Short answer: set the cigar in an ashtray rest and leave it alone. A premium cigar goes out on its own within a few minutes once you stop puffing, according to Holt's, Boveda and Gear Patrol. Don't stub or grind it out like a cigarette; JR Cigars, Holt's and Boveda all say crushing it leaves an unpleasant smell, and Boveda adds that it can crack the wrapper and dislodge the filler. Want to finish it later? Relight it soon, after tapping off the ash and blowing out the stale smoke; sources put the limit anywhere from 30 minutes to about a day.
The standard way: let it go out on its own
JR Cigars, Northwoods Humidors, Boveda, Holt's and The Manual all give the same first answer: rest the cigar in the ashtray and let the ember die. Northwoods calls it the method that does the least damage to the cigar's structure and flavor, and Boveda calls it the gentlest. Holt's explains why it works: premium cigars are made from humidified tobacco, so they burn out naturally after a few minutes. Windy City Cigars is the only source we found that puts a number on it, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Tap off the loose ash. Boveda suggests a gentle tap before you set the cigar down.
- Lay it flat in a rest. JR Cigars suggests an ashtray with grooves so the cigar sits flat, deep enough to catch the ash. Holt's says not to leave it balanced on the edge, where it can roll off onto the table or floor.
- Leave it. Stop drawing on it and give it a few minutes. If you need it out sooner, Northwoods says to blow gently through the cigar to push out the smoke, then set it down.
- Check before you walk away. Holt's says a cigar can keep burning for a few minutes after you set it down, so confirm it is out and cool before you leave.
Why not stub it out?
Because a cigar is not a cigarette. JR Cigars says stubbing releases the oils the filler has gathered, and those oils are what make the stale smell. Holt's says a smashed cigar turns into a smoldering mess with an unwanted aroma, and that you don't have to grind a cigar butt out like a cigarette. Boveda lists cracked wrappers, smooshed filler and acrid off-flavors, plus offensive odors and a potential fire hazard. Northwoods adds that crushing the cigar alters its flavor if you planned to relight it.
Other ways to put a cigar out
| Method | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rest it in the ashtray | The ember runs out of oxygen and dies in a few minutes | Leave it flat in a groove, not on the rim |
| Blow through it, then rest it | Northwoods says gently blowing out the smoke speeds things up | Blow gently |
| Trim the end once it's out | After the cigar has gone out, Boveda cuts just above the burn line; The Manual cuts about half an inch behind the ash line once it is entirely out | Not a way to put out a lit cigar; the sources trim only after it has gone out |
| Snuffer | Boveda says a snuffer encloses the ember and starves it of oxygen faster | More common in past centuries, Boveda says, though modern ones exist |
| Water | Holt's dips the lit end in water, and Boveda dips the spent ember in liquid, as a fast way to put out a cigar you're finished with | Northwoods says it makes the cigar unsmokable; Swiss Cuban Cigars says never to flush cigar nubs, which can clog pipes |
| Dirt or sand, outdoors | The Manual describes pressing the burning end into dirt or sand to weaken the flame | Check for dry grass, leaves or wood first, then watch it for a few minutes until it is totally out |
Our suggestion: rest it in the ashtray if you might come back to it, and use water only for a cigar you are finished with.
No ashtray?
Boveda mentions a deck rail or any other perch where the cigar can rest while it goes out. The Manual's no-ashtray options are dousing the end with water or a cold drink, or pressing it into dirt or sand. It says both only weaken the flame, so watch the cigar for a few minutes until it is totally out. Wherever you set it, keep the lit end clear of anything that can burn, and make sure it is out before you throw it away.
Can you save a cigar and finish it later?
Yes, if you don't wait too long, but the sources disagree on how long is too long.
| Source | How long a cigar keeps before relighting |
|---|---|
| Swiss Cuban Cigars | No more than 30 minutes in open air; within 24 hours if sealed in a bag |
| Cigora (CIGAR.com) | Not more than about an hour unlit |
| The Manual | Usually within an hour or two |
| Cigar Aficionado | Soon after it goes out; not the next day, or even several hours later |
| Boveda | Its save-for-later article says you can after a few hours but shouldn't after a few days; its put-out article says no after several hours or a day |
| Holt's | Toss it if you can't finish it within a day or so |
| Cigar Press | Its writer has relit many cigars the next day and found they can taste pretty close |
Why the clock matters: Boveda says the combusted residue (sometimes called tar) left in the cigar interacts with oxygen, and that this oxygenated residue can be unpleasant on a second lighting. Boveda's Tim Swail adds that as the tobacco cools, the tar hardens and the flavors get bitter, and Boveda says smokers often describe a relit cigar as stale, creosote-like or ashy. Cigar Advisor adds that by the time you relight, tars have already started moving back toward the head, so puffing easily and letting the cigar breathe between puffs helps it stand up to a relight.
