10 Best Cigar Humidifiers in 2025: Top Picks for Every Budget

A humidor is where cigars are stored to preserve their freshness and flavor. A good cigar humidifier keeps your humidor at the ideal humidity level (usually around 65–72%), preventing your cigars from drying out or becoming too moist.

In this guide, we’ll break down the 10 best cigar humidifiers in 2025, based on reliability, build quality, humidity control, and more!

Best 10 Cigar Humidifiers:

• Boveda 72% Two-Way Humidity Control Pack – Best for Absolute Beginners
• Joe Cool Cigar Crystal Gel Humidifier Jar (4oz.) – Best for Budget-Conscious Beginners
• Xikar Cigar Bar Humidifier – Best for Avid Nomads
• Xikar Travel Humidifier – Best for Weekend Getaways
• Cigar Electronic iCigar Pro Humidifier System – Best for Period Homes
• HumidiCup S1 Electronic Cigar Humidifier – Best for Busy People
• Adorini Humidifier Deluxe Silver – Best for New-Build Homes
• Cigar Oasis Ultra 4.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier – Best for Tech-Heads
• Cigar Oasis Excel 3.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier – Best for Intermediate Smokers
• Cigar Oasis Magna 3.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier – Best for Experienced Smokers

Our Picks for the Best Cigar Humidifiers

Listed and detailed below are our favorite humidors across various categories:

Boveda 72% Two-Way Humidity Control Pack – Best for Absolute Beginners

Boveda packs are among the best cigar humidifiers for beginners. That’s because these humidification packs are delightfully easy to use.

There are various Boveda packs available. Each one is labelled with an RH (relative humidity) percentage. The idea is that the pack will provide your humidor with this specified level of humidity.

The 72% Boveda pack is therefore likely to suffice for many cigar smokers. This pack is designed to work with humidors made of porous materials, like wood or leather.

• Brand: Boveda
• Key Features: Permeable water-vapor membrane, ‘2-way humidity control’
• Price: $9.99
• Humidifier Type: Humidification pack
• Humidity Control Accuracy: In most circumstances, the pack is likely to deliver the advertised RH level. However, results can slightly differ depending on your local climate.
• Capacity: 25 cigars
• Ease of Setup: To use it, start by placing it in your humidor. Use one pack for every 25 total cigars the humidor can hold. For example, if your humidor’s capacity is 75 cigars, put in three packs.
• Maintenance Needs: How often you need to replace the pack depends on the type of humidifier you have. If it’s a wood humidifier box, replace the pack every 2-4 months. If your humidor is an airtight plastic container, replace the pack every 6-9 months. 
• Durability & Build Quality: The pack is permeable, so handle it with care. It will come in a clear plastic overwrap, so remove this before using the pack itself. However, it is crucial not to cut or open the brown humidity packet.
• Portability: Each pack is relatively thin and measures 5.25 by 3.5 inches. So, it’s definitely easy to carry around in a bag or even your hand.
• Value for Money: The pack adds moisture as and when necessary. Hence, it is much easier to use than many foam humidifiers. However, as it needs replacing every few months, the costs could potentially stack up.

Pros	Cons
Easy to use	Needs replacing every few months
Affordable	Might not work well with all humidors
Saves time
You can just throw out old, used packs

Joe Cool Cigar Crystal Gel Humidifier Jar (4oz.) – Best for Budget-Conscious Beginners

Humidification packs are easy to use, but need replacing regularly. This is a good reason for you to consider a crystal gel humidifier instead. After all, you can potentially keep reusing the same gel crystals for years!

Once you’ve bought this Joe Cool Cigar humidifier, you don’t have to wait long before putting it in your humidor. While it’s there, keep an eye on the jar’s contents. You need to be aware when the crystals inside the jar shrink below its “Add Line”.

When that does happen, it’s time to refill the jar with propylene glycol solution. That’s largely it when it comes to maintaining this humidifier. It’s a low-fuss solution that can prove kind to your bank balance in the long run.

