How to Choose E-liquid Nicotine Strength

What is Nicotine Strength ?

Nicotine is classified as a stimulant drug and commonly found in tobacco products like cigarettes, though it can also be found in e-liquids of e-cigarettes.

Nicotine stimulates the release of chemicals in the brain, particularly dopamine, which incites pleasure and ultimately boosts people’s moods.

As a result of this, it can become an addictive substance, and thus trigger nicotine cravings. E-liquids are available in varying nicotine strengths. Nicotine strength is either shown in percentages or mg on e-liquid containers. Some vapers choose to mix their own e-liquids to achieve their desired nicotine strength.

Vapers may choose to use higher nicotine strength liquids, for example if they were heavy smokers before switching to vaping. Others might choose to use lower nicotine strength, or nicotine free liquids, if they are working towards reducing nicotine consumption .When it comes to vaping, e-liquid strength refers to how much nicotine the liquid contains. The majority of e-liquids are available in the following strengths: 0mg 3mg 6mg 12mg 18mg Nicotine content is displayed on e-liquid labels either as a percentage or as milligrams.

Is Nicotine Harmful for You?

It is worth noting that nicotine is not risk-free. Nicotine and tobacco research have shown that the addictiveness of nicotine can be harmful as it can be a factor in why someone may not want to quit smoking, but it is arguably a better alternative than carbon monoxide and tar, which are found in tobacco products.

The cons of smoking tobacco cigarettes vastly outweigh that of using e-cigarettes - the most harmful substances are usually from tobacco smoke, and whilst various chemicals in e-cigarettes may be unhealthy as well, this is at a considerably lower level than that of the former.

The option of different nicotine strengths, including nicotine-free, in e-liquids can help smokers decrease the amounts of nicotine at a gradual pace, rather than all at once where they are more likely to experience heavy withdrawal symptoms.

It is said that the amount of nicotine in the average 15 puffs of an e-cigarette is 0.5-15.4mg.

There is a wide range of e-liquids with various nicotine levels available in the market, labelled in mg/ml or percentages. These include:

0mg/0%
3mg/0.3%
6mg/0.6%
10mg/1%
11mg/1.1%
12mg/1.2%
18mg/1.8%
20mg/2%
24mg/2.4%

The majority of e-juices are sold in a range of strengths from zero to high; however, each company has different standards when it comes to strength, so you will need to look at how many milligrams of nicotine your favourite brand contains.

Usually, e-liquids are available in 0mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg and 24mg, although others can also be found .

The nicotine strength that you pick should match your smoking habits to get the best possible solution as a former - or current but transitioning - cigarette smoker. It’s also important to remember that certain strengths are better for devices that optimise mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping - less vapour, higher strengths - and others optimised for direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping - more vapour, lower strengths.

The rule of thumb is that:

0mg-5mg is for social smokers
6mg-11mg is for light smokers
12mg-17mg is for average smokers
18mg-20mg is for heavy smokers

Therefore, if you want a bigger nicotine hit, you need to go for a higher nicotine concentration.

Choosing the right level of nicotine in your e-liquid is the best way to ensure that your move to vaping is pleasurable and successful, but it can sometimes be difficult to get it right.

If you choose a level that is too low, you may end up smoking more to compensate as your body is already used to having a certain level of nicotine, and lowering this amount will encourage you to vape or even smoke more in order to replace the nicotine that your body is craving .

The Range of Nicotine Strengths

Now, the question is - what are the differences between the different nicotine levels and which one should you choose?

3mg or 0.3% is the lowest dose of nicotine you can get, and extremely popular with sub-ohm vapers - if you’re one of them, there are high VG options in 3mg. If you’re not, however, there are also high PG options for more discreet clouds. This strength is probably best for those weaning themselves off nicotine, so if you’re in the final stages of quitting nicotine or smoking in general, this is likely the best solution for you. One of our favourite picks is the Vape Simply which is great for a conventional tobacco-reminiscent flavour.
5mg or 0.5% is another low nicotine strength, perfect for those who don’t smoke regularly. If you’ve recently quit cigarettes, 5mg is a great nicotine strength if you were only a light and casual smoker. We recommend Blue Razz Ice to get a combo of berries and icy freshness.
6mg or 0.6% nicotine level is still a low nicotine strength, but more suitable for those who usually finish half a pack of cigarettes in a day. It’s probably one of the most popular nicotine concentrations for e-cigarette users. If you’re a vape cloud connoisseur, try the high VG e-liquids for bigger vape clouds, but for more subtle vapour, try high PG or 50/50 e-liquid vapes. We love Strawberry Cheesecake as a flavour we can puff multiple times a day.
10mg or 1%, 11mg or 1.1% and 12mg or 1.2% are good nicotine concentrations to choose from as they’re considered medium strength (suitable for smokers who may finish a pack a day). In particular, 12mg can hit the throat tougher than its lower counterparts - why not try Black Jack for a liquorice and aniseed twist?
18mg or 1.8% and 20mg or 2% are the highest nicotine levels (suitable for heavy smokers on more than one pack a day). These levels will provide a similar throat hit as traditional cigarettes. These concentrations may be suitable for you if you’re new to vaping and were previously a frequent cigarette smoker. Rhubarb and Custard in 18mg is a deliciously nostalgic flavour to try if you’re a fan of boiled sweets.

