Nicotine strengths
The figure mg/ml
The nicotine strength states how many milligrams of nicotine one millilitre of liquid contains. Common levels are 0, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 18 and 20 mg/ml. Converting into per cent is simple: divide the value by 10. 20 mg/ml equals 2 %.
Limits in the EU
Under the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU, implemented in Germany in the Tobacco Products Act (Tabakerzeugnisgesetz) and the Tobacco Products Ordinance (Tabakerzeugnisverordnung), the following applies to nicotine-containing liquids:
| Requirement | Limit |
|---|---|
| Nicotine content | at most 20 mg/ml |
| Refill container (bottle) | at most 10 ml |
| Disposable vapes, cartridges, tanks | at most 2 ml |
| Warning | “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.” |
Shortfills and nicotine shots
Larger bottles without nicotine are called shortfills. They are not filled to the brim, so that there is room for a nicotine shot, usually 10 ml with 20 mg/ml. The strength of the finished mixture can be calculated:
Nicotine in the mixture = nicotine in the shot × shot volume ÷ total volume
| Shortfill | Shot (20 mg/ml) | Total volume | Strength of the mixture |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ml | 10 ml | 60 ml | around 3.3 mg/ml |
| 40 ml | 20 ml | 60 ml | around 6.7 mg/ml |
| 100 ml | 20 ml | 120 ml | around 3.3 mg/ml |
What this page does not do
We do not recommend a particular strength. Nicotine is highly addictive. For medical questions, a doctor is the right person to contact.