Vape Strengths & Nicotine Levels: Choosing the Right One

Choosing between different vape strengths can be surprisingly confusing. A bottle might say 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg, another might say 1% or 2%, and then you're expected to decide whether you need freebase nicotine or nic salts as well.

Modern vape hardware adds another wrinkle. Someone using a small refillable pod system won't necessarily want the same nicotine strength as someone using a more powerful RDL or sub-ohm device. Pre-filled big puff vapes are different again, because many come with the nicotine strength already chosen for you.

The important thing to understand is that vape nicotine levels don't work in isolation. The right strength depends on how much nicotine you need, how much vapour your device produces and how frequently you tend to vape.

Vape Strengths Explained: Quick Guide

Here's a simple overview of the nicotine strengths you're most likely to encounter when buying vape juice in the UK.

These are guidelines rather than fixed rules. Two people using the same strength can have very different experiences depending on their device and the way they vape.

What Does mg/ml Mean on Vape Juice?

Nicotine strength is normally expressed in milligrams per millilitre, written as mg/ml.

If an e-liquid is labelled 10 mg, that usually means there are 10 milligrams of nicotine in each millilitre of liquid.

For example:

• 5 mg/ml = 5 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre.
• 10 mg/ml = 10 milligrams per millilitre.
• 20 mg/ml = 20 milligrams per millilitre.

A 10 ml bottle at 20 mg/ml therefore contains 200 mg of nicotine in the entire bottle. That doesn't mean you'll absorb all 200 mg, and it certainly doesn't mean you're getting 20 mg from every puff. The number on the bottle describes the concentration of nicotine in the liquid.

What Do 1% and 2% Nicotine Mean?

Some vape packaging uses percentages instead of mg/ml, particularly on pre-filled products.

The conversion is simple:

• 0.5% = 5 mg/ml
• 1% = 10 mg/ml
• 1.8% = 18 mg/ml
• 2% = 20 mg/ml

So a vape labelled “2% nicotine” is a 20 mg/ml product.

Under current UK regulations, 20 mg/ml is the maximum nicotine concentration permitted in normal consumer e-liquids and pre-filled vape products.

What's the Difference Between Freebase Nicotine and Nic Salts?

Nicotine e-liquid is available in two main forms: freebase nicotine and nicotine salts.

Years ago, this distinction was fairly easy to explain because freebase e-liquid tended to come in lower strengths while nic salts were usually sold in stronger 10 mg and 20 mg versions.

That's no longer the whole story.

There is now plenty of overlap between the two categories. Freebase e-liquids can be available in strengths including 10, 12, 18 and 20 mg/ml, while some nic salt ranges now go as low as 5 mg/ml.

That means you can't simply look at the strength and know what type of nicotine an e-liquid contains.

Is 10 mg Nic Salt the Same Strength as 10 mg Freebase?

Yes in concentration, but not necessarily in how it feels.

A 10 mg/ml nic salt and a 10 mg/ml freebase e-liquid both contain 10 mg of nicotine per millilitre of liquid.

What changes is the formulation and sensory experience.

Freebase nicotine tends to have a more pronounced throat hit as the strength increases. Nic salts generally feel smoother at equivalent concentrations, which makes higher-strength vaping easier for people who find freebase harsh.

Nicotine delivery can also vary depending on the formulation and the vape itself. Coil design, power, airflow, puff length and how frequently you use the device all affect how much aerosol — and therefore how much nicotine — you actually inhale.

Nic Salt vs Freebase: Which Should You Choose?

Neither form of nicotine is automatically better. They're simply useful for different preferences.

Choose Nic Salts If...

• You use a compact MTL or lower-powered refillable pod system.
• You want a higher nicotine strength with a smoother throat hit.
• You previously used disposable vapes or pre-filled pod systems and want something that feels familiar.
• You tend to prefer shorter vaping sessions rather than producing large clouds.
• You find high-strength freebase e-liquid too harsh.

Choose Freebase If...

• You like a more noticeable throat hit.
• You use a lower nicotine concentration.
• You have an RDL or DTL setup that produces more vapour.
• You already know that traditional e-liquid gives you the feel you prefer.
• You want one of the traditional e-liquid flavour ranges that isn't available as a salt.

Some people use both. You might prefer a 10 mg nic salt in one pod and a 6 mg freebase liquid in another device. There's no requirement to join a team and remain loyal to it.