• Brand: Joe Cool Cigar
• Key Features: Pre-charged crystals, long lifespan
• Price: $11.49
• Humidifier Type: Crystal gel
• Humidity Control Accuracy: This 4oz jar claims to be able to keep your humidor’s RH at a consistent 70%. Joe Cool Cigar’s PG solution excels at maintaining optimal humidity levels.
• Capacity: 100 cigars
• Ease of Setup: This humidifier comes pre-charged, enabling you to start using it almost immediately. Just remove the cap before putting the jar inside your humidor.
• Maintenance Needs: The crystals can work their magic for up to 90 days before you need to refill the jar. According to Joe Cool Cigar, this must be refilled with their own PG solution.
• Durability & Build Quality: Be careful how you handle the plastic jar. Some customers have found that it easily cracks, leaking liquid and crystals as a result.
• Portability: The jar measures 2.75 x 2.75 x 2.4 inches and weighs a mere 5.3 ounces. Overall, then, a pretty portable package.
• Value for Money: Of course, you will need a supply of Joe Cool Cigar propylene glycol solution at close hand. However, this can still be cheaper than repeatedly buying new humidification packs.

Pros	Cons
Effective at maintaining humidity	Needs to be regularly refilled with the brand’s own propylene glycol (PG) solution
Can humidify up to 100 cigars	Refill instructions may seem complex to some
Lasts up to 90 days between refills
Comes pre-charged and ready to use

Xikar Cigar Bar Humidifier – Best for Avid Nomads

For many people, life is lived almost entirely on the road. This is the best humidifier for cigars you intend to take with you from city to city – or continent to continent. This humidifier’s bar form helps you squeeze it even into packed bags. Then, when you’re at your getaway retreat, you can slip this stick into your travel humidor. There, it will take up the space of just one cigar.

Keep in mind that this humidifier is best suited to relatively small humidors. For example, it will likely struggle to provide enough humidity for a desktop humidor. Not that there is much chance of you needing one if you are almost permanently travelling…

• Brand: Xikar
• Key Features: Two easy-fill openings, touch control, thick plastic casing
• Price: $10.95
• Humidifier Type: Crystal gel
• Humidity Control Accuracy: You can expect consistent humidity on several conditions. One is that you use the recommended refill fluid. Another is that your humidor actually contains far fewer than 50 cigars. Yes, the humidifier is meant to be able to humidify 50 cigars simultaneously. However, it’s not always the case in practice.
• Capacity: 50 cigars
• Ease of Setup: This humidifier comes pre-filled with glycol fluid. So, you can start using the humidifier pretty quickly. It’s just a matter of removing its wrapper before dropping the device into your humidor.
• Maintenance Needs: Over time, the crystals in the humidifier will shrink to roughly half their original size. When this happens, refill with Xikar’s propylene glycol solution. Many users will end up doing this monthly.
• Durability & Build Quality: The humidifier is made of pleasingly thick plastic. However, there have been reports of the humidifier leaking. Hence, it’s a good idea to carefully inspect its sealing before you use the device.
• Portability: This humidifier is 144mm long, 20mm wide, and 15mm high. It’s small enough to go into a pocket unnoticed.
• Value for Money: The upfront cost is very low. Even the glycol fluid can potentially last for months before you need to top up.

Pros	Cons
Suitable for small humidors	Won’t suffice for large humidors
Can humidify up to 50 cigars	Must be regularly refilled with Xikar PG Solution
Affordable
Only as large as one cigar

Xikar Travel Humidifier – Best for Weekend Getaways

Of course, most of us tend to only embark on vacations once in a while. Even when they do happen, they probably don’t last more than a few days.

So, even if you’re a cigar connoisseur, you are unlikely to get through many cigars during your time away. At the same time, why forgo them altogether for the duration of your vacation?

This Xikar humidifier functions as a travel humidor, too. It can carry up to ten Churchill cigars, like the Romeo y Julieta Churchill. So, you can enjoy classy cigars while storing them in a unit that easily fits into your luggage.

• Brand: Xikar
• Key Features: ABS model plastic construction, silicone seal, touch control
• Price: $39.99
• Humidifier Type: Travel
• Humidity Control Accuracy: The humidifier uses the sponge method. So, even if you do buy the humidor, it’s tempting to source a separate humidifier for it. That way, you can achieve better, more consistent results.
• Capacity: 10 Churchill cigars
• Ease of Setup: The humidifier is a sponge you are required to regularly soak with distilled water. So, after the initial soak, you’re ready to start using the humidifier.
• Maintenance Needs: You will need to refill the sponge humidifier at least every two weeks.
• Durability & Build Quality: The humidifier is enclosed by super-strong ABS plastic. Meanwhile, a silicone seal keeps the container airtight and watertight.
• Portability: The travel humidor measures just 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.75 inches. These dimensions, combined with the unit’s weight of 0.4 kilograms, make it highly portable.
• Value for Money: The humidor’s physical resilience means you can expect it to stay intact for years to come. However, the humidifier’s reliability is likely to falter after a year.

