Boveda makes it easier to manage humidity inside a humidor, the container designed to store cigars in a controlled environment. If this is your first time using this system, the abbreviations and percentages can seem confusing: 65%, 69%, 72%, RH, Size 8, Size 60, seasoning. Once you've clarified a few concepts, though, choosing becomes much more intuitive. In this guide we start from the basics, explaining each term simply, and then move on to the practical and technical aspects, useful even for those who have used humidors and humidity-control systems for some time.
First of all: what does Boveda do?
Boveda is a two-way humidity control system. In simple terms, the packet can release or absorb humidity in the form of water vapour, depending on the conditions inside the container, helping keep relative humidity close to the value shown on the packaging.
The abbreviation RH stands for Relative Humidity. If a packet reads 69% RH, it means that Boveda is designed to work around a relative humidity of 69% in an enclosed space.
The number printed on the packet is therefore the reference humidity value, not the amount of water contained in the product, and not an indicator of strength or quality. A 72% is not "stronger" than a 69%: it simply works toward a different humidity level.
Boveda also states an accuracy of about ±2% RH from the printed value when the recommended number of packets is used in a sufficiently airtight environment. A very leaky humidor or extremely dry ambient conditions can make it harder to get exactly the nominal value on your hygrometer.
If you're just starting out: where to begin?
For a quick choice, you can think of it this way:
- 69% RH: the most universal reference for cigar storage, and the starting point when there are no specific needs.
- 65% RH: for those who prefer a drier profile, an easier burn, or for certain long-term ageing needs.
- 72% RH: useful with leakier wooden humidors, dry environments, or for those who prefer a slightly higher humidity profile.
- 75% RH: a specialist solution for extremely dry conditions. It's not a normal alternative to 72% and should not be used in airtight containers.
- 84% RH: not for storing cigars. It's used exclusively for seasoning, that is, the initial preparation of the wood in an empty humidor.
Our range also includes 62% RH. However, it's important to correctly understand its intended use: in Boveda's current guidance, it is not among the standard levels for storing premium cigars.
Which Boveda percentage should you choose?
Boveda 62% RH
Boveda 62% is designed to maintain a nominal relative humidity of 62% inside the container, so a noticeably drier environment than the levels Boveda normally recommends for storing premium cigars. The presence of 62% in the Boveda range does not mean that every percentage produced has the same intended use.
In the manufacturer's current guidance, 62% RH is mainly associated with storing cannabis and hemp, while for premium cigars Boveda indicates 65-72% RH as the reference range. This doesn't mean a cigar can't physically be kept in a 62% environment, but that 62% falls below the range normally recommended by the manufacturer for standard cigar storage.
Boveda in fact considers below 65% a low humidity level for cigars, and notes that overly dry storage can lead to overly dry tobacco, a faster burn, a less elastic wrapper and a dulled aromatic profile. For this reason, 62% shouldn't be presented as simply a "drier" variant of the cigar-grade percentages.
For those who intentionally want drier cigar storage, the specific reference Boveda indicates is 65% RH, designed for a drier profile, generally an easier burn, and also for certain long-term ageing needs.
62% should therefore not automatically be considered the next step down from 65%. It's a grade with its own intended use and, in the context of cigars, remains outside the standard range currently recommended by Boveda. Anyone setting up a humidor for the first time should mainly consider 65%, 69% and 72%, choosing the value based on the type of humidor, its seal, ambient conditions and the desired storage outcome.
Boveda 65% RH
65% is designed for those who prefer a drier profile. This means the cigar is stored at a lower relative humidity than at 69% or 72%. Boveda indicates it for those seeking an easier burn, and also as a solution suited to long-term ageing; in its own guidance it also associates it with Cuban cigars.
It's therefore the value to consider when you want to stay within the recommended range for cigars but on the drier side.
Boveda 69% RH
69% is the easiest value to recommend to those with no specific needs. Boveda considers it the most universal level for cigar storage, and it's suited to wooden or acrylic humidors, airtight containers such as tupperdors, coolerdors and humidor bags. It's also indicated for long-term ageing.
Tupperdor simply means an airtight plastic container used to store cigars. Coolerdor applies the same principle to a larger container, often made from an insulated cooler box.
Boveda 72% RH
72% is used when you need to compensate for greater humidity loss. It therefore makes particular sense in a wooden humidor that isn't perfectly airtight, in a dry environment, or when you prefer to store cigars at a slightly higher humidity level.
