Want to stand out in a saturated cigar market or build your brand identity out there? Focus on designing custom cigar boxes to look different.
Initially, cigar boxes were just a packaging solution to keep cigars fresh and intact throughout shipping. But nowadays, every tobacco brand needs custom packaging when countless options are available for customers in the market.
In this case, a custom cigar box with creative design patterns and attention to detail performs well by providing the target audience with exactly what they are looking for. So, try to upgrade your customer's smoking experience with an unforgettable unboxing experience and high-end quality.
Here is a complete guide on the do's and don'ts of cigar packaging and all the steps to designing custom boxes for delicate cigars. So, let's create an impact in the market together.
Cigar Boxes are More Than Just Packaging
Custom cigar boxes do more than just keeping cigars protected from damage and external elements. They create a complete experience by presenting fragile cigars as a high-end product and interacting with customers.

First things first, cigar packaging design gives customers a first impression of what they are getting. This is because the packaging has become a part of product appeal and contributes to an enjoyable smoking experience. For example, a thoughtful box design makes the overall product feel premium and instantly grabs attention.
Since cigars have now become a luxury signature, people take cigar boxes as collectible items. So, if your cigar packaging quality and design are on point, your boxes will stay in homes and keep reminding people about your brand.
So, whether you want to target the luxury appearance or traditional smoking experience of cigars, a thoughtfully customized cigar box design is something you need to focus on.
Stand Out Cigar Design Elements that Impress
Initially, cigar packaging was just a box to protect cigars and keep them intact during shipping. Over time, with the increasing number of players in the smoking market, the trend of being stand out starts gaining popularity. Nowadays, it has become important to present cigars in a unique way to attract more customers and build brand identity.
In this case, cigar box design plays a key role in elevating the product presentation as well as leaving an impression on consumers. The following are some powerful design elements you should consider to create effective custom cigar packaging.
Color Theory and Palette
A thoughtful combination of colors represents the brand personality and helps your customers connect to your journey. So, choose only those colors that suit your brand message and also look great.
For example, if you focus on the luxury appearance of cigars or want to present high-end cigars, use vibrant or bold combinations of colors to look different. Similarly, if you are targeting the heritage or tradition of smoking, use subtle or classic hints to get noticed. The fact is, colors say everything all about your product. Bold colors make your product feel premium, while earthy tones make it look neat and eco-friendly.
Typography and Fonts
Typography is a way of expressing your words on custom cigar boxes and it impacts the overall packaging design. Brands that focus on the timeless tradition of smoking prefer serif fonts with little tails like Garamond or Times New Roman to impress the target audience.
On the other hand, if your brand focuses on the modern look of cigars, you should choose sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica to give a neat classic look. Overall, a great combination of font style, size, and placement is a result of experiments you should try to get a balanced look.
Graphics and Textures
Colors patterns, imagery, and textures add depth to custom cigar packaging design. For a classic look, you can add illustrations of vintage cigar leaves, tobacco plants, or iconic brand symbols to engage consumers.
Similarly, textures give a sensory touch to your design. Choose either luxurious, minimalistic, or eco-friendly texture options as per your product needs to complement the entire design look.
Material Selection
A durable or sturdy cigar box material doesn't just protect fragile cigars but also enhances the customer experience. Materials like rigid boxes or cardboard provide a smoothly premium feel to your products. These materials are also friendly to customize in any shape or style as per your liking.
For a sustainable or eco-friendly look, materials like recycled paper or biodegradable paperboard work the best. So, don't only choose durable materials that last but also prefer those with high-quality and luxury vibes.
Logo Placement
Branding elements like logos and taglines are important when it comes to designing custom cigar boxes. Similarly, the placement of the logo also matters as it makes a difference. Sometimes, placing your logo on the top of a box is a safe choice as it instantly grabs attention. However, some other options like off-center or corner placement also work for a modern look.

Adjusting the size of the logo is also important as it should be visible but not so big to create an overwhelming impression. You can also test placing logos on multiple sides for maximum visibility and see what works for you.
After all, cigar packaging design should communicate with consumers and create a connection with the brand's journey to create impact.
Step-by-step Guide to Designing Custom Cigar Boxes
1. Research your Competition and Get Inspiration
Gather initial design inspirations from your competitive brands and analyze what trends they are following to attract customers. Consider details like color combos, typography, box shapes, and special features which make them outstanding from the rest.
Broaden your knowledge by browsing different custom cigar packaging designs on Pinterest or Instagram. Examine each design carefully and think why they are effective either because of bold colors and luxury details or minimal designs or neat presentation. It will help you guide throughout the designing process about what is trending in the smoking market.
2. Brainstorm Creative Design Ideas
Discuss your cigar box design inspirations with your team members or third-party designers. Refine your ideas together. This collaboration can help you discover new perspectives and possibilities. List down all those unique packaging aspects you want to explore and think about how can you make your custom cigar boxes stand out.
Consider all the possible details like box size, shape, closure design, and unique patterns. Also, don't forget to make your packaging design complement your brand personality. For example, if you want to focus on the luxury or elegant feel of cigars, add bright colors and premium finishing to your boxes.
Keep in mind that you can always refine your design ideas down the process, so don't restrict yourself at this moment.
3. Sketch the Box Layout
Create a rough sketch of custom cigar packaging. Focus on the final design elements. Highlight the overall structure and how it holds cigars. Add all the design elements you have considered before like colors, typography, logo, and graphics to see how it looks like.
Design other structural elements of the box such as lid design, compartments of cigars, and the opening or closing mechanism of the box. Try to add some extras like flaps, dividers, or spongy inserts to present cigars neatly. After all, your draft sketch will help you work on further shortcomings and refine clutter where needed.
4. Create a Digital Prototype
Now, it's time to turn your draft sketch into a functional design. Use software like Adobe Illustrator or a 3D modeling tool. Input the exact dimensions, box structure either a flip-top or slide-out, and shape of the box to get a clear sense of functionality.
In this step, play with different design elements and test different colors, typography and fonts, artwork, and placement of logos. The same works with other visual add-ons like textures and patterns.
5. Add Custom Die-cuts to Cigar Box Design
Adding die-cuts to cigar packaging design is the next step to enhance the box appeal and performance in the market. These are uniquely creative cuts used to create different shapes, windows, or openings in the box so that customers find them interesting.
Cigar boxes with custom window cutouts are trending nowadays. This is because they provide a sneak peek of luxury cigars inside and convince customers about the high quality of cigars.
6. Add Branding Elements
Branding elements like logos, taglines, and brand names make a difference. They matter because custom cigar boxes are not just about packaging but are also great for branding, advertisements, and promotions. So, place these elements carefully where they can grab attention.
Make sure your logo or other icons have theme colors unique to your brand. Use them either as a background color, border, or accent to ensure a cohesive look throughout your products.
Be creative with branding. Think of unique ideas, like adding subtle cigar design patterns inside the box. You can also repeat a small logo across the sides to reinforce your brand identity.
7. Focus on a Consistent Visual Theme
Now, when you are done with cigar box designing, test its overall visual feel. Check out if it has all the design elements perfectly placed or adjusted. It's important to notice to avoid design clutter that can confuse viewers.
Also, give a nice finish to your cigar box design in this step. Give it a luxury feel or premium texture through various finishing options or settle on a minimally simple look to entice target consumers.
8. Prepare Files for Printing
Convert your designs into print-ready files and share them with your printing partners for high-quality printing services.
However, if you are not too good at designing custom cigar boxes, let us know your thoughts and our graphic designers will bring them to life.