Where to keep a half-smoked cigar
- Not in your humidor. Holt's, Boveda and Cigar Press all say not to put a once-lit cigar back in a humidor. Holt's says it will stink up the box and pass its charred residue to the cigars inside. Boveda includes tupperdors and humidor bags in the same warning. Northwoods and Swiss Cuban Cigars disagree: Northwoods suggests a humidor, and Swiss Cuban Cigars says a humidor is key if you first wrap the half-smoked cigar in cellophane so it doesn't affect the other cigars.
- Cooled, then in a bag or tube, or in open air. Cigars International says to let the cigar cool completely, then use an airtight resealable bag or a cigar tube, kept apart from your main humidor. Cigar Press prefers to leave it out indoors, away from sun and morning moisture outside, and says a baggie makes the taste and smell worse.
Our suggestion: if you plan to finish it the same day, let it go out in the ashtray and leave it there. For anything longer, a fresh cigar will likely taste better.
How to relight a cigar
- Let it go fully out, then tap off the ash. Holt's says to wait until the cigar has gone all the way out. Cigars International says leftover ash can affect the taste and keep the cigar from burning evenly; Cigar Advisor scoops out the rest with a toothpick or the blunt end of a match.
- Trim the charred end if you like. Recommended depths run from about 1/8 inch to 3/4 inch, depending on the source; Cigar Advisor says trimming tends to make the cigar taste less bitter.
- Purge it. Blow gently through the cigar to clear out the stale smoke before relighting, as Cigars International and Boveda advise. The Manual says to let a lit cigar cool before purging and not to blow so hard that you push the tobacco out of the foot.
- Toast the foot and relight. Holt's says to toast the foot gently and relight as if starting fresh. Cigar Aficionado says a warm cigar should be easier to light than a fresh one. Holt's adds that it never hurts to purge the cigar after it's lit.
Torch or soft flame? The sources split. The Manual prefers a soft flame and says a torch can leave a burnt taste; Cigora prefers a torch because it cuts through any leftover ash, Cigars International's steps call for a butane torch, and Cigar Advisor says a single, dual or triple flame torch will all do the trick for a relight. See our lighting guide for technique, and cigar lighters for both kinds.
When not to bother
- It's too short. Cigars International says to skip relighting a cigar that has become too short, and Holt's warns you can burn your fingers and lips. Cigars International lists a common etiquette rule, never relight a cigar that's more than two-thirds smoked, among rules it calls mostly ridiculous. The Davidoff-credited lists at C.Gars and Gentleman's Gazette say not to relight a cigar when less than one quarter of it is leaf.
- It kept going out the first time. Cigar Aficionado says a cigar that keeps going out may be poorly rolled. Gentleman's Gazette says that if a cigar keeps going out, chances are you should leave it out, and Holt's says a plugged or canoeing cigar may have been assembled wrong, in which case a new cigar is the better choice. Cigar Press puts it plainly: if it wasn't right the first time, it won't be right the next day.
Etiquette
Etiquette lists that the UK retailer C.Gars credits to Zino Davidoff's 1967 essay say to let a cigar die a dignified death and not to crush it in the ashtray, and Gentleman's Gazette repeats both rules. JR Cigars notes that letting a cigar go out on its own is proper etiquette, especially during a business deal. Gentleman's Gazette also says to dispose of a dead cigar quickly and discreetly. Holt's suggests taking the band off before you put the cigar out and throwing the band away outside the ashtray, so it can't smolder and scent the room.
Make sure it's really out
Boveda says to wait at least 10 minutes after you think a cigar is out before throwing it away, and to never toss a cigar butt out of a car window. JR Cigars says never to leave a lit cigar unattended. The U.S. Fire Administration's smoking safety advice, written for cigarettes and other smoking materials, is to put water on ashes and butts to make sure they are really out before they go in the trash. In a dry desert summer like Yuma's, our advice is to douse a cigar before it goes in an outdoor bin.
