TL;DR — Four-cigar cases tend to be tray-based and compact; five-cigar cases are often zippered and cedar-lined. Capacity is only one difference—closure and interior structure change how each travels.
By Case & Cedar · Published September 2026
Four-cigar tray cases
The four-cigar format in the catalog is a hinged case with a removable tray, either in solid cedar or in lacquered wood. The tray keeps four cigars separated in individual channels and, when lifted out, leaves a flat compartment that can carry a cutter or a lighter instead. That makes a four-cigar tray case a small kit rather than just a holder.
Confirm tray length and channel width before relying on the stated capacity. The solid cedar case publishes a 190 mm slot length and a 22 mm slot width, which covers Churchills up to about 54 ring gauge. The lacquered cases do not publish interior figures, so ask before ordering if you carry long or wide cigars.
Five-cigar zippered cases
A zippered shell can hold a deeper cedar insert and closes along its full edge, which keeps the interior more enclosed than a hinge or a slide. The five-cigar leather case in the catalog lists a 165 mm maximum length and a 23.5 mm maximum diameter: shorter than the cedar tray case, but wider, so it takes a 56 ring gauge that the tray case cannot.
The zippered format is larger in a bag, at 210 × 150 × 38 mm, and it is the one to choose if you want to add a humidity pack for a few days away. A tray case can hold a small pack in the tool compartment, but the hinge does not seal as fully as a zipper.
Protection and movement
Individual channels matter most when the case is not full. Four cigars in a four-channel tray stay put; three cigars in a five-channel insert also stay put because each has its own slot. In open compartments without channels, retention straps and careful packing do the work instead.
Both formats are rigid enough for luggage. The wooden cases are stiffer and heavier; the leather-over-cedar case gives a little at the corners but protects the cigars with the cedar insert.
Choose by trip length
For a short outing or a weekend where humidity is not a concern, four separated channels in a compact wooden case are enough and look good on a table. For longer trips, a five-cigar zippered format with cedar lining is more practical once a humidity pack is added, and the extra channel is useful as a spare.
If you mainly carry tools, the tray case wins: remove the tray and it becomes a dedicated tool box that still holds two cigars in the lid.
Four- and five-cigar cases in the catalog
| Case | Capacity | Format | Published fit limits | Humidity pack space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Cedar 4-Cigar Travel Case | 4 | Hinged solid-cedar case with a removable tray | length to 190 mm; diameter 22 mm | No |
| Qianlong 4-Cigar Lacquered Travel Case | 4 | Hinged lacquered case with a removable tray | Not published | No |
| Napoleon 4-Cigar Lacquered Travel Case | 4 | Hinged lacquered case with a removable tray | Not published | No |
| Cedar-Lined Leather 5-Cigar Travel Case | 5 | Zippered case with cedar channels | length to 165 mm; diameter 23.5 mm | Yes |
Before ordering, confirm:
- Compare closure: hinge or zipper
- Check slot length and width
- Confirm cedar construction
- Decide whether a humidity pack will travel
- Match capacity to trip length
Compare Solid Cedar 4-Cigar Travel Case and Cedar-Lined Leather 5-Cigar Travel Case. Browse all cases →
Frequently asked questions
Which holds longer cigars?
The solid cedar tray case, with a 190 mm slot. The five-cigar zippered case stops at 165 mm.
Which holds wider cigars?
The five-cigar zippered case, at 23.5 mm, takes up to about 56 ring gauge. The cedar tray’s 22 mm slots stop at about 54.
Can I put a humidity pack in a four-cigar tray case?
A small pack fits in the tool compartment under the tray, but a hinged case does not enclose as fully as a zipper. Use it for a night or two, not a week.
Are the lacquered cases cedar inside?
The interior is wood or cedar-lined with a removable tray; the maker does not publish interior dimensions. Ask us for the figures if fit is critical.
Further reading
- Solid cedar vs. cedar-lined storage
- Slide case vs. zippered travel humidor
- Weekend travel cigar storage
- Cigar Case Size Guide
- Case Fit Checker
- Ring Gauge Converter
Case & Cedar compares travel cigar cases, cedar-lined storage, and tool organizers by capacity, dimensions, and construction. Browse all cases · Use the size guide.
