A cigar ashtray isn't just a cigarette ashtray scaled up. Cigars are longer, sit differently, and produce a long ash you want to keep intact, so a proper cigar ashtray is built around that. Here's what makes a good one and the styles worth buying.
What makes a good cigar ashtray
Two features set cigar ashtrays apart. Wide, deep rests, because a cigar is thicker than a cigarette and needs a groove that holds it securely without pinching. And a deep bowl, because cigars build a long ash and produce more of it, so you want room to let it collect rather than emptying constantly. Length matters too: the rest should let the cigar sit balanced without the lit end tipping down. Get those right and everything else is style.
The main styles
Tabletop and crystal, for the home and lounge
The classic. A heavy tabletop ashtray, often crystal or ceramic, sits solid on a table and looks the part next to a drink. Crystal ashtrays refract light nicely and feel premium, which makes them a popular gift. Look for two or four rests so more than one cigar can sit at once during a session.
Outdoor and travel, for the patio and the go
If you smoke on the patio or take cigars outdoors, a brushed-metal or windproof ashtray stands up to the elements better than crystal and won't shatter. Compact travel ashtrays fold or seal shut so you can carry one in a bag for a round of golf or a trip.
Floor-standing stands, for the lounge
A floor-standing ashtray brings the rest and bowl up to armchair height, which is exactly what you want in a lounge or man cave. It keeps the ash off your side table and makes a session more comfortable. This is the pick for a dedicated cigar space.
How to choose
Start with where you'll use it. For a home lounge or a gift, a crystal or ceramic tabletop piece is hard to beat. For the patio or travel, go metal or a sealed travel ashtray. For a dedicated cigar room, a floor-standing stand is the upgrade that makes the space feel finished. Then match the number of rests to how many people usually smoke with you.
FAQ
What's the difference between a cigar and cigarette ashtray? Cigar ashtrays have wider, deeper rests to hold a thicker cigar and a deeper bowl for the longer ash. A cigarette ashtray's narrow notches don't hold a cigar well.
Why do cigar ashtrays have wide grooves? Because cigars are thicker than cigarettes. The wide groove cradles the cigar securely and lets it rest balanced without the lit end dipping.
What's the best ashtray for outdoors? A brushed-metal or windproof ashtray. It handles the elements and won't shatter like crystal, and a sealed travel version is easy to carry.
How do you clean a cigar ashtray? Empty it once it's cool, wipe it out, and wash crystal or ceramic by hand with mild soap. Avoid harsh abrasives on polished surfaces.
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The bottom line
Buy for where you smoke: crystal or ceramic for the home, metal for outdoors, a stand for the lounge. Browse the full range on our cigar ashtrays page. Pair it with the right cigar lighters and cutters and your setup is complete.
Related: Best cigar lighters · Best cigar cutters