Picking a vape strength comes down to one question: how much did you smoke? In short, 20mg suits heavier smokers, 10mg suits moderate smokers, and 5mg suits light or social smokers — or anyone stepping down. Here's how the three nic salt strengths compare and how to choose the right one for you.
Contents
- How vape strength is measured
- 5mg vs 10mg vs 20mg at a glance
- Which strength is right for me?
- Why strength matters more with nic salts
- Stepping down over time
- Common questions
Key Takeaways
➔ Vape strength is the nicotine concentration, measured in mg/ml. In the UK the legal cap for nicotine e-liquid is 20mg/ml.
➔ Rough guide: 20mg = heavier smoker (a pack a day), 10mg = moderate, 5mg = light/social or stepping down.
➔ These strengths are nic salts — smoother at higher strengths and faster-acting, made for low-power MTL pod kits.
➔ Start a little higher if you're coming off cigarettes; you can always step down as cravings ease.
➔ Check our E-Liquid Strength Chart to match your old smoking habit to a strength. You must be 18+ to buy.
How vape strength is measured
Vape strength is the amount of nicotine in the liquid, written in milligrams per millilitre (mg/ml) — so 10mg means 10mg of nicotine in every 1ml. You'll also see it as a percentage: 10mg/ml is 1%, 20mg/ml is 2%, and so on. Both describe the same thing.
In the UK, nicotine e-liquid is capped at 20mg/ml, and nicotine bottles are capped at 10ml. That's why you'll never see a "40mg" nicotine e-liquid on a UK site — 20mg is the strongest it's allowed to be. For the full picture of how strength and bottle size work together, see our guide on how much nicotine is in a vape.
5mg vs 10mg vs 20mg at a glance
| Strength | Best for | Nicotine hit |
|---|---|---|
| 5mg (0.5%) | Light or social smokers, and vapers stepping down | Gentle, subtle throat feel |
| 10mg (1%) | Moderate smokers (around 10 a day) | Balanced — satisfying without being harsh |
| 20mg (2%) | Heavier smokers (a pack a day) switching over | Strongest available — fast, satisfying |
You can shop each strength directly: 5mg nic salts, 10mg nic salts, and 20mg nic salts — or browse the full nic salt range.
Which strength is right for me?
If you smoked a pack a day → 20mg
Heavier smokers usually need the full 20mg to properly curb cravings when they first switch. Because these are nic salts, 20mg still feels smooth rather than harsh.
If you smoked around 10 a day → 10mg
10mg is the comfortable middle ground for moderate smokers — enough to satisfy, without the strongest hit.
If you were a light or social smoker → 5mg
If you only smoked a few a day, or socially, 5mg is usually plenty. It's also the natural next step for anyone coming down from 10mg.
Not sure where you land? The E-Liquid Strength Chart matches your old habit to a strength, and the New to Vaping guide covers the basics if you're just starting out.
Why strength matters more with nic salts
These three strengths are all nic salts, and that changes how strength feels. Nic salts are smoother than old-style freebase nicotine, so even 20mg goes down easily, and the nicotine reaches you faster — which is exactly what you want when a craving hits. That's why nic salts are the go-to for people switching from cigarettes. If you want the full comparison, read nic salts vs freebase nicotine.
Nic salts are designed for low-power MTL pod kits, not high-power sub-ohm devices. If you're choosing a device too, our pod kits and the Vape Kit Finder will point you the right way, and MTL vs DTL explains the two vaping styles.
Stepping down over time
Many vapers start higher and work down as cravings fade — 20mg to 10mg to 5mg, and eventually to 0mg nicotine-free if that's your goal. There's no fixed timetable; drop a level when your current strength starts to feel like more than you need. Keeping the same flavour as you step down makes the change easier.
Nic Salts and More from Riot
Riot's nic salt range comes in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg across loads of bold, UK-made flavours — so whatever strength you need, there's a flavour to match. Pair it with a simple pod kit and you're sorted. You must be 18+ to buy. Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking; if you don't smoke or vape, don't start.
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