Part of the enjoyment of cigar bars is the atmosphere and the actual smoke. The lingering aroma of the cigars mixed with a little friendly conversation, big-screen TVs, and other must-haves are what keep patrons coming back. What you don't want, however, is so much smoke that you can’t see or breathe. To see models tailored for hospitality spaces, explore our cigar lounge smoke‑eater collection which showcases units designed specifically for cigar bars and lounges.
That's where commercial smoke eaters and air cleaners come into play. But, how do you choose the right one for your cigar bar? Start with these questions.
What Type of Smoke Are You Cleaning?
Your answer will usually be cigar, cigarette, hookah or all three. Cigar smoke is the heaviest and most difficult to handle. Hookah is the lightest smoke.
What Size Smoke Eater?
Commercial smoke eaters are more powerful than residential models. But, obviously, the larger your cigar bar and the more smokers you have in it, the more effective your unit will need to be to mitigate the dangers of cigar smoke. Think about this:
- Size of area - Square footage, ceiling height and ceiling type must be taken into consideration.
- Do you need/prefer a surface-mounted, flush-mounted or wall-mounted smoke eater?
- How many smokers are in your bar at any given time?
- Adequate CFM - You want enough cubic feet per minute (CFM) of airflow to achieve about 10-12 air changes per hour (ACH) - the number of times the air goes through the air cleaner. Calculate the CFM by multiplying your room's length x width x height, then dividing by the number of ACH.
Not sure how much airflow you need? Use our CFM calculator to instantly determine the cubic feet per minute required for your room’s dimensions and ensure your system delivers 10–12 air changes per hour.
What Type of Smoke Eater?
Once you decide on the size of unit that would handle the output of smoke, you'll want to look at the various types of smoke eaters.
- Media Type – Media units use filters that will need to be changed on a regular schedule. The biggest pro of media smoke eaters is their low maintenance. However, you will have higher filter replacement costs.
- Electrostatic – On the other hand, electrostatic smoke eaters have electronic cells instead of filters. These need to be cleaned, but not constantly replaced like media filters. Electrostatic models trap smaller microns and particle sizes, and are quieter than media-type smoke eaters.
For a deeper comparison of these technologies, check out our media vs electronic smoke eater guide to see which system fits your budget and maintenance preferences.
There's a lot to consider when choosing just the right smoke eater. For more insights on creating a comfortable lounge, read our posts on surface‑mount smoke eater upgrades and essential tips to eliminate cigar smoke indoors, which offer practical solutions for improving air quality. If you’d like personalized advice, request a free smoke‑eater recommendation and our experts will help you choose the right unit based on your space, smoke levels and installation needs.