The adult cigarette beetle is a small reddish brown beetle with a rounded, oval shape. The wing covers are covered with fine hair. The head is hidden by the pronotum when the beetle is seen from above. Cigarette beetles are very similar to drugstore beetles (Stegobium paniceum) but the cigarette beetle has uniform antennae while the Drugstore beetle antennae terminate in a distinct three segment club. The Cigarette beetle has smooth wing covers and the drugstore beetle has rows of pits in fine lines along the wing covers. The cigarette beetle is also very similar common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum), but A. punctatum has a pronounced humped hooded thorax.