A Guide to Vape Strengths (+ a Handy Vape Strength Chart)

If you’re a bit unsure about how to choose the right e-liquid strength - you’re not alone. Whether you’re making the transition from smoking or are new to vaping altogether, understanding vape liquid strengths can make all the difference to your experience.

We’ve created this guide and included an e-liquid strength chart to make things clearer.

Why vape strength matters

Before you can choose a vape strength, it’s essential to understand the fundamentals of nicotine itself and how its delivery in vapes differs from cigarettes. So, let’s talk a bit more about nicotine shall we?

What is nicotine?

With vaping, nicotine is extracted from tobacco and then suspended in a mix of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG) to create vape juice. Nicotine in e-liquid is to provide the satisfaction that smokers seek, without the harmful effects.

How much nicotine is in a cigarette?

A single cigarette typically contains between 10mg and 15mg of nicotine in total. However, during the burning process and the body absorbing it, a smoker only takes in about 1mg to 2mg of nicotine per cigarette. This means a pack-a-day smoker (20 cigarettes) absorbs roughly 20mg to 40mg of nicotine throughout the whole day.

Measuring nicotine strength

Vape nicotine levels are typically displayed in one of two ways; Milligrams per millilitre (mg/ml) or a percentage. Both represent the concentration of nicotine per millilitre of liquid.

Milligrams per Millilitre (mg/ml) - This is the most common and precise measurement. A label showing "10mg" or "10mg/ml" means that for every millilitre of vape liquid in the bottle, there are 10 milligrams of nicotine.

Percentage (%) - Some brands express nicotine strength as a percentage of total volume. For example, a 2% nicotine strength is equivalent to 20mg/mL

Riot Tip: To convert a percentage to mg/ml, simply multiply the percentage by 10.

Choosing your e-liquid strength

Most e-liquids range in nicotine strength from 0mg, also known as nicotine free, up to 20mg. The most popular e-liquid strength is 10mg, as this is typically what an average smoker would consume within a day. You also need to factor in whether you are using freebase nicotine or nic salts.

Freebase Nicotine

Freebase nicotine is the original type of nicotine used in e-liquids since the inception of vaping and is nicotine in its purest form.

Creates a strong throat hit, which many ex-smokers enjoy. However, it can become uncomfortably harsh and peppery at concentrations above 12mg
Absorbed into the bloodstream slowly, providing a steady satisfaction rather than a rapid rush
Best suited for vapers who prefer a noticeable throat hit and use lower-to-mid-range strengths (3mg to 10mg). It is the standard choice for sub-ohm vaping, where large vapour clouds would make high nicotine concentrations overwhelming

Nicotine Salts (Nic Salts)

Nicotine salts, often shortened to nic salts, are a more recent invention that has revolutionised vaping. Nicotine salts are created by bonding pure freebase nicotine with an acid, making it less alkaline and significantly smoother to inhale.

Even at high strengths like 20mg, nic salts offer a smooth throat hit. This allows new vapers to use the high nicotine concentrations they need to quit smoking
Absorbed into the bloodstream much more rapidly, closely mimicking the near-instant nicotine delivery of a traditional cigarette for quick craving relief
Perfect for recent ex-smokers who need high nicotine levels to manage cravings. They are most commonly used in low-powered vaping devices like pod vape kits, which are designed for mouth-to-lung inhalation

E-liquid strength chart

Here’s an at-a-glance chart that breaks down the different factors involved in deciding which e-liquid strength to opt for. We’ll go into more detail about each element later.

Previous Smoking Habit	Recommended Freebase Strength	Recommended Nic Salt Strength	Vaping Style / Device Type
Very Heavy Smoker (25+ a day)	18mg/mL	20mg/mL	Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) with a pod vape kit or basic starter kit. Nic salts are preferred.
Heavy Smoker (Approx. 20 a day)	12mg/mL - 18mg/mL	20mg/mL	MTL with a pod system or starter kit. Nic salts are highly recommended.
Moderate Smoker (10-15 a day)	6mg/mL - 12mg/mL	10mg/mL - 20mg/mL	MTL with a pod kit, or potentially Direct-to-Lung (DTL) with 6mg freebase.
Light Smoker (Under 10 a day)	3mg/mL - 6mg/mL	5mg/mL - 10mg/mL	MTL or DTL. Lower strengths are versatile across various vape kits.
Very Light / Social Smoker	3mg/mL	5mg/mL	Primarily for DTL vaping with sub-ohm devices or for those who smoke only occasionally.
Quitting Nicotine	0mg/mL	0mg/mL	For users who have tapered off nicotine but still enjoy the act of vaping.

