A tupperdor is a homemade humidor built from an airtight food container, a humidity source and a small hygrometer. It costs a fraction of a wooden box, takes half an hour to set up, and often holds humidity more steadily. For many Malaysian smokers, it is the most practical way to keep cigars in good shape. A sealed box keeps out both humid outdoor air and dry air-con air.
What is a tupperdor?
The name blends “Tupperware” and “humidor”, but any good airtight container works. A tupperdor uses the same principle as any humidor. It seals a small space, adds a steady humidity source and lets you check the result.
The difference is the material. A wooden box breathes, so it slowly swaps air with the room. A plastic box with a gasket barely leaks at all. So the humidity inside stays where you set it, with far less effort.
A coolidor (sometimes called a coolerdor) is the bigger cousin. It uses a hard-sided picnic cooler or ice box instead of a food container. Despite the name, it does not cool anything; the insulation simply slows temperature swings. No ice goes inside.
Why a tupperdor suits Malaysian homes
Malaysia’s climate pushes cigars in two directions at once. Outdoors, the air often sits at 70–90% RH, which is too wet. Indoors, air-conditioning can drop a room to about 45–60% RH, which is too dry. A wooden humidor in an air-conditioned room has to fight that dry air every day.
A tupperdor sidesteps the problem. Because the seal is tight, very little room air gets in. As a result, a single two-way pack can last for months, and the reading stays steady even when the air-con cycles on and off.
There is a second benefit. During haze season, a sealed box keeps smoky air away from your cigars. It also keeps out kitchen smells, which wooden boxes can absorb.
What you need
| Item | What to look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Container | Food-grade plastic or glass with a gasket and clip-down lid | The seal does most of the work |
| Humidity source | Two-way packs at 65% or 69%, or humidity beads | Adds and absorbs moisture |
| Hygrometer | Small digital unit, calibrated | Confirms the real reading |
| Cedar (optional) | Thin Spanish cedar sheet or cigar box cedar | Aroma and a small buffer |
| Distilled water | Only if you use beads | Keeps beads clean and accurate |
Clear containers are handy, because you can read the hygrometer without opening the lid. However, keep a clear box out of the light, since sun heats it quickly.
How to make a tupperdor step by step
- Choose an airtight container. Pick a food-grade box with a rubber or silicone gasket and clip-down lid. Avoid boxes that held curry, sambal or strong spices, since plastic holds smells.
- Wash and air it. Wash with unscented soap, rinse well, then leave it open to dry for a full day. Sniff it before use. Any lingering smell will pass into the cigars.
- Calibrate the hygrometer. Run a salt test or use a 75% calibration pack first. Our cigar hygrometer guide shows both methods.
- Add the humidity source. Place two-way packs flat on the base or in a small holder. If you use beads, put them in a mesh bag or small open tub and wet them with distilled water as their maker directs.
- Add optional cedar. Lay a cedar sheet on the base, or use the cedar dividers from an empty cigar box. This adds aroma and a little extra buffering.
- Close and wait. Put the hygrometer inside, seal the lid and wait 24–48 hours. The reading should settle near the pack’s rating.
- Add your cigars. Once the reading holds, add the cigars. Leave a little space, so air can move around them.
Choosing a humidity source
The humidity source should work both ways. In other words, it should add moisture when the box is dry and absorb it when the box is wet. That is why two-way humidity packs and humidity beads are the usual choices.
Two-way packs
These are sealed pouches of salt solution that hold a fixed RH. Boveda is the best-known brand, and its sizing guidance is one 60-gram pack for every 25 cigars of capacity. In an airtight box, they usually last longer than in a wooden humidor, because less moisture escapes. Replace them when they turn stiff all the way through.
Humidity beads
Beads are silica-based granules made to settle at a set level, such as 65% or 70%. You recharge them with distilled water when the reading drops. They last for years if you keep them clean. On the other hand, they need more attention than packs and must never touch tap water.