If you own a classic wooden humidor, 69% and 72% are often the two values to compare first: 69% is more universal, while 72% can be useful when the container tends to lose humidity or the outside environment is particularly dry.
Boveda 75% RH
75% isn't a level to choose simply because it's "more humid". Boveda indicates it only for extremely dry conditions, for example at high altitude or in desert climates, where it may be necessary to over-compensate for a wooden humidor's strong humidity loss in order to keep cigars in their correct range.
Boveda specifies that 75% is not intended for ageing or long-term storage and should not be used in airtight containers such as tupperdors or humidor bags. It's therefore a solution to adopt for a specific environmental problem, not a normal alternative to 69% or 72%.
Boveda 84% RH: caution, it has a completely different use
This is one of the most important distinctions in this guide. Boveda 84% RH is not a cigar-maintenance product. It's used for seasoning, the term for the initial conditioning of the wood in a new humidor, or re-preparing a wooden humidor that's completely empty.
Dry wood is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb humidity from the surrounding environment. If a new humidor is immediately filled with cigars, the wood can draw away part of the humidity the tobacco needs. Seasoning gradually brings the wood to a suitable condition before the cigars go in.
Just bought a wooden humidor? Seasoning step by step
For a new wooden humidor, Boveda gives a precise procedure that avoids wetting the wood directly.
- Leave the humidor completely empty. There should be no cigars inside during conditioning.
- Use Boveda 84% RH Size 60. As a reference, Boveda indicates four Size 60 packets for a 100-cigar humidor, equivalent to roughly one Size 60 for every 25 cigars of nominal capacity.
- Remove only the outer transparent wrapper. Do not cut or open the actual Boveda packet.
- Close the humidor for 14 days and do not open it. During this period the wood is absorbing the humidity it needs.
- Ignore the hygrometer during seasoning. The hygrometer measures air humidity, not the humidity contained within the wood itself, so the reading doesn't indicate whether seasoning is finished.
- After 14 days, remove the 84% Boveda packets and dispose of them. Even if they still feel soft, packets used for seasoning are not reusable.
- Insert the maintenance Boveda packets at the percentage chosen for your humidor, for example 69% or 72%.
- At this point you can add your cigars.
Boveda advises against the traditional method of wiping the inner walls with a damp sponge or cloth: applying water directly to the wood concentrates humidity on the surface and can put it under unnecessary stress. Seasoning with B84 instead works through water vapour over a controlled period.
For the transition from conditioning to storage, you can directly compare Boveda 84%, Boveda 69% and Boveda 72%.
Boveda 8 g or 60 g: what really changes?
The RH percentage indicates which humidity level you want to maintain. The weight instead indicates the size of the packet and its working capacity. An 8 g Boveda at 69% and a 60 g Boveda at 69% aim at the same set point: what changes is the amount of solution available to exchange water vapour with the environment.
- Size 8 / 8 g: for small cigar cases, holders and travel humidors. Boveda indicates one Size 8 for every 5 cigars of container capacity.
- Size 60 / 60 g: the standard size for most humidors. Boveda indicates one Size 60 for every 25 cigars of nominal capacity.
The key word is capacity. Sizing should be based on the total number of cigars the container is designed to hold, not on the number currently inside it. If a humidor is rated for 50 cigars, the reference remains 50 even if it currently holds only 20.
How many Boveda packets do you need?
- 5-cigar case: 1 Boveda Size 8.
- 10-cigar case: 2 Boveda Size 8.
- 25-cigar humidor: 1 Boveda Size 60.
- 50-cigar humidor: 2 Boveda Size 60.
- 75-cigar humidor: 3 Boveda Size 60.
- 100-cigar humidor: 4 Boveda Size 60.
- 125-cigar humidor: 5 Boveda Size 60.
Using more packets of the same percentage doesn't automatically raise RH above the stated value. It mainly increases the available reserve and lets the system respond better to changes, with the potential benefit of a longer lifespan. Mixing different percentages, on the other hand, is different — this practice should be avoided.
How do you use Boveda inside a humidor?
Everyday use is deliberately simple. If the individual Boveda packet is wrapped in a protective transparent film, remove that wrapper, but do not open, cut or puncture the actual Boveda packet.
The packet can be placed under a tray or shelf, on top of the cigars, or inside a holder. Boveda states it can also come into direct contact with the cigars. The goal is to let water vapour circulate freely inside the space.