Pros	Cons
Portable	Relies on Xikar PG Solution
Super-strong casing	Might not be ideal for longer trips
Airtight and watertight
Foam cradle protects the cigars

La Veil Cigar Electronic iCigar Pro Humidifier System – Best for Period Homes

There are many cigar humidors to choose from. You ideally want one that will look right at home in… your home. So, if you have a period home, your humidor choices can initially seem a little limited.

One trick is to look specifically at cabinet humidors. A wooden cabinet humidor looks just right in a period property. This La Veil humidifier is for use with such humidors.

It’s fair to say that the design of the humidifier itself isn’t exactly ‘period’. However, you can carefully conceal it in your vintage-styled humidor. That way, you get the best of both worlds. In other words, a humidor that looks endearingly old but taps into modern technology.

• Brand: Le Veil
• Key Features: Digital display, capacitive humidity sensor
• Price: $199.99
• Humidifier Type: Electronic
• Humidity Control Accuracy: The iCigar Pro excels at keeping humidity at the optimal level. This electronic unit is programmed to automatically adjust humidity as necessary.
• Capacity: 600-3,000 cigars
• Ease of Setup: This humidifier has a number of features intended to ease the setup process. These include digital re-calibrating technology and a flat power cable. The latter is designed to fit through humidor door cracks.
• Maintenance Needs: The humidifier includes a half-gallon water tank you will need to refill from time to time. An alarm will go off when refill time comes.
• Durability & Build Quality: The brand has a great reputation for the build quality of its humidifiers. A La Veil humidifier can remain in good working condition for well over a decade! Meanwhile, this particular humidifier’s gel only needs replacing about once a year.
• Portability: This humidor is 9 inches long, 4.75 inches wide, and 4.5 inches high. It’s also powered via a cord rather than batteries. The implications are clear – this really isn’t a portable system.
• Value for Money: As this humidifier doesn’t run on batteries, it’s cost-efficient to run. This is especially the case if you use cheap electricity sources, like solar panels.

Pros	Cons
Ideal for cigar cabinets and towers	Relies on distilled water
Adjustable humidity control	Must be used with a power cord
Quiet
Doesn’t require batteries

HumidiCup S1 Electronic Cigar Humidifier – Best for Busy People

If you are always rushed off your feet, you will only have so much free time for smoking cigars. So, you also won’t need a massive humidor. One capable of holding up to 150 cigars is likely to suffice.

Electronic humidifiers run largely of their own accord. This is why they are a wonderful time saver. This HumidiCup humidifier will also beep when it detects the humidity going too high or too low.

That’s the only occasion when you will likely need to take manual action. HumidiCup has also been widely praised for its customer service. If you do have any issues with the humidifier, you can get quick assistance from the company’s support team.

• Brand: HumidiCup
• Key Features: Accurate sensor, plastic enclosure
• Price: $89.00
• Humidifier Type: Electronic
• Humidity Control Accuracy: You can set a specific humidity level target for the humidifier. The microprocessor will then switch on a fan inside the unit. This fan will distribute moist airflow to where it needs to be.
• Capacity: 40-150 cigars
• Ease of Setup: HumidiCup provides easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up the humidifier. This includes guidance on installing the humidifier and saturating the sponge.
• Maintenance Needs: You are advised to refill the humidifier with distilled water rather than propylene glycol. How often you need to refill depends on the humidor’s size and sealing. However, it is typically once a month for a table humidor.
• Durability & Build Quality: The physical resilience is debatable. Several users have reported the humidifier breaking within a few months of purchase.
• Portability: This humidifier measures 2 x 6 x 2.3 inches. That makes it easily pocketable.
• Value for Money: The device comes with a two-year warranty. When you contact HumidiCup’s customer service team, you can expect a response within 24 hours.

