A cigar’s shape and size is the most common way to categorize them. Though most manufactures say the shape of their cigars, the size can actually differ between each manufacturer. Which is why today cigars are available many more sizes than the past. Some manufacturers even create they’re own sizes now so, it’s likely you’ll find a cigar with the same size but, under a different name due to the manufacturer.

When describing a cigar the standard is to say the shape or otherwise know as vitola of it and not the size due to the fact that the actual dimensions of cigars vary from manufacture to manufacture. The size of a cigar goes length, which is in inches, and by width. The width is referred to as the ring gauge, aka diameter, and that goes by 64ths of an inch.

When referring to the shape of a cigar there is 2 main categories it could fall in:

Parejo

Most cigars have straight sides, a cylindrical body, one capped end, and one open. This type of cigar is the most common and called a parejo otherwise referred to as coronas. Here is a list of parejos terms (dimensions can vary):

• Rothschild – 4.5 inches by 48 ring gauge, the name is after the Rothschild family which was a European dynasty in the 1800s that was believed to have the worlds largest private fortune including even in today’s standard, also considered a short robusto
• Robusto – 4 + 7/8 inch inch by 50 ring gauge, short and thick
• Short Robusto – 4 to 4.5 inches by 48 to 50 ring guage
• Robusto Grande – 5.5 inches by 56 to 58 ring gauge, longer and thicker robusto
• Robusto Gordo – 4.5 to 5 inches by 60 ring gauge or larger, fat robusto
• Small Panatela – 5 inches by 33 ring guage
• Panatela – 6 inches by 38 ring gauge, long thin cigar
• Petit Corona – 5 + 1/8 inch by 42 ring gauge
• Carlota – 5 + 5/8 inch by 35 ring gauge, rare
• Corona – 5.5 inches by 42 ring gauge
• Corona Gorda – 5 + 5/8 inch by 46 ring gauge, fatter corona
• Corona Grande – 6 + 1/8 inch by 42 ring gauge, longer corona
• Double Corona – 7 + 5/8 inch by 49 ring gauge, long and thicker corona
• Gran Corona – 9 + 1/4 inch by 47 ring gauge, alot longer and slightly thicker corona
• Toro – 6 inches by 50 ring gauge
• Toro Gordo – 6 inches by 60 ring gauge
• Lonsdale – 6.5 inches by 42 ring gauge, long and thin, name after Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale an English nobleman that was considered by some “England’s greatest sporting gentleman”
• Churchill – 7 inches by 47-50 ring gauge, a large cigar made popular by and in honor of Winston Churchill and former British Prime Minister
• Presidente – 8 inches by 50 ring gauge
• Lancero – 6.5-7.5 inches by 38-42 ring gauge, long and thing, used to be popular a long time ago but, now gaining popularity again

The second type of main cigar shape is called a figurado. This shape is an irregular shape usually consisting of a cone shaped head. It is also considered a higher quality cigar for the simple fact they are more difficult to create. These were incredibly popular in the 19th century but, by 1930 they had fallen out of style. In today’s world they are starting to make a popularity come back to the point where most manufactures have begun to had a figurado to they’re normal production line. On the more exotic end of figurados people such as Arturo Fuente, Casa Fernandez, and Sam Leccia have been on the leading edge. Making cigars that have wrapper artwork to making them in the shapes of baseball bats to tobacco pipes and even American footballs. Here is a list of Figurado terms (dimensions can very):

• Torpedo – 6-6.5 inches by 52-56 ring gauge, tapers to a point
• Pyramid – 6-6.5 inches by 52-56 ring gauge, gives largest possible burn area but, makes cigar head comfortable in your mouth, tapers from foot to head
• Belicoso – 5-5.5 inches by 52-56 ring gauge, tapers quick at the head

Q: What is the difference between a torpedo, pyramid, and a belicoso?

A: The torpedo tapers only off the head, a pyramid tapers the whole length of the cigar from foot to head, and the belicoso is almost like the torpedo but, the tip on a belicoso tapers much faster than a torpedo.

• Perfecto – 4.5-9 inches by 38-48 ring gauge, ranges in size, bulged in the middle and narrow on both ends (nipple-shaped), the name comes from the design of the foot because when you light the nipple the tobacco should burn even towards the edge of the cigar’s foot which results in the perfect light
• Double Perfecto – 6 inches by 60 ring gauge, larger version of the standard perfecto
• Diadema – 8 plus inches in length by 50-60 ring guage, double perfecto in shape and only difference is that the bottom third of this cigar flares out then tapers back to the foot
• Culebras – 5-6 inches by 38 ring gauge, a series of three pointed cigars braided together, great for a group of 3 friends
• Tuscan/Toscano – 3.5-6.5 inches by 34-37 ring gauge, also know as a cheroot, Mark Twain was famous for smoking these, Italian type cigar hence the name, was created in the early 19th century, strong aroma, slim cigar tapered at the ends and thicker in the middle
• Double Figurado – 5.5-6 inches by 60 ring gauge, to sharp ends
• Salomón – 7-8 inches by 57-60 ring gauge, perfecto in shape, smaller than diadema