Using Boveda Packs: Everything You Need to Know

Season a humidor, preserve cannabis, or protect your instrument using Boveda packs.

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 19, 2022 References

What do cigars, wooden instruments, and cannabis all have in common? They’re all super sensitive to humidity! That’s where Boveda comes in. These nifty little packs regulate the relative humidity (RH) inside of a container. Each pack holds a salt and water mixture within a membrane that allows vapor to flow in and out, absorbing and releasing moisture as needed.^{[1]
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Research source} Pretty cool, right? But how do you know which RH level is best for your needs, or how many packs to use? How long does Boveda last, and how do you know when it’s time to toss it? If you’re curious about how to use Boveda to protect your prized instrument, cigar collection, or cannabis stash, keep reading to have all your questions answered.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Caring For Your Cigars

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Remove the plastic wrapper from a Boveda 84% RH pack. Before your new wooden humidor can become the perfect home for your cigar collection, it needs to be seasoned with a Boveda 84% RH pack.^{[2]
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Research source} Remove the plastic wrapper from the pack, but don’t tear open the pack itself.
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Place the pack inside your empty humidor to raise the wood’s moisture level. This keeps the wood from robbing moisture from your cigars.^{[3]
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- Use one Boveda size 60 pack for every 25 cigars your humidor can hold.
- If your cigars need a temporary home while you season your humidor, zip them in a plastic bag along with one size 60 Boveda 69% RH pack for every 25 cigars.^{[4]
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Wait for 14 days. Close the lid and don’t open it for 2 weeks. It takes that long to raise the wood's moisture level enough to be in balance with your cigars. It’s worth the wait!^{[5]
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- Don’t bother using a hygrometer (an instrument for measuring humidity) while seasoning your humidor. No matter what the reading might say, the advice is the same: wait 14 days. Patience is key!
4
Throw out the used Boveda pack(s). They aren’t reusable, and you definitely don’t want to store an 84% RH pack next to your cigars! While 84% RH Boveda is ideal for seasoning, the high humidity would ruin your collection if you left it in your humidor.^{[6]
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- If you live in a dry climate (or an area with seasonal dryness), season your humidor once or twice a year.
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Stock your humidor. Now you can add cigars to the humidor, along with fresh Boveda packs. 69% RH is the most popular choice, but if you live in a humid climate or if you’re storing Cuban cigars, opt for 65% RH.^{[7]
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- Place the packs anywhere in the humidor—you can even put them directly on top of your cigars; the packs are FDA-approved and won’t cause any damage.^{[8]
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- Use at least one Boveda size 60 pack for every 25 cigars your humidor can hold.^{[9]
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- Cuban cigars become moldy at a lower humidity level than most other cigars.^{[10]
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- It’s okay to include additional Boveda. It won’t raise the humidity more than is stated on the packs, and your Boveda will last longer. Just be sure to use packs with an identical RH value.^{[11]
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Replace crispy or hard packs. Boveda will last about 2-4 months in a wooden humidor, and 6-9 months in an airtight humidor. If a pack feels dry without many soft spots, it’s time to replace it.^{[12]
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Research source} If the pack is completely hard, it’s expired—try to replace it sooner next time.
- New Boveda feels jelly-like and squishy (some hardening in the corners is normal).^{[13]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preserving Your Cannabis Stash

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Place your cannabis in an airtight container. Boveda locks in the flavor and aroma of cannabis while preserving its effectiveness. Put your bud in a container that seals tightly; Mason jars or Tupperware containers work great!^{[14]
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- No container? A plastic bag that zips shut will do in a pinch.^{[15]
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Tuck a Boveda pack into your container. Remove the plastic wrap from either a 58% RH pack (if you prefer drier cannabis) or a 62% RH pack (for moister cannabis), and place it alongside your bud.^{[16]
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Research source} One size 8 pack protects up to 1 ounce (28 grams). Have a huge stash? One size 67 pack protects up to 1 pound (450 grams) of flower!^{[17]
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- It’s fine for Boveda packs to come in direct contact with cannabis, your bud is safe and sound.^{[18]
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- It’s impossible to add too much Boveda to your container. As long as the packs have the same RH, you’re golden! Boveda lasts longer when you use extra packs.^{[19]
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Toss out old packs. Boveda lasts anywhere from 2-6 months depending on your cannabis storage container and the surrounding environment. New Boveda packs are pliable, old packs feel dry or crispy, and expired packs are hard. Swap out the packs when there aren’t many soft spots left. ^{[20]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Protecting Your Instrument

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Insert packs into a Boveda fabric holder. When you’re using Boveda to regulate the humidity in an instrument case, you’ll need to use a fabric holder to store the packs. Remove the plastic wrap from a size 70 49% RH pack and tuck it inside the fabric pouch.^{[21]
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- A Boveda fabric holder extends the life of the packs, protects the instrument from damage, and acts as a barrier in case of an accidental puncture. Fabric holders are available on the Boveda website.^{[22]
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- Use 1 or 2 Boveda packs for small wooden instruments, as well as for electric wooden instruments with a solid or semi-hollow body. Larger wooden instruments require 4 packs.^{[23]
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Add the filled fabric holder to your case. Choose a location that allows for decent airflow, making sure it’s away from any pinch points. Good locations include under the neck of the instrument or placed gently on the strings.^{[24]
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- Boveda is safe for stringed instruments and bows.^{[25]
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Keep the lid closed. Boveda lasts longer when you keep the case shut—even when your instrument isn’t inside it. Guess you’ll have to put out a jar for tips instead.^{[26]
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Swap out old packs for new ones. Boveda lasts between 2-6 months when kept in a fabric holder inside an instrument case. Room-temperature Boveda packs should be pliable; if there aren’t many soft spots left, chuck them in the garbage and replace them with fresh packs.^{[27]
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- If your case has been out in the cold, the packs may harden. Don’t toss them out yet! Let them warm to room temperature then try squeezing them. If the texture is like thick jelly or dense clay, it’s still working!^{[28]
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- The temperature change won’t impact the effectiveness of the product.^{[29]
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Warnings

Don’t rehydrate old packs. While some sites suggest “recharging” Boveda packs by soaking them in distilled water, it isn’t a good idea. Rehydrated packs don’t regulate humidity as well as new ones, so your items would be at risk. Considering how much you spent on the goods you’re trying to protect, it’s worth investing in fresh packs.^{[31]
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