Ashtrays with proper rests
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Frequently asked questions
How do you put out a cigar?
Rest it flat in an ashtray groove and stop puffing. A premium cigar goes out on its own within a few minutes, according to Holt's and Boveda. Don't stub or grind it out like a cigarette.
How long does it take a cigar to go out on its own?
A few minutes, according to Holt's, Boveda and Gear Patrol. Windy City Cigars puts it at 5 to 10 minutes.
Why shouldn't you stub out a cigar?
JR Cigars says stubbing releases oils that make a stale, unpleasant smell, and Holt's says a smashed cigar gives off an unwanted aroma. Boveda adds that it can crack the wrapper, dislodge the filler and create off-flavors.
Can you put out a cigar with water?
Yes, if you are finished with it. Holt's describes dipping the lit end in water, and Boveda dipping the spent ember in liquid. Northwoods says water makes the cigar unsmokable, so don't use it on a cigar you plan to relight.
Can you relight a cigar?
Yes. Tap off the ash, blow gently through the cigar to clear the stale smoke, then toast the foot and relight. Cigar Aficionado says relighting is fine if done soon after the cigar goes out.
How long can you wait before relighting a cigar?
Sources range from about 30 minutes in open air (Swiss Cuban Cigars) to a day or so (Holt's). Cigar Aficionado says not to relight the next day or even several hours later, and Boveda's two articles differ: one says you can relight after a few hours but not after a few days, the other says not to after several hours or a day.
Can you put a half-smoked cigar back in the humidor?
Holt's, Boveda and Cigar Press say no. Holt's says it will stink up the box and pass its charred residue to the cigars inside. Northwoods suggests a humidor, and Swiss Cuban Cigars says to wrap the cigar in cellophane first if you do.
Why does a relit cigar taste bitter?
Boveda says the tar left in the cigar interacts with oxygen and can be unpleasant when relit, and Boveda's Tim Swail says the tar hardens and the flavors turn bitter as the tobacco cools. Cigar Advisor says tars start moving back toward the head as you smoke, so how far down you are affects how well a cigar takes a relight.
Is it rude to stub out a cigar?
Traditional cigar etiquette says not to crush a cigar in the ashtray but to let it go out on its own; the UK retailer C.Gars credits those rules to Zino Davidoff.
How do you know a cigar is completely out?
Holt's says a cigar can keep burning for a few minutes after you set it down, and Boveda says to wait at least 10 minutes after you think it is out before throwing it away. For the trash, the U.S. Fire Administration's smoking safety advice, written for cigarettes and other smoking materials, is to put water on ashes and butts first.
Sources: Holt's Clubhouse, "How to Put Out a Cigar" (June 2020) and "How to Relight a Cigar" (August 2022, updated 2026); Boveda, "How to Put Out a Cigar" (April 2024) and "Can You Save a Cigar for Later & How?" (May 2024); JR Cigars, "How to Put Out a Cigar" (November 2018); Northwoods Humidors, "How to Put Out a Cigar the Right Way" (May 2024); Cigar Aficionado, "Cutting and Lighting" (January/February 2001 issue); Cigars International, "How to Relight a Cigar" and "Cigar Etiquette"; Famous Smoke Shop's Cigar Advisor, "Relighting Your Cigar" (December 2008) and "How to Touch-up and Relight Cigars" (November 2014); Cigora, "Relighting a Cigar"; Windy City Cigars, "How to Put Out a Cigar: The Right Way (2026 Guide)" (March 2026); Swiss Cuban Cigars, "How to Put Out a Cigar the Right Way" (2020, updated 2026); Cigar Press, "Relighting Cigars the Next Day" (July 2026); The Manual, "Wondering How to Put Out a Cigar? Here's Everything You Need to Know" and "What Is Cigar Purging and How Do You Do It?" (undated), and "Is It OK to Relight a Cigar? Yes — Here's How to Bring It Back to Life" (July 2025); Gear Patrol, "7 Rookie Mistakes That'll Ruin a Great Cigar" (May 2024); Gentleman's Gazette, "The Cigar Guide, Part III" (April 2014); C.Gars, "Cigar Etiquette" (2008, updated 2018); U.S. Fire Administration, "Smoking Fire Safety."
