Short answer: vape nicotine is measured in milligrams per millilitre of e-liquid (mg/ml). Disposables usually come in 20, 30 or 50 mg/ml, and a full disposable can hold anywhere from a few hundred to over 1,000 mg of nicotine in total. That sounds like a lot next to a cigarette, but you inhale it over days or weeks, and how much reaches your blood depends on how you vape. Here’s how to read the numbers.

What mg/ml means

The figure on the box is how much nicotine is dissolved in each millilitre of e-liquid. 50 mg/ml is the same as 5%, 20 mg/ml is 2%. Multiply by the tank size to get the total:

  • 22 ml × 50 mg/ml = 1,100 mg of nicotine in the whole vape
  • 24 ml × 20 mg/ml = 480 mg

A higher number means more nicotine in every puff, not a longer-lasting vape.

Strength of each disposable we stock

Vape Strength E-liquid Total nicotine
Bi Bubble Graffiti 35000 20 mg 24 ml about 480 mg
Pandora Fizz 8000 30 mg/ml — —
Alibarbar Ingot 9000 50 mg/ml 22 ml about 1,100 mg
IGET Bar Pro 10000 50 mg/ml* 20 ml about 1,000 mg
IGET One 12000 50 mg/ml* 18 ml about 900 mg

“—” means the maker doesn’t publish it. *IGET doesn’t print a strength on its own site; 50 mg/ml is the figure retailers give. SWIX, IJOY and Snowplus don’t publish a nicotine strength we can confirm, so we don’t list one.

How it compares with a cigarette

A cigarette contains roughly 10 to 12 mg of nicotine in the tobacco, but a smoker absorbs only about 1 to 2 mg of it. The “1.0 mg” printed on some packs is a machine-measured figure for the smoke, not what a person actually takes in.

With vapes there’s no reliable “one vape equals X cigarettes” figure. How much nicotine you absorb depends on the strength, how long and deep your puffs are, the device’s power and how often you vape. People who switch from smoking tend to adjust their puffing until they get roughly the nicotine they’re used to, whatever the strength.

Nicotine salt vs freebase

Almost all disposables use nicotine salt. It is smoother on the throat than the freebase nicotine used in older refillable vapes, which is why disposables can run at 50 mg/ml without feeling harsh. The flip side is that high-strength salt is easy to over-use: it doesn’t warn you with a rough throat hit.

Which strength should you choose?

If you… Usually suits
Smoke a pack a day or more, or are used to strong vapes 50 mg/ml
Smoke lightly or vape now and then 20–30 mg/ml
Feel dizzy, sick or get headaches after vaping Drop a strength, or take fewer, shorter puffs

In Australia, pharmacies can supply vapes up to 20 mg/ml without a prescription; anything stronger needs one from a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Signs you’ve had too much nicotine

Dizziness, nausea, a racing heart, headache or feeling sweaty and shaky. Stop vaping, get some fresh air and drink water. Nicotine liquid is poisonous if swallowed, especially for children and pets: as little as a few millilitres can be dangerous for a child. Keep vapes out of reach, and if anyone swallows e-liquid call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

FAQ

Is 50 mg/ml a lot?

It’s the highest strength commonly sold in disposables. It suits heavy smokers switching over; light users often find it too strong.

Is 20 mg the same as 2%?

Yes. 20 mg/ml is 2%, 30 mg/ml is 3% and 50 mg/ml is 5%.

Does a stronger vape last longer?

No. How long a vape lasts depends on the tank size and how you puff. See How Long Does a Disposable Vape Last?

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