Due to regulations, but also for other reasons, the smoke yields of commercial cigarettes have decreased over the last decades. For the design of cigarettes several options are available to reduce smoke yields. In this study an overview of these options is given. Apart from the filter, the tobacco and the overall cigarette geometry, also the paper components, that is, tipping paper, plug wrap paper and cigarette paper, are discussed with respect to their relative contributions to smoke yield reduction when their main properties such as air permeability, diffusion capacity, burn additives, filler content, fibre composition and basis weight are varied. Typical high-“tar” and low-“tar” cigarettes are explained in view of these design choices. Certain interactions, for example, between the tobacco rod, the filter and the ventilation system, are explained, and also the design limitations are discussed with respect to technical considerations and consumer acceptance aspects, particularly with respect to pressure drop. Regulatory changes such as the introduction of lower ignition propensity cigarettes and alternative smoking regimes are reviewed for their effect on the ability to adjust smoke yields with the available design tools. In summary, it can be concluded from these considerations that, as the number of regulatory requirements increases, the effectiveness of certain cigarette design tools is reduced and the fine-tuning of cigarette properties to develop a legally compliant and consumer acceptable product becomes more difficult.