A couple of decades ago, most large pneumothoraces were managed initially through the insertion of large-bore chest tubes, active suction and in hospital admission. Mounting evidence has since established that the patient's symptoms, not the size of the pneumothorax, should guide whether invasive management is required for spontaneous pneumothoraces. There is also mounting evidence that small traumatic and iatrogenic pneumothoraces can be managed conservatively. Small-bore chest tubes are just as effective as large-bore chest tubes for all types of pneumothoraces and likely associated with fewer complications. Passive drainage allows for out-of-hospital follow-up for selected patients. This article presents a stepwise approach to the management of pneumothoraces in the emergency department based on a review of the current literature.