Short answer: use your thumbnail or a sharp knife. Holt's favors the thumbnail, while Corona Cigar, JR Cigars and 1st Class Humidors rank a sharp knife as the top substitute for a cutter. Either way, remove only the cap, just above the shoulder where the head starts to curve. No blade? Poke a small hole through the cap with a toothpick or paperclip. Most sources treat biting the cap off as a last resort.
Before you cut: where and how much
The cap is the small piece of wrapper leaf at the head that secures the wrapper, in Cigar Aficionado's definition, and the magazine says it holds a vegetable-based adhesive called gomma that keeps the wrapper from unraveling. Its advice is to cut just above the rounded shoulders of the head, about one-sixteenth of an inch in.
Gregory Mottola of Cigar Aficionado adds that it's better to cut too little than too much, because you can always cut more. Cut below the shoulder and the wrapper can unravel; cut too little and, Mottola says, you can get a firm draw and a build-up of tar in the head. Cut the head, the closed end you put in your mouth. Never cut the foot, the end you light, even if it is closed, Holt's says.
Six ways to open a cigar without a cutter
| Method | What you need | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | A fingernail | Tearing the cap too aggressively can start the wrapper unraveling (Holt's) |
| Sharp knife | A pocket or paring knife, or a razor blade | A dull blade crushes or tears the cigar (Cigar Advisor, Cigars International) |
| Makeshift punch | A toothpick, paperclip, thumbtack, golf tee or pen | Piercing too deep can create a hot-burning tunnel (Cigar Aficionado) |
| Scissors | Small, sharp grooming or kitchen scissors | Blunt blades crush the cigar (1st Class Humidors) |
| Pinch and twist | Your fingers | Harder on torpedoes and belicosos (Cigar Advisor) |
| Biting | Your front teeth | Tobacco in your mouth and a crushed head |
1. Use your thumbnail
Holt's puts the thumbnail first among ways to cut a cigar without a cutter. Use your thumbnail to loosen a section of the cap just above the cap line, then keep working around the circumference until the cap lifts off. Cigars International uses the thumbnail and index fingernail together, digging in lightly and rotating the cigar; La Aurora presses the nail in with even pressure and turns the cigar to make a groove, which takes patience.
Go gently: Holt's warns that tearing the cap too aggressively can start the wrapper unraveling. Boveda takes a different approach, puncturing a circle in the top of the cap with a fingernail, which it says gives the same result as a cigar punch.
2. Use a sharp knife
Corona Cigar, JR Cigars and 1st Class Humidors all rank a sharp knife as the top stand-in for a cutter. Holt's method is to gently spin the head of the cigar against the blade with a touch of pressure, rather than chopping or sawing.
Cigar Advisor places the blade just above the shoulder and rotates the cigar with light pressure, and 1st Class Humidors lays the cigar on a flat surface and cuts with a firm, quick motion. Holt's and JR Cigars also slice an X into the cap instead of taking it off.
The knife has to be sharp. Cigars International warns that a dull one can tear the cigar, and Cigar Aficionado says a slow or unsteady cut will ruin it. Cigar Aficionado also says not to clean the knife with oil, which can taint the cigar.
3. Make a punch with a toothpick, paperclip or pen
Instead of removing the cap, poke a hole through the center of it. Holt's lists a toothpick, paperclip, thumbtack, golf tee or Phillips-head screwdriver, or a wooden matchstick with the end sharpened slightly; Corona Cigar uses a pen or a toothpick, and La Aurora a paperclip, a nail or the tip of a key. Start small: Corona says you can always go back in to make the hole bigger.
Sources differ on depth. Holt's says to push a blunter tool, such as a screwdriver, in gradually and only deep enough to get through the cap, while JR Cigars pokes about half an inch in. Cigar Aficionado cautions that piercing too deep can create a tunnel in the center that makes the cigar burn hot. Cigar Advisor calls a key a last-resort option and notes it can leave a hole that is too small or ragged.
4. Use scissors
Cigar Advisor recommends small, sharp grooming or kitchen scissors and one quick, firm cut, without sawing or hesitating. Not everyone agrees. JR Cigars barely recommends scissors and says to cut very carefully, since they press on the cigar unevenly from two sides, and La Aurora uses them mainly for poking a hole. Cigar Aficionado notes that even purpose-made cigar scissors are the hardest cutter to master.
5. Pinch and twist the cap
Cigar Advisor calls pinch-and-twist one of the simplest ways to open a cigar: pinch the cap between your thumb and forefinger, slowly twist the cigar back and forth until the cap loosens, then peel it off. Northwoods Humidors says it works on cigars with a looser cap but not on every cigar, and Cigar Advisor says it is harder on torpedoes and belicosos, whose pointed heads are finished with a flag of tobacco. Be gentle; too much force can tear the wrapper.
6. Bite it (last resort)
Sources split on biting. Holt's calls it an old-school method endorsed by scores of cigar lovers for decades, and Tobacconist University says that when all else fails, there is no shame in using your teeth. Corona Cigar, JR Cigars, La Aurora, Northwoods Humidors, 1st Class Humidors and Cigar Advisor all treat it as a last resort.
Cigar Aficionado's objections: it's hard to see what you're doing, and you end up with an unsightly wad of tobacco in your mouth. If you must, Cigar Advisor says to nip the cap with your front teeth rather than chomp down, which can crush the head, and Boveda suggests biting off a thin layer while rotating the cigar.