How Your Vape Changes the Nicotine Strength You Need

This is probably the most important part of choosing between different vape nicotine levels.

Your vape doesn't simply carry the liquid to your mouth. It determines how much liquid is vaporised with each puff.

A tiny, low-powered MTL pod produces a relatively modest amount of vapour. A large sub-ohm coil operating at much higher power can vaporise substantially more e-liquid during the same length of puff.

That means you generally need to reduce nicotine concentration as vapour production increases.

What Nicotine Strength Is Best for a Refillable Pod System?

Modern refillable pod systems cover a very wide range, so there isn't one answer that applies to all of them.

Tight MTL Pod

A small device with tight airflow and a cigarette-like draw usually works well with 50/50 e-liquid and can be suitable for nicotine strengths ranging from around 10–20 mg/ml when higher nicotine delivery is required.

Lower strengths such as 5–6 mg/ml are also perfectly usable if that's all the nicotine you need.

Airier MTL or RDL Pod

If your pod has more airflow and produces a larger cloud, you may find a lower strength more comfortable. Options around 5–10 mg/ml can make more sense depending on the device and your nicotine requirements.

Powerful RDL Pod

Some of today's pod systems are surprisingly powerful. With a low-resistance coil and high vapour output, they begin to behave more like compact sub-ohm devices.

In those setups, low nicotine levels such as 3–6 mg/ml are often more appropriate than 18–20 mg/ml.

This is why the old rule that “pod kit = 20 mg nic salt” is no longer especially useful. The word pod now describes everything from a tiny cigarette-style MTL device to something capable of producing a very substantial cloud.

What Nicotine Strength Do Big Puff Vapes Use?

Most pre-filled big puff vapes are designed around a simple, cigarette-like MTL experience and use nicotine salt e-liquid.

Many current UK models are supplied at the legal maximum strength of 20 mg/ml (2%). Unlike a refillable device, you may not have a choice of strengths for a particular pre-filled refill.

This makes them very straightforward to buy, but it also makes them less flexible.

If 20 mg feels right to you, that's no problem. If it feels stronger than you need, moving to a refillable pod kit can give you much more control because bottled e-liquid is available across a broader range of strengths.

It also works the other way around. If you've been using a 20 mg big puff vape successfully and decide to move to a refillable MTL pod, starting with a 20 mg bottled nic salt gives you a familiar reference point. You can then move down to 10 mg if you decide that you don't need as much nicotine.

What Strength Is Best for a Sub-Ohm Vape?

Sub-ohm devices typically produce much more vapour per puff, so they're generally paired with significantly lower nicotine concentrations.

3 mg/ml is a very common starting point for high-output DTL vaping.

Some people use 6 mg/ml if their device isn't especially powerful or they need a little more nicotine. Others use 0 mg/ml.

Using an 18 or 20 mg/ml liquid in a powerful cloud-producing setup would usually produce far more nicotine per puff than the same liquid in a small MTL device and can make the experience unpleasantly intense.

What Vape Strength Should You Choose When Switching from Cigarettes?

If you're using vaping to replace cigarettes, the priority is to choose a nicotine strength that's high enough to control your cravings.

The NHS recommends using enough nicotine to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and current stop-smoking guidance suggests that many people who smoke regularly may need a high-strength e-liquid — around 18–20 mg/ml — initially when using an appropriate low-powered device.

That doesn't mean every smoker should automatically use 20 mg.

Your previous cigarette consumption, how soon after waking you normally smoked, how deeply you inhaled, the type of cigarettes you used and the vape you've chosen can all change what feels appropriate.

If You Were a Regular or Heavier Smoker

A low-powered MTL device with 18–20 mg/ml e-liquid can be a practical place to start. Nic salts are often the easier choice if you find high-strength freebase nicotine too sharp on the throat.

If You Were a Lighter Smoker

You may be more comfortable around 10–12 mg/ml. If that's still stronger than you need, 5–6 mg/ml gives you another step down.

If You Only Smoked Occasionally

Start conservatively. You may find that a lower-strength liquid is plenty, particularly if your vape produces a reasonable amount of vapour.

How Do You Know If Your Vape Strength Is Too Low?

Your nicotine level may be too low if you never quite feel satisfied by your vape.

Typical clues include:

• You find yourself vaping almost continuously but still want a cigarette.
• You take very long sessions because a few puffs never seem enough.
• Your usual vape suddenly feels unsatisfying after you've reduced the nicotine level.
• You've switched devices and the new setup produces less vapour than your old one.