Common Vape Nicotine Levels

E-Liquids are available in a standard range of strengths to cater to every type of user. Here are the most common options and who they are best suited for:

Nicotine Strength (mg/ml)	Percentage (%)	Who this is ideal for
0mg/ml	0%	Vapers who've quit nicotine but enjoy the act and flavour of vaping, or for cloud chasers using powerful sub-ohm devices.
3mg/ml	0.3%	The lowest commercially available strength with nicotine. Perfect for light or casual smokers (less than 10 cigarettes a day) or vapers reducing their intake. Common in high-VG liquids for sub-ohm devices.
5mg/ml	0.6%	A popular choice for low-to-moderate smokers (around 10-15 cigarettes a day). Provides a noticeable but mild throat hit and is a great middle ground.
10mg/ml - 12mg/ml	1% - 1.2%	Aimed at smokers who previously consumed around a pack of cigarettes (20) per day. Highly effective for satisfying cravings in standard vape starter kits and pod vape kits, with a substantial throat hit.
18mg/ml - 20mg/ml	1.8% - 2.0%	The highest strengths available, designed for heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes a day) or those who smoked strong, unfiltered cigarettes. Most effective as nicotine salts for a smoother inhale.

Achieving your perfect vape strength

To discover your perfect blend, there are a few things to think about.

Device

Different devices deliver different vaping experiences which helps to determine the necessary e-liquid strength.

Low-powered devices, such as pod systems and starter kits are designed for mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping. They vaporise less liquid per puff and require a higher nicotine concentration (5mg-20mg) to deliver a satisfying amount of nicotine. Nicotine salts are popular in pod vapes

High-powered devices, or Sub-ohm devices) are designed for direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping and produce huge clouds of vapour. As you’re inhaling a much larger volume of aerosol with each puff, the nicotine strength needs to be a lot lower. Using a high-strength nicotine salt in a sub-ohm device would be very harsh so most sub-ohm vapers use 3mg or 6mg freebase nicotine

PG/VG

The base of every e-liquid is a mixture of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG).

High PG liquids (e.g. 50/50) carry more flavour and provide a stronger throat hit. A 10mg liquid with a 50/50 PG/VG ratio will feel much more intense on the throat than the same nicotine vape level in a high VG liquid. These are typically used in pod vape kits.

High VG liquids (e.g. 70/30) produces dense vapour clouds and are much smoother on the throat. High VG liquids are most commonly used in sub-ohm devices, and almost always paired with lower nicotine vape strengths

Flavours

While the flavouring itself doesn’t change the actual mg/ml of nicotine, it can influence your perception of its strength. Some flavour profiles, particularly menthol, mint, and certain citrus tastes, can create a cooling or sharp sensation that enhances or mimics the feeling of a throat hit. This can make a lower nicotine strength feel more satisfying. On the flip side, creamy, dessert, or fruit flavours may feel smoother, potentially masking the intensity of the nicotine.

Experiment and adjust

Trying different flavours, strengths and ratios will help you to find your ideally balanced e-liquid strength. Too much nicotine and you might feel dizzy or nauseous, but too little and you could feel a need to vape constantly to get enough nicotine.

It also depends on what your intended objective is with vaping. If you’re a new vaper and like the sensation but don’t want the nicotine then nicotine free e-liquid is your best friend. If you’re trying to reduce your nicotine intake, then start with a 10mg vape strength and maybe work down, or if you’re more than happy with a nicotine content that matches your old smoking habits, use 20mg.

Time to find your favourite e-liquid

Riot has an orchestra of flavours and e-liquids to suit all vapers; from supercharged RIOT X nicotine salts to decadent Classics Shortfills, explore our full selection of PG/VG ratios and tongue-pleasing tastes to find your new favourite.

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