Enter your humidor temperature and relative humidity to calculate your 135 Rule score and recommended cigar storage conditions.
Example: 70°F + 65% RH = 135
The chart below shows temperature and humidity combinations that equal a 135 Rule score of 135.
| Temperature | Relative Humidity | 135 Score |
|---|---|---|
| 65°F | 70% RH | 135 |
| 66°F | 69% RH | 135 |
| 67°F | 68% RH | 135 |
| 68°F | 67% RH | 135 |
| 69°F | 66% RH | 135 |
| 70°F | 65% RH | 135 |
| 71°F | 64% RH | 135 |
| 72°F | 63% RH | 135 |
| 73°F | 62% RH | 135 |
There isn’t one magic humidor setting that works for every cigar, every climate and every smoker.
For many premium cigars, however, a temperature somewhere around the upper 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit combined with relative humidity in the mid-to-upper 60% range is a practical starting point. That’s where the 135 Rule becomes useful.
Instead of looking at temperature and humidity as completely separate numbers, the 135 Rule gives cigar smokers a quick way to look at both together.
Temperature °F + Relative Humidity % = approximately 135
A humidor at 70°F and 65% RH, for example, has a 135 Rule score of 135.
Use the cigar humidity and temperature calculator above to enter the actual conditions inside your humidor.
The calculator will show your current score, the approximate target humidity for that temperature and whether your readings are running high or low.
Some common temperature and humidity combinations include:
Each combination totals 135.
That does not mean every possible combination totaling 135 is automatically good cigar storage.
You wouldn’t want to keep raising temperature while continuously lowering humidity just to make the math work.
The 135 Rule is a practical guideline, not an absolute scientific standard.
For years, one of the most repeated cigar-storage recommendations was the 70/70 Rule: approximately 70°F and 70% relative humidity.
That combination totals 140.
Some cigar smokers prefer slightly lower humidity, particularly around 65% to 69% RH.
A slightly drier cigar can sometimes provide an easier draw and cleaner burn, depending on the cigar, humidor and individual preference.
The purpose of the 135 Rule isn’t to tell every cigar smoker that one setting is perfect. It gives you another way to monitor the relationship between heat and moisture inside the humidor.
Cigars stored too wet can become soft, swollen and difficult to smoke. The draw may tighten and the cigar may require repeated relights or burn unevenly.
Consistently high humidity can also create an environment where unwanted mold becomes a concern.
If your hygrometer suddenly shows unusually high RH, don’t immediately make a drastic adjustment. Check the reading, inspect your humidification source and make sure your hygrometer is accurate.
Low humidity creates a different set of problems.
A cigar that loses too much moisture may become brittle. Wrappers can crack, the cigar may burn faster and the smoking experience can become hotter or harsher.
If your cigars have become dry, bring the humidity back gradually rather than trying to rehydrate them overnight.
Humidity gets most of the attention, but temperature deserves just as much.
A reading such as 65% RH doesn’t tell the entire story if your humidor is sitting in an unusually hot room.
That’s why this calculator evaluates both temperature and relative humidity instead of treating humidity as the only number that matters.
Avoid placing a humidor next to a radiator, heating vent, sunny window or another location that experiences large temperature swings.
Consistency is the goal.
A calculator is only as accurate as the numbers you put into it.
If your digital hygrometer is several percentage points off, you could spend weeks adjusting a humidor that was already fine.
Check your hygrometer periodically and pay attention to trends rather than reacting to every temporary change.
Opening a humidor, adding new cigars or changing humidification can temporarily move the reading.
Many cigar smokers keep premium cigars somewhere in the mid-to-upper 60% RH range, although personal preference, temperature, cigar type and storage method can affect the setting you prefer.
The 135 Rule is a cigar-storage guideline where temperature in Fahrenheit and relative humidity percentage add up to approximately 135.
A common example is 70°F + 65% RH = 135.
For a deeper explanation, read our
135 Rule for cigar humidity guide
.
Not necessarily. 70% RH has traditionally been used for cigar storage and remains common.
Other cigar smokers prefer lower humidity, particularly around 65% to 69%, because of differences in burn, draw and personal preference.
65% RH is a popular cigar-storage setting, particularly when the humidor temperature is around 70°F.
Under the 135 Rule, 70°F and 65% RH equal exactly 135.
Using the 135 Rule as a reference, 68°F would correspond to approximately 67% RH.
Using the 135 Rule, 65% RH combined with 70°F gives a score of 135.
No. A humidor naturally moves slightly as room conditions change, the lid is opened and cigars are added or removed.
The 135 Rule is best treated as a quick reference rather than a number you need to chase constantly.
Good cigar storage is less about hitting one perfect number every minute and more about maintaining a stable environment.
Use the calculator above to check your temperature and humidity together. If you want the full explanation behind the formula, read our
135 Rule cigar humidity guide
,
or browse our
cigar humidors and humidity-control accessories
for additional storage options.