There's no need to wet the packet, add distilled water, or make manual adjustments. It also shouldn't be used at the same time as sponges, gels, beads, propylene-glycol solutions or other humidification systems, as different systems can work against each other.
Hygrometer: how to correctly interpret the reading
The hygrometer measures the relative humidity of the air inside the humidor. It's a useful tool, but the number shown shouldn't be interpreted as an absolute, infallible measurement of the whole system.
Boveda recommends calibrating a new hygrometer before use, even if it's sold as pre-calibrated, and repeating the calibration every six months. Over time, both digital sensors and analogue instruments can lose accuracy.
A reading that temporarily deviates by a few points from the value printed on the Boveda packet doesn't automatically mean the packet isn't working. Frequent opening of the humidor, adding drier cigars, temperature, sensor position, wood that hasn't yet reached equilibrium, or a less-than-airtight seal can all affect the reading.
Before changing your Boveda percentage based on a single reading, it's best to watch the trend over time and check that the hygrometer is correctly calibrated.
How long does a Boveda packet last, and when should it be replaced?
Lifespan depends on the type of container, its seal, the humidity of the surrounding environment, how often it's opened, and the amount of work required of the packet. Boveda gives replacement roughly every 3 months, around 90 days, as a general rule of thumb, while noting that actual lifespan can vary under different conditions.
The simplest check remains the touch test:
- Hard corners but still-soft areas: the Boveda is still working.
- Hard patches alternating with soft ones: it's still usable.
- Fully rigid packet, hard everywhere: it has reached the end of its life and should be replaced.
A packet shouldn't be "recharged" by soaking it in water or distilled water. Boveda advises against this practice because, once exhausted and rehydrated by hand, the packet can lose the precision it was designed for and can also increase the risk of damaging the membrane.
Unopened packets, stored correctly in their original protective packaging, can instead have a long shelf life; Boveda indicates up to about two years for several packaged sizes.
If RH is too low: what to check before changing percentage
A low reading doesn't necessarily mean you immediately need a higher-percentage Boveda. First, it's useful to understand why the humidor isn't stabilising.
- Check the hygrometer. If it isn't calibrated, you could be chasing a problem that's actually just a wrong reading.
- Check the number of Boveda packets. The quantity should be sized to the container's total nominal capacity.
- Consider the wood. A new humidor, or one left empty and dry for a long time, can draw away a lot of humidity and may need seasoning or fresh conditioning.
- Check the seal. A leaky lid, a glass top that isn't well sealed, or an imprecise closure continually increase the workload on the packets.
- Consider newly added cigars. Drier cigars absorb humidity and can temporarily lower the reading.
- Consider the outside environment. Very dry climates, winter, high altitude and frequent opening all increase humidity loss.
If Boveda runs out very quickly, or RH stays persistently low despite the correct quantity, the cause may lie with the container or its humidity-loss load, not the chosen percentage. In a genuinely leaky wooden humidor, B72 can make sense; B75 should be reserved for the extremely dry conditions specified by the manufacturer.
If RH is too high
Before immediately lowering the set point, also check the hygrometer's calibration and the temperature in this case too. If there are other humidifiers in the humidor, remove them: Boveda should work alone. Also check that all packets have the same RH percentage.
In truly airtight containers, such as tupperdors and humidor bags, Boveda indicates 69% as the universal reference and advises against 75%. If humidity consistently exceeds the correct range for cigars, don't just watch the number: look for the cause, check the sensor, and check there isn't an additional source of humidity.
Why can a Boveda harden very quickly?
When a Boveda hardens quickly, it generally means it's releasing a lot of humidity into the environment and using up its reserve faster. The most common causes are a very dry wooden humidor, a leaky seal, an insufficient number of packets, a very dry outside climate, or frequent opening.
If packets reach the end of their life much earlier than expected, Boveda suggests checking the humidor's seasoning, increasing the number of packets at the same RH, and checking the container's seal. Adding more Boveda at the same set point increases the available capacity; it doesn't, for example, turn a 69% into a 72%.
Boveda holders: what they do and what they don't do
The word holder simply means support. A holder doesn't produce humidity and doesn't change the RH percentage: it keeps packets tidy, lifts them off the bottom of the humidor, and fixes them in a practical position, for example on the lid.
- Boveda Metal Holder 1 Packet - for one packet.
