Short answer: Boveda packs hold a set humidity in both directions — they release moisture when the air is dry and absorb it when it is damp. For most cigars, 69% is the pack to use.
How they work
Each pack contains a saturated salt solution in a membrane. It exchanges moisture with the air until the space around it matches the number on the pack, then holds there. Unlike a sponge humidifier, it will not push humidity past its target.
Which percentage
- 65%: a drier smoke, firmer draw. Good in humid climates.
- 69%: the everyday choice for premium cigars, and what we ship with.
- 72%: for very dry environments. Seasoning a humidor is a separate job for Boveda's 84% seasoning packs.
Pick one number and stay with it. Swapping between percentages makes the wrapper expand and contract, which is what cracks it.
Boveda 69% vs 72%: which one?
The choice comes down to how well your container seals. Boveda's own guidance is that 69% is its most universal pack for cigars, while 72% is for humidors that leak and for dry surroundings.
| Boveda 69% | Boveda 72% | |
|---|---|---|
| Boveda recommends it for | Airtight storage: tupperdors, coolerdors, acrylic humidors, plastic travel humidors and humidor bags. Also wood humidors with a tight seal. | Wood humidors, glass-topped humidors, drafty humidors, and non-plastic travel humidors and cases. |
| Conditions | All-round cigar storage, including long-term ageing. | Dry environments, or a humidor that has trouble holding its humidity. |
| Smoking preference | The standard profile. | For those who prefer a higher moisture profile. |
The reasoning Boveda gives is simple. An airtight container keeps its humidity, so the pack only has to hold the number printed on it. A wood humidor loses moisture through the wood and the lid, so a slightly higher pack makes up the difference.
Three rules from Boveda apply whichever you choose:
- One number per container. Boveda advises against mixing different percentages, or mixing Boveda with another humidifier, in the same humidor.
- Size it to capacity. One Size 60 pack for every 25 cigars the container is built to hold, not the number currently inside it.
- Leave 75% for extremes. Boveda reserves 75% for extremely dry conditions and says not to use it in airtight containers or for long-term storage.
Our suggestion for Yuma: start with 69% in anything airtight and in a wood humidor that seals well. If a wood or glass-top humidor keeps reading low in our dry air, that is the case Boveda describes for 72%. Whichever you choose, check it with a hygrometer.
Packs are in the Boveda collection and humidors in cigar humidors. For choosing and setting up the box itself, see our humidor guide.
How many you need
Roughly one 60-gram pack per 25 cigars. Undersizing is the most common mistake: a single small pack cannot hold a full desktop humidor.
When to replace
When the pack turns hard and crisp, it is spent. Soft and pliable means it is still working. In dry desert air, expect two to three months.
Using them without a humidor
An airtight container and a correctly sized pack will hold cigars properly for months. It is less attractive than cedar, and it works.
Seasoning with Boveda
Boveda's method is to put its 84% seasoning packs in a new, empty humidor and keep the lid closed for 14 days before loading it. Never wipe cedar with water.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix Boveda 69% and 72% in the same humidor?
Boveda advises against it. Its guidance is to use one humidity level per container, because mixed levels work against each other and the humidor does not settle.
Which Boveda should I use in a tupperdor or travel case?
Boveda recommends 69% for airtight storage such as tupperdors, coolerdors, acrylic humidors, plastic travel humidors and humidor bags. It says not to use 75% in airtight containers.
Is 72% too humid for cigars?
Not by Boveda's guidance. It recommends 72% for wood and glass-topped humidors, for dry environments, and for smokers who prefer a higher moisture profile. In an airtight container, its recommendation is 69%.
Humidity packs and humidors are in the accessories collection. Every online order we ship includes a Boveda humidity pack.
$9.99 flat shipping, free on orders of $125 or more; orders ship within 1–2 business days from Yuma, Arizona.