Avoid one-way sources in a tupperdor. A wet sponge or plain water dish can only add moisture. In a tight box, that quickly pushes the reading too high and invites mould.
How many cigars fit?
Capacity depends on the box and the cigar sizes. As a rough guide, lay cigars flat on the base and count them, then multiply by the number of layers you can stack. Leave about a quarter of the space free.
Shape matters as much as volume. A long, shallow box fits more cigars than a tall, narrow one of the same size, because cigars lie flat in layers. So measure by doing, not by the litre figure on the label.
| Estimated capacity | Two-way packs (60 g) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 25 cigars | 1 | A small lunch-box size container |
| 26–50 cigars | 2 | A medium storage box |
| 51–100 cigars | 4 | A large box or small cooler |
| 100+ cigars | 1 per 25, or a large bead tub | A coolidor holding whole boxes |
Apply the one-pack-per-25-cigars rule to the capacity, not to the number of cigars inside today. That way, the box stays stable as your collection grows.
Tupperdor vs wooden humidor
| Tupperdor | Wooden humidor | |
|---|---|---|
| Humidity stability | Very stable; tight seal | Varies with seal and room |
| Set-up | 30 minutes, no seasoning | Seasoning takes days to weeks |
| Upkeep | Low; packs last months | Higher; more frequent top-ups |
| Aroma | Neutral, unless you add cedar | Cedar aroma throughout |
| Looks | Plain | Attractive, a display piece |
| Cost | Low | Moderate to high |
| Heat protection | None | None |
Neither option cools your cigars, so both depend on the room. Still, if you want one reliable box that copes with air-con and humidity, the tupperdor is hard to beat. Our cigar humidor guide explains when a wooden or cooled cabinet makes more sense.
Keeping it cool
Heat is the real risk in Malaysia. Tobacco beetle eggs typically hatch above about 23 °C, according to Tobacconist University. A sealed box at the right humidity offers no protection from that, so placement matters.
- Pick the coolest room. An air-conditioned bedroom or study works well, as long as the box stays sealed.
- Use a low cupboard. Floor-level cupboards on inside walls stay cooler than shelves near windows.
- Avoid cars and balconies. A closed car in the sun gets hot enough to damage cigars within hours.
- Watch the thermometer. Many digital hygrometers show temperature too, so check both numbers.
If beetles do appear, our guide to cigar mould, plume and beetles explains how to freeze cigars safely.
Simple upkeep
A tupperdor needs only a minute a week. Check the reading, glance at the cigars and feel the packs. Open the lid now and then, too. A brief airing lets fresh air in and helps you spot any problems early.
Also, write the start date on each pack. That simple habit tells you when a replacement is due.
Next steps
A tupperdor is a reliable home base for a growing collection. To see how it fits with travel cases, wooden humidors and long-term ageing, read our pillar guide on how to store cigars. For the right humidity target, see our guide to the best humidity for cigars.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tupperdor?
A tupperdor is a homemade humidor built from an airtight plastic food container. It holds cigars at a steady humidity using a two-way pack or humidity beads, with a hygrometer to check the reading.
Is a tupperdor as good as a wooden humidor?
For keeping cigars at the right humidity, a well-sealed tupperdor is often more stable than a wooden box, because it leaks less. It lacks the cedar aroma and the look of a humidor, but adding a cedar sheet helps with aroma.
How many Boveda packs do I need for a tupperdor?
Boveda’s published guidance is one 60-gram pack for every 25 cigars the container can hold. Estimate your box’s capacity by laying cigars inside, then round up.
What is a coolidor?
A coolidor is a humidor made from a hard-sided picnic cooler or ice box. It works like a tupperdor but holds more cigars and boxes. No ice goes inside.
Do I need to season a tupperdor?
Not if it is all plastic. If you add cedar sheets or trays, let them sit with the humidity source for a few days before adding cigars, so the wood does not draw moisture from them.