Pros	Cons
Slim profile	Cartridge must be regularly refilled with water
Adjustable humidity control	Needs to be powered via a cord
Quiet fan
2-year warranty from HumidiCup

Adorini Humidifier Deluxe Silver – Best for New-Build Homes

Many new-build homes have futuristic-looking designs. This humidifier, with its gold-plated aluminum front, has a similar style.

Walk into a modern home and you are likely to see power outlets aplenty. This is no accident. Builders today know that households rely on electricity more than ever before.

It’s no big problem, then, that this Adorini humidifier relies on a power cord. Whether your humidor is in your living room, bedroom, or home office, it’s quick and easy to add this humidifier, too.

• Brand: Adorini
• Key Features: Adjustable opening, demineralization cartridge
• Price: $60.00
• Humidifier Type: Electronic
• Humidity Control Accuracy: On the front of the humidifier, you’ll see a series of moveable ventilation openings. By adjusting these slats, you can also adjust the humidity level.
• Capacity: 150 cigars
• Ease of Setup: Setting up this humidifier entails mounting it to the humidor. Add one Adorini Humidifier Silver Deluxe for every 150 cigars the humidor contains. For example, if the humidor holds 450 cigars, add three humidifiers.
• Maintenance Needs: This humidifier contains an acryl polymer fleece you are required to soak. This material responds quickly to humidity variations. It can also hold more water than its own volume. This all makes the humidification process both consistent and efficient.
• Durability & Build Quality: The fleece is protected by a hard ABS plastic outer shell that is truly built to last.
• Portability: The product’s dimensions are 15.8 x 2.1 x 7.3 centimeters. So, handling this device can feel a lot like holding a smartphone.
• Value for Money: This humidifier can be mounted to plenty of standard-size humidors. In other words, it’s versatile! Even when you replace your humidor, you can keep using this silver Adorini humidifier. So, you can keep more money in your pocket.

Pros	Cons
Attractive design	Relies on a power cord
Automatic operation	Might stand out too much (and not in a good way) in a period property
Ideal for the living room and bedroom
Can be controlled remotely

Cigar Oasis Ultra 4.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier – Best for Tech-Heads

When it comes to humidifiers, Cigar Oasis is one of the biggest brands out there. The name alone is practically a seal of quality. There are plenty of Cigar Oasis humidifier models to choose from, too.

However, there remain subtle but crucial differences between them. One of the biggest differences is capacity. The Ultra has the lowest, as it can humidify 50-100 cigars at once.

It’s possible to connect this entry-level model to the Cigar Oasis ‘Smart Humidor’ app. This can alert you when your humidor’s humidity levels aren’t quite right.

• Brand: Cigar Oasis
• Key Features: LCD display, soft-touch buttons, sensor-controlled fan
• Price: $159.00
• Humidifier Type: Electronic
• Humidity Control Accuracy: Cigar Oasis humidifiers all use the same humidification process. A fan inside the unit moistens air by running it through a water cartridge. The fan switches off once the required humidity level is reached.
• Capacity: 50-100 cigars
• Ease of Setup: The unit is powered via a ribbon cable you can connect to any standard USB AC adapter. The humidifier attaches to the humidor magnetically.
• Maintenance Needs: Running the Ultra 4.0 is a largely ‘hands-off’ affair. The main thing is to refill the cartridge every so often – usually every 4-6 weeks. The cartridge itself will need replacing annually.
• Durability & Build Quality: The Ultra 4.0 is a solid amalgam of plastic and resin. Even the magnetic attachment is robust, keeping the humidifier firmly in place.
• Portability: This unit is seven inches long, 2.5 inches wide, and an inch in height. This small footprint lets it fit easily inside most humidors.
• Value for Money: This humidifier offers a lot of return for the money you pay. For example, the app connectivity is a neat feature to have at this price point.

Pros	Cons
Can humidify 50-100 cigars	Won’t suffice for larger humidors
Simple plug-and-play setup	Green color might be an acquired taste
Eliminates unwanted odors
Maximizes space

Cigar Oasis Excel 3.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier – Best for Intermediate Smokers

If your daily cigar intake is increasing, consider upgrading to a larger humidor. The options on the market include ‘wineadors’ and climate-controlled humidors.

This Cigar Oasis Excel 3.0 humidifier is designed for use with both types of humidor. It can humidify humidors of 1.5 to 4 cubic feet – large enough for 100-300 cigars.

