Bulk cigars, without the guesswork.
Whether you're stocking a humidor for resale or handing out cigars at a wedding, buying in bulk comes down to a few honest questions: boxes or bundles, how many, and what your crowd will actually enjoy. Here are the straight answers, with real prices.
Updated July 11, 2026
Who buys cigars in bulk - and what each buyer should get.
There are really two kinds of bulk cigar buyers, and they need different things.
Businesses buying for resale - hotels, casinos, golf shops, liquor stores, restaurants - should buy branded boxes of proven sellers, spread across mild, medium, and full strength. Your customers buy names they recognize, and boxes display well in a humidor. A sensible opening order is 15-30 boxes across 8-12 lines, not 200 of one cigar.
Event hosts - weddings, corporate events, golf tournaments, cigar nights - should buy for the crowd, not for the connoisseur. That means mild-to-medium cigars in a mid-size vitola (a robusto or toro), mostly from familiar names, with a small step-up box for the head table or the host. Plan on 1 to 1.5 cigars per expected smoker.
MDC has supplied both kinds of buyers since 2012 - 500+ venues nationwide, including The Four Seasons, The Broadmoor, and Caesars Entertainment - so the advice below comes from watching what actually gets smoked.
Boxes vs. bundles: the honest tradeoff.
Every bulk buyer hits this fork first, and neither answer is wrong.
| Boxes | Bundles | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | 20-25 cigars in branded, display-ready packaging | Cellophane-wrapped cigars, no fancy box |
| Typical cost | $80-$300 per box wholesale | Often $3-$5 per cigar - the value play |
| Best for | Resale, weddings, head tables, gifting | Big casual events where volume wins |
| The catch | You pay for the brand and the presentation | Less name recognition; nothing to display |
If you are reselling, boxes win - the brand on the box is half of what sells the cigar. If you are handing out 150 cigars at a golf tournament, a good bundle stretches your budget without embarrassing anyone. Many event hosts do both: bundles for the field, one nice box for the winners' table.
What bulk cigars actually cost.
Real numbers, so you can budget before you talk to anyone:
- Per cigar, wholesale: roughly $3-$12 depending on brand and size. Value bundles sit at the low end; well-known premium lines at the high end.
- Premium boxes: roughly $80-$300 per box of 20-25. Most crowd-pleaser boxes land between $120 and $250.
- A 100-guest event: plan 60-90 cigars (1-1.5 per smoker). That is usually $300-$900 in cigars, depending on how nice you go.
- Shipping: MDC ships cigar orders over $1,000 free, nationwide.
One more number for resellers: venues typically retail cigars at roughly 1.8x-2.5x wholesale, which is why a well-run humidor is one of the strongest margin corners in a bar or pro shop.
The best cigars in bulk for a party or event.
The mistake most first-time event buyers make is buying what they like. A crowd is different: most of your guests smoke a few cigars a year, so a full-strength cigar will turn half of them green. The crowd-pleaser profile is mild-to-medium strength, a familiar name, and a robusto or toro size that finishes in 45-60 minutes.
Names that fit that profile and that guests recognize: Macanudo (the classic mild crowd cigar), Romeo y Julieta (mild-to-medium with a name everyone knows), and Oliva (a step richer, still smooth). Any of the three works as the backbone of an event order.
Then add one step-up box for the head table, the groomsmen, or the tournament winners - something medium-to-full from a respected maker. Your rep can match one to your budget; the point is that the people being honored get something a notch above the field.
Buying bulk cigars for resale.
If you are stocking a humidor for a business, bulk buying is a different game - it is about picking the right 20-40 SKUs for your clientele, not the cheapest thousand cigars. Our guide to buying cigars wholesale covers licensing, minimums, and pricing in depth, and if you have never sold a cigar before, starting a cigar program walks through the whole playbook.
The short version: MDC curates the selection for your venue, trains your staff, and backs every account with a no-risk exchange - if a box does not sell, swap it for one that will. Most wholesale cigars everywhere else are final-sale. You can browse what we carry in the shop.
Bulk cigar questions, answered.
How many cigars do I need for an event?
Plan on 1 to 1.5 cigars per expected smoker, not per guest. At a typical 100-guest event, roughly 40-60 people will take a cigar, so 60-90 cigars covers it comfortably. For a cigar-focused event (a cigar night or a golf tournament), plan closer to 1.5-2 per person. It is always better to have a few extra - unopened boxes keep for years in proper storage.
Are bundles worse than boxes?
Not worse - different. Bundles are cellophane-wrapped cigars sold without the branded box, often made in the same factories as boxed cigars, at a lower price. They are a smart pick for large casual events where volume matters more than presentation. Boxes cost more but give you branded, display-ready presentation, which matters for resale, weddings, and head tables.
How much do bulk cigars cost?
Bulk cigars typically run $3-$12 per cigar at wholesale, depending on brand and size. Premium boxes of 20-25 cigars run roughly $80-$300. For a 100-guest event, most hosts spend $300-$900 on cigars. MDC ships free on cigar orders over $1,000.
Do you sell bulk cigars to individuals?
MDC is a wholesale distributor first - our accounts are businesses like hotels, casinos, golf clubs, restaurants, and retailers. That said, event and corporate buyers placing a real bulk order (weddings, tournaments, company events) are welcome to inquire through the form on our homepage and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.
How far ahead should I order bulk cigars?
Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable for most bulk orders. That leaves time to confirm the right cigars for your crowd, ship them, and let them rest in stable humidity before the event. If your date is closer than that, ask anyway - popular sizes from major brands are usually in stock and ship fast.
Tell us what you're buying for. We'll build the order.
MDC has supplied bulk cigars to 500+ venues since 2012 - including The Four Seasons, The Broadmoor, and Caesars Entertainment - from 60+ premium brands, with free shipping on cigar orders over $1,000 and a no-risk exchange on every business account.
Guessing at a bulk order means paying for cigars your crowd won't smoke - or your shelf won't sell.
P.S. This is a qualification process. If MDC isn't the right fit for your venue, we'll tell you - and we'll point you at a better option. That's been our rule since 2012.