If you've recently reduced your nicotine strength and suddenly find yourself vaping much more, it may simply mean that you've stepped down too quickly.

How Do You Know If Your Vape Strength Is Too High?

A strength may be higher than you need if the experience feels overwhelmingly intense or you consistently feel unwell after vaping.

Before changing the liquid, also think about whether you've changed devices. Moving the same high-strength e-liquid from a tight MTL pod into a much airier, more powerful device can dramatically increase the amount of vapour you're inhaling.

If the strength feels excessive, step down one level rather than jumping all the way from 20 mg to 3 mg.

For example:

• 20 mg → 10 or 12 mg
• 10 mg → 5 or 6 mg
• 6 mg → 3 mg
• 3 mg → 0 mg

That usually makes it easier to find the point where the vape feels satisfying without becoming overwhelming.

Can You Reduce Your Vape Nicotine Level Over Time?

Yes. One of the advantages of refillable vaping is that you can gradually reduce your nicotine concentration whenever you're ready.

You don't need to rush.

If you're no longer smoking and your current nicotine strength is keeping you comfortable, there's no prize for immediately trying to reach zero. A gradual reduction is often easier to manage.

For example, someone using 20 mg might move to 10 mg, stay there until it feels normal and later try 5 or 6 mg.

If dropping the strength makes you vape substantially more or brings cigarette cravings back, return to the previous level and try again later.

Does Higher Nicotine Mean a Stronger Throat Hit?

Usually, but nicotine type matters.

With freebase e-liquid, increasing the nicotine concentration typically makes the throat hit much more noticeable. That's why traditional 18 or 20 mg freebase liquids can feel quite sharp.

Nic salts are formulated to make higher nicotine concentrations smoother, so a 20 mg salt can feel less harsh than a 20 mg freebase liquid even though both contain the same amount of nicotine per millilitre.

PG/VG ratio, flavourings, menthol and the device itself can also change throat sensation, so don't use harshness as a precise nicotine meter.

Does 20 mg Always Give You Twice as Much Nicotine as 10 mg?

The liquid contains twice the nicotine concentration: 20 mg/ml versus 10 mg/ml.

That doesn't guarantee that you'll absorb exactly twice as much nicotine during real-world use.

You may naturally take fewer puffs of the stronger liquid. Different devices produce different amounts of aerosol, and your puff length and inhaling style matter too.

This is another reason why comparing vape strengths only by the number on the bottle can be misleading.

Should You Choose Nicotine Strength Before Choosing a Vape?

It's better to choose them together.

If you're a smoker who needs a relatively high nicotine concentration, a compact MTL device is usually the easiest hardware to pair with that requirement.

If you prefer an airier vape with larger clouds, you'll normally need to compensate by using a lower nicotine concentration.

Think of the vape and the liquid as a system rather than two unrelated purchases.

Vape Nicotine Levels: Simple Buying Checklist

• Check your device first. Tight, low-powered MTL devices can use stronger liquids than high-output RDL or DTL setups.
• Think about your previous nicotine use. If you're switching from regular smoking, make sure you choose enough nicotine to control cravings.
• Choose between nic salt and freebase. Nic salts generally provide a smoother experience at higher strengths; freebase gives a more noticeable throat hit.
• Don't assume the same mg feels identical in every vape. Vapour output changes nicotine delivery.
• Remember that 2% means 20 mg/ml. They're two ways of expressing the same concentration.
• Adjust gradually. If the strength isn't right, move up or down one step rather than making a huge jump.
• Don't chase the lowest number. The right strength is the one that keeps you satisfied without feeling excessive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing the Right Vape Strength: The Bottom Line

There's no single perfect nicotine strength for everyone because vape strengths only make sense in the context of the device you're using.

A 20 mg nic salt can be perfectly reasonable in a small MTL pod while being far too intense for a high-output vape. Likewise, 3 mg may work beautifully in a cloud-producing device but leave a new MTL user wondering why they're still thinking about cigarettes every five minutes.

Start with your nicotine needs, match the strength to your hardware and then adjust from there.

And remember that freebase and nic salts aren't opposing sides in some sort of nicotine civil war. They're simply two different ways of formulating vape juice. Choose the one that gives you the combination of nicotine satisfaction and throat feel that works best for you.