The Excel 3.0 has many features in common with the Ultra 4.0 model, including ‘Soft-Touch’ buttons. There’s also a backlit LCD screen indicating the humidity level and temperature.

• Brand: Cigar Oasis
• Key Features: LCD display, ‘Soft-Touch’ buttons, sensor-controlled fan
• Price: $169.00
• Humidifier Type: Electronic
• Humidity Control Accuracy: There’s no need to rotate your cigars when you use the Cigar Oasis Excel 3.0 humidifier. The sensor-controlled fan distributes warm air evenly across the unit’s interior.
• Capacity: 100-300 cigars
• Ease of Setup: When setting up the Excel 3.0, make sure your humidor is near a power outlet. That’s because you’ll need it to power the humidifier. Attach the Excel 3.0 to your humidor before adding water to the cartridge in the humidifier.
• Maintenance Needs: The Excel 3.0 runs largely automatically. All you really have to do is refill the water cartridge every 2-4 months. You can also keep the unit at peak performance by replacing the cartridge every year.
• Durability & Build Quality: Some users have reported parts of the humidifier failing within a few months of purchase. On the plus side, if this does happen, Cigar Oasis are usually happy to send out replacement units.
• Portability: The Excel 3.0 has different dimensions to the Ultra 4.0. The former is six inches long, two inches wide, and 3.5 inches high. That’s still delightfully pocket-size!
• Value for Money: Cigar Oasis proudly advertises the unit’s low energy consumption. They are right to be proud, too. This humidifier’s energy efficiency makes it cost-effective to run.

Pros	Cons
Can humidify 100-300 cigars	Overkill for smaller humidors
Suitable for various humidors	Mobile alerts require a monthly fee
Sealed design extends refill periods
Displays humidity levels clearly

Cigar Oasis Magna 3.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier – Best for Experienced Smokers

If you smoke cigars pretty often, you probably need a pretty large humidor. If it’s one as large as 10-60 cubic feet, Cigar Oasis has a fitting humidifier for it – the Magna 3.0.

According to Cigar Oasis, the Magna 3.0 can humidify 1,000 to 3,000 cigars in one go. To keep it running, you regularly refill its reservoir with distilled water. The beads in the container will consequently grow, leading to increased humidity levels.

All of that, and you get the SmartHumidor app functionality thrown in as well. With this app, you can get alerts when your humidor’s humidity falls too low. You can also use your smartphone to remotely adjust the humidity setting.

• Brand: Cigar Oasis
• Key Features: LCD display, soft-touch buttons, sensor-controlled fan
• Price: $279.00
• Humidifier Type: Electronic
• Humidity Control Accuracy: This humidifier comes with a remote sensor – and you can decide where to place it in the humidor. As a result, you can look forward to accurate humidity readings.
• Capacity: 1,000 to 3,000 cigars
• Ease of Setup: The Magna 3.0 is easy to assemble out of the box. You can press soft-to-the-touch buttons to set the target humidity level.
• Maintenance Needs: Add distilled water to the water reservoir every few weeks. The reservoir is transparent, too. So, you can super-quickly check the water level every time you pass by the humidifier.
• Durability & Build Quality: Some users have complained that parts of the humidor are too fragile and break quickly. However, the robust 3M mounting lock secures the remote sensor firmly into place.
• Portability: The device is six inches high and 6.5 inches wide. All in all, you can effortlessly carry it in your hand without any major trouble.
• Value for Money: As the Magna 3.0 system is completely sealed, it can be used in a wide range of humidors. So, you don’t necessarily need to replace it when you buy a new humidor.

Pros	Cons
Sealed design helps with humidification	Requires distilled water
Sensor positioning options	Needs refilling every 2-5 weeks on average
Transparent water reservoir	Not suited to small humidors
Low water alerts

Comparison of the Best Cigar Humidifiers

It’s not always easy to find the right humidifier, given the many options available. To help, the following table sums up some of the basics:

Humidifier	Price	Humidifier Type	Capacity
Boveda 72% Two-Way Humidity Control Pack	$9.99	Humidification pack	25 cigars
Joe Cool Cigar Crystal Gel Humidifier Jar (4oz.)	$11.49	Crystal gel	100 cigars
Xikar Cigar Bar	$10.95	Crystal gel	50 cigars
Xikar Travel Humidifier	$39.99	Travel	10 Churchill cigars
La Veil Cigar Electronic iCigar Pro Humidifier System	$199.99	Electronic	600-3,000 cigars
HumidiCup S1 Electronic Cigar Humidifier	$89.00	Electronic	40-150 cigars
Adorini Humidifier Deluxe Silver	$60.00	Electronic	150 cigars
Cigar Oasis Ultra 4.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier	$159.00	Electronic	50-100 cigars
Cigar Oasis Excel 3.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier	$169.00	Electronic	100-300 cigars
Cigar Oasis Magna 3.0 Cigar Humidor Humidifier	$279.00	Electronic	1,000-3,000 cigars

Selection Criteria

It’s not easy to find the right humidifier. When you look for one, you need to consider many different factors. They aren’t always the obvious factors, either.

For example, a humidifier’s feature set is often more important than its price. Some supposedly ‘optional’ features can actually be important for you personally. We’ve used the following criteria to assess cigar humidifiers:

• Humidity Control Accuracy – Many humidifiers let you set a target humidity level. However, not all humidifiers will hit this target. Naturally, you want to find one that will, which is something we’ve considered.
• Ease of Setup – The sooner you can start using the humidifier, the better. It’s not ideal to have to spend ages fumbling around with the instruction manual beforehand. We’ve selected humidifiers that are renowned for ease of setup.
• Maintenance Needs – You need to know what it takes to run the humidifier. Many models will need to be refilled or replaced from time to time. You’ll find plenty of low-maintenance picks in our list.
• Portability – It can be frustrating to have to keep lugging a heavy humidifier around. That’s why portability is often the name of the game. Our selection includes plenty of portable humidifiers.
• Durability & Build Quality – It’s annoying to buy something only for it to quickly incur damage. Better-built humidifiers tend to last longer, which is one of our key criteria.
• Value for Money – The best cigar humidifier should leave you feeling like you’ve got what you paid for. So, the best-value option isn’t necessarily the cheapest. This is something we’ve put front and centre in our search.

Why is a Humidifier Necessary?

Cigar tobacco is best maintained between 68% and 72% humidity. Finding the right humidifier helps keep your cigars fresh.

If a humidifier does not release enough moisture, your cigars will be dry and brittle. If it adds too much moisture, the cigars will be wet and difficult to light (and keep lit).

Types of Cigar Humidifiers

Cigar humidifiers – like humidors – come in a range of shapes and sizes. Most cigar humidifiers are “passive” devices. This means they use materials that add moisture to the humidor. You moisten the material yourself before leaving it to work its magic in your humidor.

Passive humidifiers require a larger amount of input on your part. By contrast, “active” humidifiers automatically increase and decrease humidity levels as necessary. This is done through mechanical means. Electronic humidifiers are examples of active humidifiers.

To ensure optimal cigar storage, you need to use the right humidifier with the right humidor. Humidors range from small DIY cigar containers to luxurious cabinet-style units.

Foam or Sponge Humidifiers

Foam humidifiers are among the most popular passive humidifiers. They are dependable, versatile, and budget-friendly. Foam humidifiers come in many shapes and sizes to suit different humidors.

Sponge and green floral foam are classic humidification materials. However, other synthetic foam polymers are also now available.

Most budget humidifiers require the user to regularly soak foam or a sponge. This material will gradually release moisture into the air to keep the humidity at or around 70%.

Humidification Packs

These single-use solutions offer dependable humidification. Unlike reusable devices, they do not require high maintenance. This makes them one of the best cigar accessories.

Humidification packs deliver simple, consistent humidification. Boveda and other popular brands make it easy to choose a set level of humidification, ranging from 65% to 72% or more.

However, humidification packs must be replaced every few months. Hence, these packs can be costlier than reusable humidifiers in the long run.

Humidification Gel or Beads

A crystal humidifier is basically a vessel of acrylic polymer crystals. By adding water, you can turn them into a gel that both releases and absorbs moisture.

Crystal gel humidifiers offer good overall humidity control. That’s because crystal gel polymers absorb many times their weight in water. Silica beads work similarly by absorbing water. Both materials offer a cost-effective, reusable humidification option.

Moderate maintenance is required, as water must be added every few weeks. Humidification gel and silica beads also need replacing at some point. However, they can last for months or even years.

