How much nicotine should I get in my vape juice? And how to find out how much nicotine is too much? Read on to get answers to some common questions that beginner vapers and veterans alike may be asking.
And keep in mind: vape juice nicotine levels vary in products, so, what an individual’s tolerance for nicotine is the thing to begin with.
Why do nicotine levels matter when vaping?
For people looking to replace smoking with vaping, nicotine levels need to do a couple of things:
the nicotine level should match what they were getting from cigarettes. Otherwise, they are not likely to keep vaping.
the sensation of vaping should mirror that of smoking cigarettes. To get the same kind of throat hit as a cigarette, the nicotine level, in addition to the type of device, should be enough to replicate what it feels like to smoke like with mouth to lung vaping.
Some ex-smokers are looking for an alternative to smoking and simply want to match the right strength that they feel comfortable with. While others are looking to start with a high enough strength and then eventually step down their consumption to zero.
Since nicotine is addictive, it is essential to curb that craving of a cigarette. The effects of nicotine are what makes smoking so dangerous because the craving makes people smoke more. When the right nicotine level can be found, then an ex-smoker is more likely to stay just that. An actual EX-smoker.
On the flip side of the nicotine level coin is the person new to vaping that has never smoked cigarettes. There are many 0% juices out there that can be enjoyed by nonsmokers.
Is vaping nicotine the same as smoking?
vaping nicotine levels
M.Stasy/Shutterstock
Vaping e-juice acts as a vehicle to get nicotine into the body in the same way that smoking does. By inhaling.
That is where the similarities end, however.
The question, then, is how much nicotine is in a cig compared to vaping
Most cigarettes have between 4 and 14 mg each.
How much of that is absorbed into the body depends on how deeply the person inhales and how much of the cigarette is actually smoked. Not all of that nicotine gets into the body as most people take breaks between puffs which means that a portion of the cigarette is burned without being inhaled.
This is the same for vaping. How much nicotine gets into the body, regardless of what the strength of the vaping liquid, depends on:
how deep a breath the vaper takes,
how often they puff and what kind of device is used.
How much vape it takes to equal a cigarette depends on too many factors to be able to answer that question reasonably. It will take some experimenting with different vape juice strengths to find the sweet spot. Keeping in mind what is a nicotine high vaper should be careful with this.
Big advantage vapers have over smokers is knowing exactly how much nicotine their e-juice contains.
How much nicotine does e-juice contain?
There is no set strength for vape juice. What’s in vape juice as far as nicotine goes?
To understand the vape levels, the amount is listed in milligrams per milliliter. Strengths range from lowest nicotine e-liquid, ie zero to 36 mg per milliliter.
Sometimes, however, the strength is listed by percentage. 18 milligrams, for example, is listed as 1.8%. Zero nicotine obviously will be listed as 0%.
How much nicotine is the right amount in an e-juice?
As a general rule of thumb, high-concentrated e-cigs will provide more nicotine than a drip system tank mod.
Usually, the e-cigs or cig-alikes can satisfy smokers with the level of nicotine, as well as the smoking sensation. The high strengths that heavy smokers need can usually be found in e-cigs.
Each manufacturer sets its own standards for the strength of the e-liquid for smoking. But still there is a gradation that has been established for a long time:
0 mg/ml means that e-juice does not contain nicotine at all
3 mg/ml the lowest level, ideal for those who want to reduce the amount of nicotine
6 mg/ml used by people who wish to enjoy a full e-juice taste but with a low level
12 mg/ml for those who used to smoke 1 pack a day
18 mg/ml for those who used to smoke more than 1 pack a day
24 mg/ml
a very high level; for heavy smokers who used to smoke more than 2 packs a day
36 mg/ml the highest level, used to dilute an e-juice with a low level of nicotine
Sub Ohm vaping generally means lower nicotine levels. Although the levels are lower, it is possible to get similar inhalation as cigarettes. Sub Ohm vaping produces more vapor, so more nicotine is able to be inhaled.
Typically, sub-Ohm vape mods contain 3 to 6 mg to give a smoker the same satisfaction of smoking. It is not recommended to go for high strength juices as it may be too harsh and impart too much active substance, even for heavy smokers.
