The Best Ashtray for Balcony Use: Wind, Rain and Weight

An ashtray for balcony use has a harder life than one on a coffee table. It sits in the wind, gets rained on, bakes in the sun and gets knocked by whoever is watering the plants. Most indoor ashtrays fail outside in one of three ways: the ash blows away, the ashtray blows away, or it fills with water and turns into a cup of tar. Here is what to look for, and the pieces we would put outside.

What makes a good ashtray for balcony smoking

1. Weight

A light ashtray on a balcony ledge is a hazard to whoever is below. You want something heavy enough that a gust will not move it and an elbow will not send it over. Marble is the heaviest option. Thick glass and solid ceramic are good too. Thin metal and plastic are the worst.

2. A deep well

Wind lifts ash from shallow trays and spreads it across the floor, the furniture and your neighbour's washing. A deeper, recessed well keeps ash below the rim, out of the breeze. Look at the profile of an ashtray, not just the top view.

3. A lid

A lid solves the two biggest outdoor problems at once. Closed, it stops wind lifting the ash and keeps rain out, so you do not come back to a soggy mess after a monsoon shower. It also hides yesterday's butts from view, which matters if the balcony doubles as a place to sit.

That is why our first pick for outdoor use is Pinch.

4. A surface that shrugs off weather

Glazed ceramic and glass do not absorb water, so a soaked ashtray dries out without damage. Marble is porous and can stain if water and ash sit together for long. Resin is fine with water but less happy in strong, direct sun or heat over time.

5. Something you like looking at

The balcony is often the only outdoor space in an Indian flat. It is where the morning tea happens as well as the evening cigarette. An ashtray that looks good belongs there as much as the plants do.

Our picks for the balcony

Pinch: the ashtray with lid

Pinch is a coral ceramic crab with claws splayed and a domed lid. It is the most practical outdoor piece we make: the lid keeps wind and rain out, the glazed ceramic wipes clean, and the colour holds up well against green plants and terracotta. If you want an ashtray with lid, this is the one.

Onyx and Veil: real marble weight

Onyx and Veil are real marble squares with deep wells. Marble is the heaviest material we use, so they stay put in a breeze. Choose Onyx, black seamed with gold, if the balcony is uncovered; dark marble hides weather and ash better than light. Empty them often, and keep them out of standing rainwater, since marble is porous.

The bulldogs: deep mouths

The bulldogs hold ash inside an open mouth, which is naturally sheltered from wind. Maw, in black glaze with its gullet hollowed deep, is the best of the four for outdoor use. Growl in espresso brown looks right among wooden furniture.

Crater: ash in the crater

Crater is a black ceramic volcano with a hollowed crater for the ash. The ridge around it acts as a windbreak. It is a good, solid object for a balcony table.

What to avoid outside

• Shallow, flat trays. Our playing-card pieces are lovely indoors. Outside, a gust will clear the ash straight off them.
• Delicate hand-painted pieces in full sun and rain. The paint deserves a gentler life indoors.
• Glass in direct afternoon sun followed by cold water from a hose or a sudden downpour. Rapid temperature change is how glass cracks. Keep glass under cover.
• Anything on the ledge. Put the ashtray on a table or the floor, never on the railing.

Covered, uncovered, big or small

Covered balcony. You have the most choice. Rain is less of a worry, so a heavy ceramic or marble piece without a lid works fine. Glass is an option too, as long as it is out of the harshest afternoon sun.

Uncovered balcony or terrace. Prioritise a lid and a dark, glazed surface. Pinch first, then the bulldogs or Crater. Bring marble in when the monsoon is at its worst.

Small balcony. Floor space is precious and the railing is tempting. Do not use it. A small side table or a stool next to your chair is the safest place, and a compact, heavy piece is better than a wide, light one.

Large terrace with guests. Several ashtrays are better than one big one. People will not walk across a terrace to tap ash, they will just tap it wherever they are. Spread two or three around.

Balcony ashtray habits

• Empty it daily. Outdoors, wet ash becomes sludge quickly.
• Put a thin layer of sand in the well. It weighs the ashtray down, smothers embers faster and makes emptying easier.
• Make sure everything is out before you go in. Dry leaves and a gust of wind are a bad combination.
• Bring it in during heavy monsoon days if your balcony is uncovered. A lid helps, but a storm wins.
• Think about the neighbours. A lid and a deep well keep your ash on your side of the wall.

For cleaning after a rainy week, our guide to cleaning an ashtray covers each material.

Price and delivery

Every piece is ₹1,500, or ₹1,250 each for two and ₹1,000 each for three or more. One for the balcony and one for inside is a sensible pair. Shipping is a flat ₹250 anywhere in India, usually in two to three days, with cash on delivery available.

Pick the right piece for your corner of outdoors: start with Pinch, or compare materials in our ceramic vs glass vs marble guide.