Boveda packs are small sealed pouches that hold a cigar humidor, tupperdor or travel case at a fixed humidity. They are the best-known example of two-way humidity control. In other words, they add moisture when the air is dry and absorb it when the air is wet. That two-way action makes them especially useful in Malaysia, where cigars face humid outdoor air one hour and dry air-conditioning the next.
How two-way humidity packs work
Each pack holds a saturated salt solution, a mix of water and salt with more salt than the water can dissolve. Science has long known that such a solution settles at a fixed relative humidity in a closed space. For example, ordinary table salt holds the air at about 75% RH at room temperature, a value measured precisely by the US National Bureau of Standards.
Different salt blends give different set points, such as 65%, 69% or 72%. The solution sits behind a membrane that lets water vapour pass but not liquid. So when the air inside your box dries, the pack releases vapour. When the air turns damp, the pack draws vapour back in.
This is very different from a sponge or foam humidifier. Those can only add moisture. If the box gets too wet, they make it worse.
Boveda and other brands
Boveda is a US company and the brand most smokers know, which is why “Boveda” often stands in for the whole category. Other brands, such as Integra Boost, make similar two-way packs at similar humidity levels. The principle is the same, so choose by humidity level and size rather than by name.
This guide uses Boveda’s published figures, because they are the most widely documented. If you use another brand, follow that maker’s own sizing advice.
The humidity levels and what they are for
Boveda packs come in several RH levels. Here is how Boveda describes them for cigars, plus the 62% option.
| RH | Boveda’s stated use | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| 62% | Sold mainly for herbs and other products | A few smokers use it for a very dry, sharp-burning profile |
| 65% | A drier cigar profile, easier burn, long-term ageing | Cuban cigars; sealed boxes; very humid homes |
| 69% | All-round cigar storage | Most humidors, tupperdors and travel cases |
| 72% | Drafty humidors and dry environments | Wooden boxes that lose a few points in air-con |
| 75% | Extremely dry conditions; not for airtight containers | Rarely needed in Malaysia |
| 84% | Seasoning wooden humidors only | New or empty boxes before cigars go in |
Never mix levels in the same box. Two packs pulling towards different targets simply work against each other, and Boveda advises against it.
How many Boveda packs do you need?
Boveda’s sizing guidance is simple. Base it on the container’s listed capacity, not on the number of cigars inside right now.
| Pack size | Use one for every… | Typical container |
|---|---|---|
| Size 8 | 5 cigars | Travel cases and small tubes |
| Size 60 | 25 cigars | Desktop humidors and tupperdors |
| Size 320 | 100 cigars | Large humidors and cabinets |
So a 50-cigar humidor takes two Size 60 packs, and a 100-cigar box takes four Size 60 packs or one Size 320. If a tupperdor has no listed capacity, estimate it by laying cigars inside, then round up.
How long Boveda packs last
Lifespan depends on how much moisture the container loses. A leaky wooden box in a dry air-conditioned room drains packs quickly. By contrast, a tight plastic box barely touches them.
Boveda’s advice is to replace packs about every three months, and the large Size 320 about every six months in a humidor. In a small 25-cigar box, Boveda says a Size 320 can last up to a year. In practice, most smokers find packs last noticeably longer in sealed tupperdors than in wooden humidors.
Write the date on it
Mark the start date on the edge of each pack with a felt-tip pen. It takes seconds and tells you when a replacement is due.
Signs your packs are spent
A fresh pack feels soft and pliable, a bit like thick jelly. As it gives up water, the salt crystallises and the pack stiffens. That crunchy, stiff texture is the clearest sign of a spent pack.
- Still working: soft overall, perhaps with firm corners or a few hard patches.
- Running low: mostly firm, with a few soft spots left.
- Spent: stiff and crunchy all the way through at room temperature.
Temperature can fool the touch test. A pack from a cool room may feel firm simply because it is cold. So let it warm to room temperature before you judge it. Also, do not wait until a pack is rock hard. By then, the box may already be drying out. Your hygrometer will often show the drop first.
Recharging myths
Many smokers try to revive spent packs by soaking them in distilled water. It seems logical, since the pack is just salt and water. However, the maker does not publish any recharging method, and it sells the packs as replaceable.
Home tests shared by cigar writers suggest that a recharged pack may not return to its rated humidity. Even small errors matter here. A 69% pack that settles at 75% instead turns a safe box into a mould risk, especially in Malaysia’s heat. So if you recharge, check the result with a calibrated hygrometer before trusting it.
There is one more myth worth clearing up. A pack that leaks liquid is not “extra fresh”. Remove it at once, wipe the area and replace it.
Boveda 69 vs 72
This is the question most smokers ask. The honest answer is that it depends on your box, not on taste alone.
- Choose 69% for sealed containers, such as tupperdors, acrylic humidors and travel cases. Boveda calls it the all-round level.
- Choose 72% for wooden humidors that lose moisture. Boveda notes that wooden boxes often read 2–5 points below the pack’s rating, so 72% lets them settle in the high 60s.
Watch your hygrometer for a week. If a 72% pack keeps a sealed box above 72%, switch to 69%. If a 69% pack lets a wooden box sink into the low 60s, try 72%.
Which RH makes sense in Malaysia?
Malaysia’s outdoor air often sits at 70–90% RH, while air-conditioned rooms can drop to around 45–60%. Your choice depends on where the cigars live and what kind of box they sit in.
| Setup | Suggested RH | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed tupperdor in an air-con room | 65% or 69% | The seal blocks dry air, so a lower pack is enough |
| Wooden humidor in an air-con room | 69% or 72% | The box leaks a little, so it needs some extra moisture |
| Any box in a room without air-con | 65% | The air is already damp and warm; lower RH lowers mould risk |
| Cuban cigars for long ageing | 65% | Many smokers find they burn and age better a little drier |
Heat matters as much as humidity. A box at 69% RH and 28 °C still invites tobacco beetles and mould. So keep your storage below about 24 °C where you can. Our guide to the best humidity for cigars explains the link between temperature and RH in more detail.
Using Boveda packs for seasoning
The 84% pack has one job: preparing a dry wooden humidor. Boveda advises using one Size 60 per 25 cigars of capacity, closing the empty box for 14 days, then discarding the packs. Our step-by-step guide to seasoning a humidor covers both this method and the distilled-water method.
Next steps
Humidity packs are only one part of good storage. Our pillar guide on how to store cigars shows how packs, boxes and placement work together in the tropics. If you are setting up a new box, our tupperdor guide is the simplest place to start.
Frequently asked questions
How long do Boveda packs last?
Boveda suggests replacing packs about every three months, or every six months for the large Size 320 in a humidor. In a well-sealed tupperdor they often last longer, while a leaky wooden box in an air-conditioned room uses them up faster.
Boveda 69 vs 72: which should I use?
Boveda describes 69% as its all-round choice for cigar storage and 72% for drafty humidors and dry rooms. In a sealed box, 69% is usually enough. In a wooden humidor that loses a few points, 72% helps it settle in the high 60s.
Can you recharge Boveda packs?
Boveda sells its packs as replaceable and does not publish a recharging method. People who soak spent packs in distilled water report that the result may not hold its rated humidity, so recharged packs are a gamble.
How many Boveda packs do I need?
Use one 60-gram pack for every 25 cigars your container is designed to hold, one Size 8 for every 5 cigars, or one Size 320 for every 100 cigars. Size by capacity, not by what is inside today.
Can I mix 69% and 72% packs?
Boveda advises against mixing different RH levels in the same container. Pick one level and use it throughout.
