After disposable vapes were banned in the UK in 2025, many vape users have made the switch to reusable vape kits. This comes with the additional challenge of understanding and maintaining the components: sourcing your own hardware can feel intimidating at first, but understanding vape components unlocks a whole new world of customisation. One of the most important components you'll need to be familiar with is the vape coil, responsible for heating the device.

In this guide, we'll break down how vape coils work, provide tips on choosing the right vape coil for you, and teach you how to maintain and replace your vape coil.

What do vape coils do?

At its core, a vape coil serves as the primary heating element within your device, and it is responsible for turning your e-liquid into the vapour for inhalation. Without it, your device wouldn't be able to function.

The mechanism itself is straightforward:

• Inside the coil housing, a wicking material (typically cotton) draws in and absorbs the e-liquid from your tank.
• When the device is activated, the battery sends electrical power directly to the coil.
• The coil rapidly converts the electrical power into heat, vapourising the absorbed e-liquid.

Because the coil is directly responsible for producing the vapour, ensuring your device's coil is the right fit for your device and vaping preference is a critical factor for achieving a satisfying experience every time.

How to choose the right vape coil

At first, choosing a coil can feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of options available. However, selection becomes simple once you focus on a few key factors: electrical resistance, your equipment, and how you prefer to vape.

The defining technical spec of any coil is its electrical resistance, measured in ohms (Ω). This resistance impacts both the flavour of the vapour and the volume produced. Coils with a lower resistance allow more electrical current, resulting in hotter and denser vapour production. Higher resistance coils limit the electrical current for a cooler, more concentrated draw.

Device compatibility

Before looking at any performance specs, remember that coils are not universal. Your chosen coil must be compatible with the specific brand and model of your vape kit. To avoid purchasing incompatible parts, always check the official manufacturer guidelines, look at your original user manual, or verify the information printed on your product packaging.

Vaping preferences

Your personal preferences play a big role in deciding the most suitable vape coil. If you want heavy vapour production, choose a low-resistance coil built for a direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping style, where you draw the vapour directly into your lungs. If you prefer a tighter, flavour-focused draw that mimics traditional tobacco usage, known as mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping, select a higher-resistance coil.

Selecting a coil that aligns with your preferred nicotine strength ensures a smooth, safe experience: higher-resistance MTL coils that produce less vapour pair best with high-nicotine e-liquid, while sub-ohm coils need lower nicotine strengths to avoid too heavy a dose of nicotine.

Coil material

Different coil models are made from a variety of materials, including kanthal and stainless steel, and each offers a distinct vaping experience. Kanthal coils typically have a high electrical resistance, giving a smooth MTL experience in standard wattage mode. Stainless steel coils typically have a much lower resistance, drastically reducing heat-up time while delivering strong flavour.

How to prime your vape coil

After choosing your vape coil, the next step is installing it into your device and priming it for use. Priming is the process of saturating the fresh cotton wick with e-liquid before firing the device. The steps below are a general guide, but always consult the manufacturer's instructions for specific guidance.

Applying e-liquid

Before installing the loose coil into your tank, take your e-liquid bottle and carefully apply a few drops of juice directly onto the exposed cotton wick, plus a drop or two into the top opening of the coil. The internal cotton must be fully saturated to prevent the heat of the metal from scorching the wick when you first turn the vape on. Look closely at the cotton as you do this; you'll notice a visible change in texture or colour as the liquid soaks in.

Installation

Once the cotton ports appear fully damp, push or screw the primed coil securely into your tank or pod assembly. Reassemble the remaining components of your tank and fill the e-liquid reservoir to the top. Let the newly assembled setup sit for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure the e-liquid fully soaks through.

Testing

For the final preparation step, take several draws through the mouthpiece without turning on the vape. This pulls liquid further into the chamber without heating it. Next, turn on your device and take a few puffs at a low wattage setting, gradually increasing the wattage over your next few puffs until you reach your desired power. This avoids scorching the coil and preserves optimal flavour from the very beginning.

How to clean a vape coil

As you use your device, e-liquid residue can collect on the heating element. Cleaning your vape's coil is important to remove this build-up and prevent the flavour of your vape from becoming muted.

To clean your coil, remove it from your tank and rinse the replaceable components thoroughly under warm running water to flush away the residue. For a more intensive clean, you can let them soak in a high-proof clear alcohol solution for a few hours before rinsing again with water. You must let the coil dry for at least 24 hours before reinstalling it, as any moisture trapped inside can damage your device and put your safety at risk.

When should you replace a vape coil?

Even with regular cleaning, every coil eventually reaches the end of its life. Knowing when to change your vape coil is important for keeping your device functional and your experience pleasurable.

Keep an eye out for these common warning signs that your coil needs replacing:

• A burnt taste: if your vapour begins tasting like burnt cardboard, the internal cotton has scorched and cannot be saved.
• Reduced vapour output: a noticeable drop in cloud production often means the heating element is struggling due to residue build-up.
• E-liquid leaking: when wicking material degrades, it loses its ability to hold fluid, leading to e-liquid escaping through the airflow holes.
• Discoloured e-liquid: an old coil can leak built-up residue back into your tank, turning your clear juice dark brown.
• Harsh throat hit: if your draw suddenly feels scratchy, sharp or uncomfortable, the coil has degraded.

How long do vape coils last?

A standard estimate for a coil's lifetime is usually one to three weeks, though several factors can change this. Frequent use will dry the cotton out faster, and e-liquids with high sweetener levels will clog components more quickly.

Why changing your coil matters

Continuing to use a burnt, old or heavily degraded vape coil has several downsides. It can spoil flavour delivery, waste e-liquid by failing to vapourise it efficiently, and cause throat irritation. Keeping up with routine maintenance protects the physical integrity of your vape battery and tank housing, keeping your device safe from leaks and electrical faults.

Find the right vape coil with Vape Store

Whether you have experience using custom vape kits or you're just starting out, Vape Store is your destination for high-quality vape coils and other components. We offer an extensive range of high-resistance and low-resistance coils from leading brands. Explore our full collection today to find the perfect vape coil for you.