What nicotine strength is right for you?

Put simply, this depends on your smoking habits. Were you a social smoker? Were you going through a pack a day? Or did your habit have you consuming more? The fact is, trying a stronger liquid might help you make the switch from smoking to vaping easier if you used to smoke more than occasionally. Once you’ve found the right strength for you, it's a good idea to gradually reduce it over time. Take a look at the comparison of the strength of e-liquid vs cigarettes: (nicotine for non-smokers, light smokers (1-5 a day), medium smokers (5-10 a day) heavy smokers (15-20 a day), and top strength (20 and higher a day) .

Nicotine Strength That Stop You Smoking !

As previously mentioned, you need to choose a nicotine strength that allows you to vape instead of smoke.

If you still feel like you need to smoke, you may need a higher nicotine strength. If you ever feel that your nicotine strength is too high, vape less throughout the day or choose a lower nicotine strength.

You will know if you have chosen a nicotine strength that is too high quite quickly. You may experience the following:

Headache
Dizziness
Mild nausea
Coughing

If you do, don’t panic, just stop vaping and these symptoms will pass quickly.

Adversely, you will also know if you have chosen a nicotine strength that is too low. You may find yourself having to vape much more than usual or you may still crave cigarettes.

How do you know if your nicotine strength is too high or too low?

How do you feel when you're vaping? If you feel like you are craving your vape more frequently throughout the day, then it may be that you need a higher strength of e-liquid. If, on the other hand, you experience the following, you'll know that your nicotine strength is too high: A cough Feeling dizzy An upset stomach or mild nausea A headache When this occurs, there is no need to panic. Simply stop vaping and any symptoms should pass quickly. If in doubt, err on the lower side of nicotine strength. It’s worth trying the lower version so you don’t overdo it and end up with a terrible headache, which may put you off vaping. Also, if the strength is lower, a few more hits will make you feel about right. Don't forget, vaping means nicotine absorbs into your system a little slower than smoking. Give it a few minutes when you first try it and see how you feel. If you still want the throat hit but the amount of nicotine in your e-liquid is too high, try an e-liquid with a 50:50 VG/PG ratio. The more PG (Propylene Glycol) there is, the more throat hit you'll get, and the more similar it will feel to smoking a cigarette. All in all, e-liquid strength doesn't matter as much as your decision to stop smoking. All in all, e-liquid strength doesn't matter as much as your decision to stop smoking. As long as you pay attention to how you feel, you'll be able to make the switch for good. Want to browse our comprehensive range of e-liquids? View all the flavours we have in stock. If you have any more questions, just get in touch with our team - we'll be happy to help.

FAQs: Vape Nicotine Strengths

If you’re new to vaping, you may find the tremendous amount of choice a little, well, overwhelming. Here are some common questions that we often get put to us, which will hopefully help you get your bearings.

What Strengths of Nicotine Are Available in E-Liquids?

Nicotine strengths can vary from 0mg to 20mg. The higher the number, the higher the nicotine level.

0mg - nicotine-free
3mg-5mg - low concentration
6mg-11mg - low to medium concentration
12-17mg - medium to high concentration
18-20mg - high concentration

Is 2% Vape a Lot of Nicotine?

A 2% vape or 2%/20mg of nicotine in an e-liquid is considered high strength.

A 2% nicotine concentration may be harsher on the throat and is recommended for heavy smokers who may smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day.

How Much Nicotine Is in a Cigarette?

The nicotine content in a cigarette amounts to approximately 1.1mg-1.8mg, which equals 22 mg-36 mg in a pack.

Nicotine content in e-cigarettes on average is 0.5mg-15.4mg per 15 puffs.

Is 20mg the Same As 2% Vape?

In terms of nicotine levels, 20mg is the same as 2% vape - this means that there is 20mg of nicotine per millilitre or 2% per volume.

In a 10ml bottle of 20mg, there is then 200mg of nicotine (ml x mg).

What Level of Nicotine Should I Vape?

The level of nicotine that you vape is dependent on your own preferences, including your smoking habits and chosen device. Lower levels of nicotine are better for those who may not smoke often but still want a nicotine hit - it’s also good for sub-ohm vaping. Higher levels of nicotine are better for people who smoke frequently and require a bigger nicotine intake.

0mg - no nicotine, suitable for those who have worked their way down from higher strengths
3mg - low strength nicotine, ideal for those on the final steps of quitting and don’t often smoke
6mg - low strength, best for light smokers
12mg - medium strength, for moderate smokers who smoke a pack a day
18mg-20mg - high strength, suited for heavy smokers .

Remember your e-cig has a direct bearing on what strength e-liquid you should choose. If you have a sub-ohm atomizer and vape at higher powers, you will probably need a lower nicotine strength. Low resistance atomizer heads and high-powered e-cigs provide a more pronounced throat hit and nicotine delivery.

If you are using an e-cig starter or lower powered device, you may need a higher nicotine strength. The throat hit and nicotine delivery are less pronounced with higher resistance atomizer heads and lower powers.

The same can be said for vaping technique. If you inhale directly, opt for a lower nicotine strength. If you prefer a more restricted draw then you may need a higher strength e-liquid.

It is important to note that none of these are set in stone and each vaper is different.

If you need any help in choosing the right nicotine strength, don’t hesitate to contact us.