- Boveda Metal Holder 2 Packets - for two packets.
- Boveda Wooden Holder 2 Packets - wooden support for two side-by-side packets.
- Boveda Wooden Holder 4 Packets - wooden support for four side-by-side packets.
Going deeper: what is the system actually controlling?
To understand why two humidors with the same Boveda can show slightly different readings, it helps to distinguish a few concepts.
- Set point: the RH value the packet is designed to work toward, for example 69%.
- Buffering capacity: in practical terms, the reserve available to absorb or release water vapour. More packets at the same RH increase this capacity without changing the set point.
- Loss load: the amount of humidity the system continually loses through imperfect seals, walls, openings and air exchange. The higher it is, the faster Boveda has to work.
- Hygroscopic equilibrium: wood and tobacco absorb and release humidity in relation to the surrounding environment. This is why stabilisation isn't instant, especially after adding dry cigars or after seasoning.
- Temperature: RH is a relative value and also varies with temperature. Boveda controls humidity; it doesn't cool the humidor and doesn't replace temperature control.
In other words, the number printed on the packet is the system's reference point, but the reading you observe also depends on the container, the mass of wood and tobacco, temperature, the sensor, how often it's opened, and humidity losses. That's why a correct diagnosis starts from the whole system, not just the number shown on the hygrometer.
The most common mistakes to avoid
- Using 84% with cigars inside. 84% is for seasoning an empty wooden humidor.
- Thinking a higher percentage is always better. Each RH has a specific use.
- Mixing different percentages in the same humidor. For example, don't use 69% and 72% at the same time: the packets would work against each other.
- Using Boveda together with other humidification systems. Gels, sponges, beads and other humidifiers can interfere with how it works.
- Under-sizing the number of packets. The quantity should be calculated on the humidor's declared total capacity.
- Using 75% in an airtight container. It's intended for extremely dry ambient conditions and leaky systems, not standard airtight storage.
- Recharging a spent Boveda with water. Manual rehydration can compromise its accuracy.
- Reacting to every hygrometer fluctuation. First check calibration, temperature and the trend over time.
- Wetting the wood directly during seasoning. Boveda advises against wiping it down with a damp cloth or sponge.
Quick glossary
- RH: relative humidity of the air, expressed as a percentage.
- Set point: the reference RH value printed on the Boveda.
- Seasoning: initial conditioning of the wood in an empty humidor.
- Hygrometer: a tool that measures the relative humidity of the air.
- Tupperdor: an airtight plastic container used to store cigars.
- Coolerdor: a larger-capacity container, often made from an insulated cooler box, used with the same principle as a tupperdor.
- Buffering: the system's ability to offset changes by absorbing or releasing humidity.
- Hygroscopic equilibrium: the tendency of materials such as wood and tobacco to exchange humidity with the surrounding environment.
Quick pick in 30 seconds
- I have a small travel case: choose a Boveda 8 g 69%; allow one Size 8 for every 5 cigars of capacity.
- I have a humidor and don't know where to start: the Boveda 60 g 69% is the most universal reference.
- I prefer a drier profile: consider the Boveda 60 g 65%.
- My wooden humidor tends to lose humidity, or the environment is dry: consider the Boveda 60 g 72%.
- I live in extremely dry conditions and a very leaky wooden humidor won't hold the right range: the Boveda 60 g 75% is a specialist solution, not for airtight containers.
- I've just bought a new wooden humidor: before adding cigars, use the Boveda 60 g 84% for 14-day seasoning.
For tobacconists and cigar shops
For those selling Boveda to the public, it's useful to clearly distinguish maintenance grades from the 84% Boveda used for seasoning, and to explain that weight and percentage answer two different questions: which RH you want to maintain, and how much control capacity you need. Our catalog also includes the Boveda Display Counter Top, designed to organise the range on the sales counter.
In summary
To choose Boveda correctly, you need to keep three elements separate: the RH percentage defines the reference humidity level, the size and number of packets determine the available capacity, and the type of container determines how much work the system has to do. For most users, 69% is the most universal starting point; 65% offers a drier profile, 72% is suited to leakier humidors or dry environments, 75% is a specialist solution for extremely dry conditions, and 84% is used exclusively for seasoning an empty wooden humidor. 62%, although present in the Boveda range, is today mainly associated by the manufacturer with cannabis and hemp, and does not fall within the standard grades indicated for storing premium cigars.