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VISUAL GUIDE

Cigar Shapes
& Sizes.

Every vitola explained. How shape affects flavor, smoke time, and experience — from a quick corona to a 90-minute churchill.

2
FAMILIES
10+
SHAPES
30-90
MIN RANGE

The Two Families

Parejos vs. Figurados

Parejo — Straight Sided

Uniform diameter from foot to cap. The most common family. Consistent burn and draw throughout. Examples: robusto, toro, corona, churchill, lonsdale.

Figurado — Irregular Shaped

Tapered at the head, foot, or both. More complex to roll — commands a premium. The taper concentrates smoke and intensifies flavor. Examples: torpedo, belicoso, pyramid, perfecto.

Parejo Shapes

Straight-Sided Cigars

5 x 50

Robusto

MOST POPULAR
LENGTH: 4.5–5.5”RING: 48–52TIME: 45–60 min

The workhorse of the cigar world. Short enough to smoke quickly, wide enough to deliver full flavor. The best starting point for any smoker.

The wide ring gauge means a cooler smoke and a balanced draw. Flavor develops fully across all three thirds. Most reviewed cigars are robustos — it’s the industry standard for comparison.

6 x 52

Toro

GREAT FOR SESSIONS
LENGTH: 6”RING: 50–54TIME: 60–75 min

Bigger brother of the robusto. More smoke time means more flavor development — complex blends shine here because they have room to evolve.

The larger ring gauge produces slightly cooler smoke, which preserves delicate flavor nuances. A great choice when you want to settle in for an evening smoke.

5.5 x 42

Corona

CLASSIC SHAPE
LENGTH: 5.5–6”RING: 40–44TIME: 30–45 min

The traditional cigar shape. Slimmer ring gauge means the wrapper contributes more to the overall flavor — choose a corona to really taste the leaf.

Shorter smoke time makes this the go-to for a quality smoke when time is limited. The benchmark shape for many classic Cuban-style blends.

7 x 47

Churchill

90+ MINUTES
LENGTH: 7”RING: 46–48TIME: 90+ min

Named after Winston Churchill, who was rarely seen without one. A serious time commitment — and a serious reward.

The extended length means the final third develops after the tobacco has been warming for over an hour. Flavors in a churchill that you’d never taste in a robusto. Reserve this for when you have real time to commit.

6.5 x 42

Lonsdale

ELEGANT & SLIM
LENGTH: 6.5”RING: 40–44TIME: 50–70 min

Long and slender — the most elegant of the parejos. The slim ring gauge makes the wrapper the star of the show.

Popular among smokers who want a longer experience without the heft of a churchill. The thin draw concentrates flavor and keeps the smoke cool throughout.

7 x 38

Panatela

REFINED & THIN
LENGTH: 6–7.5”RING: 34–38TIME: 30–50 min

The thinnest of the parejos. Very wrapper-forward — the narrow ring gauge means you taste the outer leaf above all else.

Once very popular, now considered old-fashioned by some. Still the choice of smokers who prioritize elegance and subtlety over body and complexity.

Figurado Shapes

Irregular & Tapered Cigars

More complex to roll. More nuanced to smoke. The taper concentrates smoke as it passes through the head, delivering a more intense flavor experience than any parejo of the same blend.

6 x 52

Torpedo

MOST POPULAR FIGURADO
LENGTH: 6–6.5”RING: 52–54TIME: 60–75 min

Pointed at the head, wide in the body. The most popular figurado. The tapered cap focuses the smoke stream, concentrating and intensifying every flavor note.

Many blenders release torpedos alongside their robusto line — the same blend tastes noticeably different in this shape. Worth trying side-by-side if you have the chance.

5.5 x 52

Belicoso

SHORTER TAPER
LENGTH: 5–5.5”RING: 50–52TIME: 45–60 min

Similar to the torpedo but shorter with a gentler taper. The most approachable figurado — easier to cut cleanly, comparable smoke time to a robusto.

A good first figurado if you’re transitioning from parejos. The flavor concentration is noticeable but not as dramatic as a full torpedo.

6 x 54

Pyramid

WIDEST AT FOOT
LENGTH: 6–7”RING: 52–58 at footTIME: 60–80 min

Narrow pointed head, widening toward the foot — the opposite geometry of a torpedo. The smoke gets progressively richer and fuller as you work down.

One of the hardest shapes to roll perfectly. The dramatic taper requires exceptional skill from the roller. Premium cigars in this vitola command a justified price premium.

5 x 50

Perfecto

TAPERED BOTH ENDS
LENGTH: 4.5–6”RING: 38–50 (varies)TIME: 40–60 min

Tapered at both ends with a bulge in the middle. The most complex shape to roll — and the most visually striking. Rare and considered a masterwork of rolling technique.

The closed foot means you light the tapered end. Flavor starts mild, builds through the wide middle, then concentrates again as it tapers back to the cap. A completely unique smoking experience.

Quick Reference

All Shapes at a Glance

SHAPELENGTHRINGTIMEBEST FOR
Robusto4.5–5.5”48–5245–60Beginners, everyday
Toro6”50–5460–75Evening sessions
Corona5.5–6”40–4430–45Quick smoke, wrapper fans
Churchill7”46–4890+Long commitment, occasions
Lonsdale6.5”40–4450–70Elegance, wrapper flavor
Panatela6–7.5”34–3830–50Thin, refined preference
Torpedo6–6.5”52–5460–75Intensity, figurado intro
Belicoso5–5.5”50–5245–60First figurado
Pyramid6–7”52–5860–80Premium, progressive flavor
Perfecto4.5–6”varies40–60Collectors, rare experience
Cigar shapes and sizes reference guide — Robusto, Toro, Corona, Churchill, Lonsdale, Panatela, Torpedo, Belicoso, Pyramid, Perfecto

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