Understanding Shortfill E-Liquid & Nic Shots

Understanding Shortfill E-Liquid & Nic Shots: Get the most out of your vape juice.

10ml e-liquids or 100ml shortfills? Do I need a nic shot for my shortfill? Get the most out of vaping with our online shortfill bundle deals.

The vaping industry has come a long way over the last decade, and e-liquids have improved vastly. Gone are the days of weak, low nicotine e-liquids in only a few flavours. In 2021, there are hundreds of flavours to choose from, as well as a range of nicotine strengths and even nic salts.

Shortfill e-liquids have also entered the mainstream as vapers look to reduce costs and make the most out of their e-liquid. In this guide, we’ll take a look at what e-liquids are, why shortfills have become popular and what nic shots are used for.

What is e-liquid?

E-liquid is the liquid used in vapes and e-cigs, that is heated into vapour and inhaled by the user. It is usually made of two main ingredients, plus flavourings. These are Vegetable Glycerine (VG) and Propylene Glycol (PG).

These are safe compounds for inhaling and do not contain nicotine or any addictive substances. You can find e-liquids with different ratios of VG to PG, which can affect the taste and the density of the vapour cloud.

We will cover shortfills, e-liquids and nic shots in this article.

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VG vs PG: What’s the difference?

VG, or vegetable glycerine, is slightly thicker than PG (propylene glycol) and is usually used to increase the thickness of the vapour cloud. VG has a mildly sweet taste and has a slightly shorter shelf life due to its natural ingredients. It also tends to give a smoother ‘throat hit’ which can make vaping more comfortable and less harsh.

PG tends to carry flavour better than VG and is usually used to create great tasting e-liquids. It is a thin, odourless liquid but when combined with flavourings can provide a mouth-watering vaping experience.

What ratio of VG to PG is best?

The most common ratio of PG to VG is 50:50. This allows for a great tasting vapour as well as a smooth, thick vapour cloud and works well in most vape devices, including mods and pods. This is the recommended ratio if you’re a beginner to vaping and is fine for performing vape tricks.

Higher ratios of VG tend to lead to denser and thicker clouds, which makes high vg e-liquids great for performing vape tricks. It will tend to provide more vapour with less e-liquid. However, VG is slightly thicker than PG and not all vapes will work with a high VG e-liquid, so make sure your device is designed for it.

Higher PG ratios are less common than high VG ratios. As propylene glycol carries flavour better than VG, high PG ratios tend to be ideal if you want to focus on flavour. It will allow for a better taste, but it will also reduce the thickness and intensity of the vapour cloud. High PG ratios of e-liquid aren’t recommended for vape tricks, but they can still work.

What are e-liquid shortfills?

E-liquid shortfills are a relatively new addition to vaping. Due to TPD and TRPR regulations, it is not legal in the UK to sell a nicotine product (like e-liquids) with more than 20mg/ml of nicotine or in a bottle with a capacity larger than 10ml.

This has led to manufacturers developing shortfill options for their customers. Shortfill e-liquids contain zero-nicotine, so they aren’t subject to TPD and TRPR regulations like normal e-liquids with nicotine are. They are still subject to GSPR regulations which govern the safety of all UK made products.

As shortfills aren’t subject to TPD regulations, they are available in much larger quantities than 10ml. This makes them ideal for vapers looking to buy in bulk to save money over the long term. They do, however, cost more per bottle.

If you still want nicotine in your shortfill e-liquid, that’s no issue. You can buy pure nicotine, or nic shots, which you can add to the shortfill to create the exact strength you prefer. Shortfill bottles are intentionally underfilled, so there’s always space to add nic shots directly to the bottle.

100ml or 50ml? What sizes of shortfills are there?

There are many sizes of shortfills available, but the most common tend to be:

40ml – Less common but is the most affordable option. Great if you change e-liquid flavours often.
50ml – Lasts five times longer than a standard 10ml bottle and cost around £6, very common and recommended if you like to switch between flavours.
75ml – BEAR Pro MAX 75ml e-liquids come with three nicotine salt shots included in the box so you can easily create a 10mg blend that lasts for ~24,000 puffs.
80ml – Offers great value for money and costs slightly less than 100ml.
100ml – One of the most common options, this gives you the best bang for your buck. Less ideal if you change e-liquid flavours regularly.

Are 100ml shortfills the cheapest option over the longer term?

Generally, 100ml shortfills will save you the most money over the long term. They cost more initially, but will last a long time and save you from running out of juice as often. They’re ideal if you have a favourite flavour you always want to have to hand.

If you regularly switch between e-liquid flavours, it might be better to go for a smaller bottle, like a 50ml shortfill. This means you can buy a wider range of flavours for the same cost.

Check out our mix and match shortfill deals below to get even better value for your money!

Shortfill Online Bundle Deals

We offer a range of mix and match deals on our shortfill e-liquids. Whether you’re after 50ml or 100ml, you can save money and get great quality shortfills and nic shots across a wide range of flavours:

Mix & Match Shortfill E-Liquid Deals

Mix & Match 3 for £15 – 50ml shortfill deals.
Mix & Match 3 for £20 – 70/30 VG/PG 50ml shortfill deals.
Mix & Match 3 for £25 – 100ml shortfill e-liquid deals.

What are nic shots and do I need them for my shortfill e-liquid?

Nic shots are 10ml bottles of pure nicotine. They are designed to be added to zero-nicotine shortfill e-liquids to increase the nicotine strength. They are ideal for ex-smokers who have switched to vaping as it can help them get the same nicotine hit as they would from a cigarette.

You should not add nicotine to your e-liquid if you do not need to.

They allow the user to customise the strength of their e-liquid better than with standardised bottles. They cost only £0.99 per bottle and come in a range of flavours. Nic shots are subject to TPD regulations so are limited to 10ml bottles. Read more abut TPD regulations on our vaping safety blog.

Where can I buy nic shots?

Head over to our online vape store where you can find a range of nic shot flavours from as little as £0.99. Choose from a range of top brands including Psycho Bunny and EVL and enjoy free UK delivery on orders over £20!