Cigar size: how to measure length, ring gauge, and format
Updated November 6, 2026
Cigar size is defined by two measurements: its length, in inches or millimeters, and its diameter, called the ring gauge, expressed in 64ths of an inch. A box marked 5⅝ × 42 therefore contains cigars approximately 143 mm long with a 16.7 mm diameter. Knowing these two figures allows you to identify the format and choose a case suited to the ring gauge of your cigars, without any unpleasant surprises.
In short
To find out the size of a cigar, measure the length from the foot to the head, then the diameter at the widest point. Convert this diameter to ring gauge by multiplying the millimeters by 2.52. A Robusto measures approximately 127 mm with a 50 ring gauge, a Churchill 178 mm with a 47 ring gauge.
What are the sizes of the main cigar formats?
Each common format corresponds to a standard length and ring gauge. The table below brings together the most common sizes; values may vary by a few millimeters from one manufacturer to another.
| Format | Length | Ring gauge | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perla | 102 mm (4") | 40 | 15.9 mm |
| Petit Corona | 129 mm (5 1/16") | 42 | 16.7 mm |
| Corona | 143 mm (5⅝") | 42 | 16.7 mm |
| Lonsdale | 165 mm (6½") | 42 | 16.7 mm |
| Lancero | 192 mm (7½") | 38 | 15.1 mm |
| Corona Gorda | 143 mm (5⅝") | 46 | 18.3 mm |
| Robusto | 127 mm (5") | 50 | 19.8 mm |
| Toro | 152 mm (6") | 50 to 54 | 19.8 to 21.4 mm |
| Torpedo / Pyramid | 156 mm (6⅛") | 52 | 20.6 mm (at the base) |
| Churchill | 178 mm (7") | 47 | 18.7 mm |
| Double Corona | 194 mm (7⅝") | 49 | 19.4 mm |
| Gordo | 152 mm (6") | 60 | 23.8 mm |
To find dozens of other sizes, from Panetelas to large calibers, consult our summary table of cigar dimensions.
Table of Contents
How to read the size of a cigar on its box?
The size is most often shown in the form of "length × ring gauge", for example 5⅝ × 42 or 6 × 50. The first figure is the length in inches, the second the diameter in 64ths of an inch.
One inch being 25.4 mm, a length of 5⅝ inches corresponds to approximately 143 mm. Some European manufacturers display the millimeters directly, for example 143 × 16.7: the second figure is then the actual diameter, not the ring gauge.
Note: the commercial name engraved on the band (a series, a number) does not always indicate the size. Only the numerical notation, or the name of the common format (Robusto, Toro…), gives you reliable dimensions.
Manufacturers also distinguish between the commercial name and the manufacturing name of the module. This system is detailed in our article on the vitola, the caliber and their impact on tasting, which also explains why a thicker cigar is smoked more slowly.
How to measure the size of a cigar yourself?
All you need is a ruler and, ideally, a caliper. Allow one minute per cigar, handling it delicately so as not to mark the wrapper.
Tip: always measure a properly stored cigar. A cigar that is too dry loses some suppleness and its wrapper becomes brittle; clamping the tool on a fragile wrapper can split it.
How to convert ring gauge to millimeters?
Divide the ring gauge by 64, then multiply the result by 25.4. More simply, one ring gauge point is worth approximately 0.4 mm: a 50 ring gauge corresponds to 19.84 mm, a 60 ring gauge to 23.81 mm.
Formula: diameter (mm) = ring gauge ÷ 64 × 25.4. In the other direction: ring gauge = diameter (mm) × 2.52.
A few benchmarks to keep in mind:
- Ring gauge 38: 15.1 mm, the thin diameter of a Lancero;
- Ring gauge 42: 16.7 mm, the Corona family;
- Ring gauge 47: 18.7 mm, the diameter of the Churchill;
- Ring gauge 50: 19.8 mm, that of the Robusto;
- Ring gauge 54: 21.4 mm, a thick Toro;
- Ring gauge 60: 23.8 mm, the Gordo.
English-language technical sheets refer to the "ring gauge": it is exactly the same unit as the ring gauge, in 64ths of an inch.
How to measure a tapered cigar?
For a Torpedo, Pyramid or Campana, the indicated ring gauge always corresponds to the widest diameter, that is, the base. The tapered head is significantly thinner.
So measure the diameter just above the foot, where the cigar is thickest, and the length to the tip. For a Perfecto, bulged in the center and tapered at both ends, take the measurement at the most rounded point: this is what determines if the cigar fits in a compartment.
Warning: a tapered format with a 52 ring gauge requires a compartment designed for at least 21 mm in diameter, even if its head appears thin. It is the base that blocks insertion.
What size case for your cigars?
Compare two figures: the internal length of the case must exceed that of your longest cigar, and its maximum diameter must be greater than the thickest ring gauge. A cigar that is too tight risks splitting its wrapper; too loose, it will clatter against the walls during transport.
In practice, Coronas and Robustos fit into most pocket formats, while Churchills and Double Coronas, over 175 mm, require a longer model. Before buying cigar cases, note the length and ring gauge of your three favorite cigars: you will immediately know which size to choose.
The workshop's opinion
We always look at the internal length before capacity. The NEBOS case in cowhide and cedar measures 15 cm long inside and accepts cigars up to approximately a 50 ring gauge: Petit Corona, Corona and Robusto find their place there, not a 178 mm Churchill.
For a Gordo, the CARBON case in carbon fiber accepts a 60 ring gauge (24 mm), in a 2 or 3 cigar version, but its length of 16 cm limits the formats to approximately 160 mm. Measure first, then choose.
An idea for a gift
Do you want to give a case to a cigar enthusiast without knowing their cigars? Discreetly look at the boxes they keep: the length × ring gauge notation is almost always on it. A format that accepts a 50 ring gauge and 15 cm in length already covers Coronas and Robustos, the most common sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cigar size to choose to start?
Why do two cigars of the same format not have the same dimensions?
What is the largest ring gauge commonly found?
Does the cigar band indicate its ring gauge?
What margin to allow between a cigar and its case?
You now know the length and ring gauge of your favorite cigars: all that remains is to find them a case to their measure, with free shipping.
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