a sound basis for deciding whether the humidor needs an adjustment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best humidity for a cigar humidor?

A reading around 65% to 70% relative humidity is a practical starting target for many cigar humidors. Humidor and cigar makers may recommend different ranges, so follow their care instructions and check humidity with a hygrometer rather than relying on the room's feel.

Is 70% humidity too high for cigars?

Not necessarily, but 70% is near the upper end of a common target range. If the reading stays above your humidor's recommended level, adjust its humidification gradually and recheck after conditions settle instead of making a large change at once.

How often should I check humidor humidity?

Check the hygrometer regularly, especially after adding cigars, refilling a humidification device, moving the humidor, or noticing a reading change. A monitor with recorded readings or alerts can help you spot shifts, but confirm that its humidity range suits your humidor.

Can I use a regular hygrometer in a cigar humidor?

You can use a hygrometer if its humidity range covers your target and it fits inside the humidor. Check its stated accuracy and calibrate it when needed, since even a small reading error can affect how you interpret a target near 65% to 70% RH.