Running out of room in your humidor and not sure what you’re going to do? New to the cigar hobby and not sure if you’re going to stick with it to justify the expense of a humidor just yet? Need some temporary storage for your cigars while you re-season your humidor? All of these and more are great reasons for creating your own homemade humidor for cigars or a "tupperdor." What exactly is a tupperdor you ask? Well that’s pretty simple. It’s any hard plastic container that has an airtight seal that is being used as a humidor. It’s named as such because they were originally made from Tupperware brand containers but nowadays people use Rubbermaid, Gladware, Lock and Lock, The Container Store, Ziploc and all sorts of other brands of containers yet we still call them Tupperdors.

Choosing the Right Container and Placement

When selecting a container, aim for one made of BPA-free, food-grade plastic with a reliable airtight seal. Rectangular designs are often more practical than round ones because cigars can lay flat and stay organized inside the space. A container that’s about 70–80% full when loaded with cigars and humidity packs helps maintain even humidity distribution. Too little space can make humidity fluctuate, while too much can leave gaps where moisture isn’t evenly distributed.

I got this 80 quart Ziploc WeatherShield container at Walmart for $16. It has blue foam weather stripping built into the lid to keep dust, moisture and bugs and such out, but most importantly for our purposes is that it does a FANTASTIC job at keeping the humidity IN! Now this Tupperdor doesn’t have too many cigars in it at the moment, as it’s only my personal overflow storage that I keep at the office for incoming and outgoing forum (mostly Reddit r/cigars) trades, bombs, passes, and then secondly my smoking stash.

Small Tupperdor Lid (Click and Lock Brand) 60Qt Tupperdor Lid Corner (Ziploc WeatherShield)

Humidity Target and Monitoring

Although many setups hover around 69%, ideal relative humidity inside a tupperdor can vary by preference and climate. Most enthusiasts recommend between about 65% and 70% RH for long-term storage in airtight containers. You can experiment within this range to find what yields the best burn and flavor for your collection. Adding a digital hygrometer helps ensure your environment stays within your chosen range.

Humidification Choices

Two-way humidity control packs (such as Boveda packs) are a set-and-forget solution that automatically regulate moisture, making them ideal for tupperdors. They require no refilling and are less work than traditional gel or foam humidifiers. The size and number of packs should be proportional to the volume of your container and number of cigars to ensure stable RH.

Humidity Control Packs

Normally, I’d use Boveda packs in my Tupperdors as they’re a set it and forget it solution, but I was out when I set up this Tupperdor. I did have an extra Xikar Crystal Humidifier Jar though, so I used that. I’ve added a few cedar spills and blocks to help absorb the excess humidity given off by the jar and we’re sitting pretty right now at 70.8%. My temperature is a bit high at 74.1 degrees, but there isn’t much I can do about that here in our office unless I move the Tupperdor into the warehouse where we keep the temps cooler.

Shop Now for Boveda Humidity Control Packs

Airflow, Placement & Rotation

Even though a tupperdor is airtight, periodic checks and slight rotation of stored sticks can reduce the risk of uneven humidity pockets. Keeping the tupperdor out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources or frequent temperature fluctuations helps maintain a stable internal environment and protects the cigars’ wrappers and flavors.

Avoiding Overcrowding

Packing too many cigars into one container can prevent air from circulating properly, leading to inconsistent humidity readings and potentially overdrying or overdampening some cigars. Leaving a little breathing room around each cigar — and around your humidification device — ensures a more stable environment.

To monitor my humidor normally, I’d toss in a Xikar Digital Hygrometer and call it a day but the fine folks over at Sensor Push hooked me up with a Bluetooth-enabled monitoring sensor to play with over the last few months, and I have to say that for a tech geek like me, I’m thoroughly impressed. There will be a separate full review post the pros and cons of the Sensor Push another day, but I have to say, it does the job it’s designed for and overall. I love the darn little thing. I’ve also included a Xikar Humi-Fan but only because a customer had some questions about how one worked, so we had one open for in-house testing and once it’s opened we’d never sell it. So, since it was laying around and this Tupperdor doesn’t get opened ALL that often, I’ve elected to keep this in there to help circulate the air. This piece, however, is totally optional and not necessary at all!

I also have a smaller generic $1 store Lock and Lock style container that I got sent by a customer actually. You can find any number of these brands starting on this link at Amazon.com. He wanted to send me some special thanks for creating for him some custom samplers. So he decided to send me a custom sampler of sorts, and much of what you’ll see in it is still from the stash he sent me. In there, I don’t monitor humidity or temperature because it’s got Boveda packs in it and they’re idiot-proof. Also, that tupperdor is much smaller and the risk of losing only a handful of sticks isn’t a huge deal, plus I’m in and out of it much more often, so I’d know if cigars are feeling or smoking dry or not. But they aren’t, so, I’m not too worried about it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping humidity monitoring: Even if you use humidity packs, it’s best practice to include a hygrometer to confirm conditions stay within your desired range.

Using old or previously used containers: Old food containers can retain odors or residues that may transfer to your cigars. Starting with a clean, dedicated container is the best approach.

Not letting the environment stabilize: Let your tupperdor sit sealed with humidity packs for at least 24–48 hours before adding cigars, so the internal atmosphere reaches a steady state.

Overloading with too many humidification devices: More isn’t always better. Too many devices or packs can cause RH swings. Choose one method and size it appropriately for the container and number of cigars.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tupperdors

What is the ideal humidity for a tupperdor?
Most cigar enthusiasts aim for between about 65% and 70% RH in airtight plastic containers, though personal preference and climate might shift that slightly.

Do I need to season a tupperdor like a wooden humidor?
No. Since plastic doesn’t absorb moisture the way wood does, there’s no classic “seasoning” process required — just add your chosen humidity control source, let the environment balance out, and then add cigars.

How many humidity packs do I need?
It depends on the size of your container and volume of cigars. A general rule is one properly rated humidity pack for every set of cigars you plan to store, adjusted to the size of the container.

Should I use Spanish cedar inside a tupperdor?
Spanish cedar is optional. It can help absorb subtle humidity swings and add a pleasant aroma, but in a well-sealed container with quality humidity packs, it’s not required.

How often should I check my cigars?
A quick check every few weeks is sufficient for most tupperdors. Frequent opening can allow humidity to escape, so only open when adding or removing cigars, or if you suspect a humidity imbalance.

Can a tupperdor replace a traditional humidor?
For many cigar lovers — especially those with large collections or who want budget-friendly storage — a tupperdor works great as a primary or secondary storage solution. However, seasoned aficionados who enjoy aging cigars may still prefer the traditional cedar humidor experience.

So to review, to make a tupperdor, all we need is an airtight plastic container, some Boveda packs (find out how many to use and lots of other useful info about them here,) and the Spanish cedar is optional. If you need some Spanish cedar, just put a note on your next order with us to include some and we should be able to honor your request. It only takes a sheet or two to help your cigars with that awesome smell and obviously to balance humidity if you aren’t using Boveda packs. Toss in some cigars and you are good to go. Now, you might wonder why we’d tell you about this super-economical way to store your cigars when we’re in the business of selling humidors. You see, most brothers and sisters of the leaf still have a traditional humidor or three because they like the look, got them as gifts or for a multitude of other reasons, but have rapidly outgrown them and are looking for large storage on the cheap and fast. Besides, skipping the 300-1000 count cabinet that costs a pretty penny and is a pain to arrange delivery for, often keeps the spouses happier. We’re happy to sell you the accessories you need to maintain the Tupperdors and to aid in the CAD (Cigar Acquisition Disorder for those of you wondering), to fill them as well.

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