And keep in mind: vape juice nicotine levels vary in products, so, what an individual’s tolerance for nicotine is the thing to begin with.
Why do nicotine levels matter when vaping?
For people looking to replace smoking with vaping, nicotine levels need to do a couple of things:
the nicotine level should match what they were getting from cigarettes. Otherwise, they are not likely to keep vaping.
the sensation of vaping should mirror that of smoking cigarettes. To get the same kind of throat hit as a cigarette, the nicotine level, in addition to the type of device, should be enough to replicate what it feels like to smoke like with mouth to lung vaping.
Some ex-smokers are looking for an alternative to smoking and simply want to match the right strength that they feel comfortable with. While others are looking to start with a high enough strength and then eventually step down their consumption to zero.
Since nicotine is addictive, it is essential to curb that craving of a cigarette. The effects of nicotine are what makes smoking so dangerous because the craving makes people smoke more. When the right nicotine level can be found, then an ex-smoker is more likely to stay just that. An actual EX-smoker.
On the flip side of the nicotine level coin is the person new to vaping that has never smoked cigarettes. There are many 0% juices out there that can be enjoyed by nonsmokers.
Is vaping nicotine the same as smoking?
vaping nicotine levels
M.Stasy/Shutterstock
Vaping e-juice acts as a vehicle to get nicotine into the body in the same way that smoking does. By inhaling.
That is where the similarities end, however.
The question, then, is how much nicotine is in a cig compared to vaping
Most cigarettes have between 4 and 14 mg each.
How much of that is absorbed into the body depends on how deeply the person inhales and how much of the cigarette is actually smoked. Not all of that nicotine gets into the body as most people take breaks between puffs which means that a portion of the cigarette is burned without being inhaled.
This is the same for vaping. How much nicotine gets into the body, regardless of what the strength of the vaping liquid, depends on:
how deep a breath the vaper takes,
how often they puff and what kind of device is used.
How much vape it takes to equal a cigarette depends on too many factors to be able to answer that question reasonably. It will take some experimenting with different vape juice strengths to find the sweet spot. Keeping in mind what is a nicotine high vaper should be careful with this.
Big advantage vapers have over smokers is knowing exactly how much nicotine their e-juice contains.
How much nicotine does e-juice contain?
There is no set strength for vape juice. What’s in vape juice as far as nicotine goes?
To understand the vape levels, the amount is listed in milligrams per milliliter. Strengths range from lowest nicotine e-liquid, ie zero to 36 mg per milliliter.
Sometimes, however, the strength is listed by percentage. 18 milligrams, for example, is listed as 1.8%. Zero nicotine obviously will be listed as 0%.
How much nicotine is the right amount in an e-juice?
As a general rule of thumb, high-concentrated e-cigs will provide more nicotine than a drip system tank mod.
Usually, the e-cigs or cig-alikes can satisfy smokers with the level of nicotine, as well as the smoking sensation. The high strengths that heavy smokers need can usually be found in e-cigs.
Each manufacturer sets its own standards for the strength of the e-liquid for smoking. But still there is a gradation that has been established for a long time:
0 mg/ml means that e-juice does not contain nicotine at all
3 mg/ml the lowest level, ideal for those who want to reduce the amount of nicotine
6 mg/ml used by people who wish to enjoy a full e-juice taste but with a low level
12 mg/ml for those who used to smoke 1 pack a day
18 mg/ml for those who used to smoke more than 1 pack a day
24 mg/ml
a very high level; for heavy smokers who used to smoke more than 2 packs a day
36 mg/ml the highest level, used to dilute an e-juice with a low level of nicotine
Sub Ohm vaping generally means lower nicotine levels. Although the levels are lower, it is possible to get similar inhalation as cigarettes. Sub Ohm vaping produces more vapor, so more nicotine is able to be inhaled.
Typically, sub-Ohm vape mods contain 3 to 6 mg to give a smoker the same satisfaction of smoking. It is not recommended to go for high strength juices as it may be too harsh and impart too much active substance, even for heavy smokers.