What not to do
- Don't burn the cap off. 1st Class Humidors says burning the cap often scorches the wrapper, affects the flavor and can cause an uneven burn.
- Skip nail clippers on premium cigars. 1st Class Humidors says clean nail clippers can trim the cap on thinner cigars in an emergency, but because they don't make a straight, even cut, they aren't ideal for premium cigars.
- Don't cut the foot. Holt's says never to cut the foot of a cigar, even if it is closed.
Cigars that don't need a cutter
A pigtail cap, the little twist of leaf at the head, can be twisted off by hand; Holt's says to twist it off quickly so you don't tear the cap or unravel the wrapper. Some cigars come with the head already cut: Cigar Aficionado reported in 2023 that the short Zino Nicaragua size ships pre-cut, so no cutter is required.
If the wrapper starts to unravel
Holt's says the proper fix is a few strokes of pectin, or cigar glue, on the unraveling seam, and that lip balm will do in a pinch. Cigar Advisor, which explains how to mix your own pectin, says never to use spit. After any cut, Northwoods suggests blowing gently on the cut end to clear away loose tobacco.
Traveling with a cutter
TSA says cigar cutters are generally permitted in carry-on bags but recommends packing them in checked baggage. Scissors in a carry-on must be less than 4 inches from the pivot point, and most knives, box cutters and utility knives must go in checked bags. TSA notes that the final decision rests with the officer at the checkpoint. Our suggestion: pack a small cutter with your cigar case in your checked bag so you have one when you land.
Get a cutter
Compare guillotines, V-cutters and punches in our cigar cutter guide, or shop cigar cutters. Pictured: the Craftsman's Bench Double Blade Cigar Cutter. Once it's open, see how to light a cigar and how to hold a cigar.
$9.99 flat shipping, free on orders of $125 or more.
Frequently asked questions
How do you cut a cigar without a cutter?
Use your thumbnail to work the cap loose just above the cap line, or slice the cap off with a sharp knife while rotating the cigar. You can also poke a small hole through the cap with a toothpick or paperclip.
Which method do sources recommend for cutting a cigar without a cutter?
Sources disagree. Holt's favors the thumbnail; Corona Cigar, JR Cigars and 1st Class Humidors favor a sharp knife.
Can you use a knife to cut a cigar?
Yes, if it is sharp. Rest the blade just above the shoulder and rotate the cigar against it with light pressure, removing only the cap. A dull knife can tear or crush the cigar.
Can you cut a cigar with scissors?
Small, sharp scissors can work with one quick, firm cut, per Cigar Advisor. JR Cigars barely recommends scissors and says to cut very carefully, since they press unevenly from two sides.
Can you poke a hole in a cigar instead of cutting it?
Yes. A toothpick, paperclip, thumbtack or golf tee can pierce the cap like a punch cutter. Holt's says to push a blunter tool in gradually and only deep enough to get through the cap, and Cigar Aficionado warns that piercing too deep can make the cigar burn hot.
Is it OK to bite the end off a cigar?
Most sources call it a last resort, because it can crush the head and leave tobacco in your mouth. Holt's and Tobacconist University are more accepting. If you do, nip the cap with your front teeth rather than chomping down.
How much of a cigar do you cut off?
Just the cap. Cigar Aficionado suggests about one-sixteenth of an inch, just above the shoulder, and says it's better to cut too little than too much.
Which end of the cigar do you cut?
The head, the closed end you put in your mouth. Holt's says never to cut the foot, even if it is closed.
Can you bring a cigar cutter on a plane?
TSA says cigar cutters are generally permitted in carry-on bags but recommends packing them in checked baggage, and the final decision rests with the TSA officer.
What do you do if the wrapper unravels?
Holt's says to brush a little pectin, or cigar glue, onto the unraveling seam, and that lip balm will do in a pinch.
Sources:
- Holt's Clubhouse, "How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter" (2019, updated 2026), "What Are Pigtail Cigars & How Do You Cut Them?" (2020), "Do You Cut Both Ends of a Cigar?" (2025), "How to Fix Common Cigar Problems" (2019) and "What Is Cigar Glue?" (2021)
- Cigar Aficionado, "Cutting and Lighting" (January/February 1998 and 2001 issues), "10 Things You Should Never Do As a Cigar Smoker" (May 2016), "How to Cut a Cigar With Scissors" (April 2017), "How to Cut a Cigar" (August 2017), Gregory Mottola, "10 Things Every Cigar Smoker Should Know" (September/October 2017), "Zino Nicaragua Gets Short, Pre-Cut Size" (July 2023) and its glossary ("Cap")
- Corona Cigar Co., "How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter" (July 2025)
- JR Cigars, "What to Do If You Don't Have a Cigar Cutter" (January 2020)
- Famous Smoke Shop's Cigar Advisor, "How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter" (January 2025) and "Do-It-Yourself Cigar Repair" (June 2014)
- 1st Class Humidors, "How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cigar Cutter" (September 2025)
- Northwoods Humidors, "How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter" (February 2024)
- La Aurora, "How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter" (November 2023)
- Cigars International, "How to Cut a Cigar"
- Boveda, "How to Properly Cut a Cigar" (March 2021)
- Tobacconist University, cutters curriculum
- TSA, "What Can I Bring?" (cigar cutters; sharp objects).