Electronic Humidifiers

Electronic humidifiers offer greater customisation and control over your humidor’s climate. These “active” humidifiers feature:

• Integrated climate sensors
• Hygrometers
• Humidity control alarms

Sensors built into electronic humidifiers continuously monitor moisture levels. When the humidity falls below par, the humidifier releases more moisture. The humidifier stops releasing moisture when the humidity level reaches the optimal range.

Electronic humidifiers include fans that help to circulate humidity evenly throughout the humidor. Humidity control alarms alert you when the humidity falls below a particular level.

Maintenance is a mixed bag. An electronic humidifier can run beyond a month before you need to add more water to the unit. However, this humidifier naturally relies on a constant supply of electricity. So, the device requires battery recharging or close proximity to an electrical outlet.

Additionally, electronic humidifiers are bulkier and much more costly than other options.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers

If you’ve got an especially large collection of cigars, you might have a walk-in humidor. Yes, this is a humidor spacious enough for you to walk into!

However, keeping such a big space at the right humidity level can be challenging. So, you’ll need a heavy-duty humidifier, such as an ultrasonic humidifier.

An ultrasonic humidifier uses high-frequency vibrations to turn liquid water into water vapor. This mist is released into the air, making it more humid.

The frequencies are so high you won’t even hear them. Hence, one key advantage of an ultrasonic humidifier is how quietly it runs.

Vapor particles generated by the humidifier can become droplets. So, it’s wise to run the humidifier at a safe distance from your cigars. Otherwise, they could too easily incur water damage

Evaporative Humidifiers

These, too, are suited to use with walk-in humidors. Evaporative humidifiers produce a fine vapor, distributing moisture across a large area.

To use an evaporative humidifier, start by dampening its wick filter. Next, turn on the humidifier’s fan. This will blow air through the wick filter, releasing its moisture into the room.

How far this moisture spreads around the room will depend on the fan’s power. Unfortunately, the more powerful the fan, the more energy it might need to expend. This can weigh heavily on your energy bills.

Choosing the Right Humidifier

Each humidor has specific humidification needs. So, it’s important to decide which humidifier type will pair best with your humidor. Just like when you’re trying to decide how to choose a cigar cutter or lighter, you must tread carefully.

Here are a few important questions to ask yourself:

• How much space needs to be humidified? If you’ve already got your humidor, it will be useful to know its interior dimensions.
• Where will I keep my humidor? You want somewhere that will let you easily access and maintain the humidifier.
• How many cigars does my humidor hold? You want a humidifier optimized for this number.
• What is my humidifier budget? Consider the humidifier’s retail price as well as long-term usage costs.
• How much humidifier maintenance can I handle? Some humidifiers will likely require more maintenance than others.

These factors will help you identify the best humidifier type for your needs. For example, a plug-in electronic humidifier must be close to an electrical outlet. Conversely, humidification packs can go anywhere, but need replacing every few months. So, there are trade-offs to consider.

To get the best results from your humidor, you need to position it out of direct sunlight. So, plan the humidor’s location accordingly. You also want to choose a humidifier optimized for the number of cigars you plan to store. A humidifier optimized for 25 cigars won’t be enough for 200 cigars. These considerations will help you better identify the perfect humidifier for your humidor.

Tips for Humidifier Use and Maintenance

It’s easy to use and maintain a humidifier once you’ve settled on a routine that works for you. First, be careful where you place the humidifier in the humidor. You want to be able to access the humidifier easily without damaging your cigars.

The underside of the humidor’s lid is usually the best place to put a humidifier device. Boveda packs and other humidification packs can be placed anywhere within the humidor.

When adding water to reusable devices, use only distilled water. This will prevent minerals, bacteria, and mold from accumulating. Occasionally adding propylene glycol will further aid in humidity control and microbe prevention.

When you need to refill the humidifier, always remove it from the humidor first. Drain off the excess water before returning the humidifier to the humidor. Otherwise, this water can too easily leak onto your cigars. Regardless of the humidifier type, check the humidity level regularly. You’ll need a quality hygrometer for the job.

Optimize Your Cigar Experience with the Right Humidifier

Don’t leave your cigar humidification to chance! Once you’ve found the best cigar humidifier for your needs, you can easily put it to the test. You can start by ordering a batch of your favorite smokes from Swiss Cuban Cigars.