Finding Your Ideal Nicotine Strength: A Beginner's Guide

From 3mg to 20mg, the numbers on a bottle of e-liquid can sometimes be confusing. But behind them is a simple system designed to give you control over your experience. This guide will explain what the strengths mean and how to choose the right one for you. 

When you're starting your vaping journey, choosing your first device and flavour is the fun part. But for many, one question causes the most uncertainty: what nicotine strength should I choose? It's a crucial decision, as selecting the right level of nicotine is the single most important step towards a successful and satisfying start with vaping. 

This guide is here to remove the guesswork. We’ll provide clear, practical advice to help you find an ideal starting point based on your previous smoking habits. By understanding what the numbers mean and how different types of e-liquid deliver nicotine, you can make an informed choice that ensures your first vape is a comfortable and positive experience. 

Key Takeaways

• Choosing the right nicotine strength is crucial for a satisfying vaping experience, especially when moving away from cigarettes. 
• Your ideal starting strength is best determined by your previous smoking habits (e.g., the number of cigarettes smoked per day). 
• Nicotine Salts and Freebase e-liquids deliver nicotine differently; a 20mg Nic Salt feels much smoother than a 20mg Freebase liquid. 
• You can always adjust your nicotine strength up or down after your initial choice to fine-tune your experience.

Why Nicotine Strength Matters 

Getting the nicotine strength right from the beginning is key to successfully replacing cigarettes with a vape. The goal is to find an e-liquid strength that matches the level of nicotine your body is used to, ensuring you feel satisfied and don't feel the need to reach for a cigarette.

Choosing a strength that is too low for your needs may leave you feeling unsatisfied, which can be discouraging. On the other hand, choosing a strength that is too high can result in a harsh sensation on the throat and may even cause mild dizziness or a headache. The "sweet spot" is a strength that comfortably satisfies your needs and makes vaping feel like a seamless alternative. 

A Quick Guide: Matching Strength to Smoking Habits 

The most reliable way to find your starting nicotine strength is to base it on your previous daily smoking habits. Below is a straightforward guide to help you find a suitable starting point. 

For Heavy Smokers (20+ cigarettes a day) 

We recommend starting with a high-strength e-liquid, typically 18mg or 20mg. 

• 20mg Nicotine Salts are often the best choice here. Their unique formulation offers a smooth inhale, allowing you to get the high nicotine level you're used to without any uncomfortable harshness. 
• 18mg Freebase e-liquids are a great alternative if you prefer a more pronounced, tactile throat hit that feels closer to the sensation of smoking. 

For Average Smokers (10-20 cigarettes a day) 

A good starting point is a medium-strength e-liquid, around 10mg or 12mg. 

• 10mg Nicotine Salts will provide a smooth vape with a noticeable but very gentle throat hit, delivering a quick and satisfying level of nicotine. 
• 12mg Freebase e-liquids offer a more defined throat hit and are a popular choice for those who enjoy that classic, tactile sensation. 

For Light / Social Smokers (Fewer than 10 cigarettes a day) 

For those with lower nicotine needs, a low-strength e-liquid of 3mg or 6mg is the ideal choice. 

• 3mg and 6mg Freebase e-liquids are the most common options in this range. They provide just enough nicotine to keep cravings at bay while offering a very mild throat hit. They are perfect for those who were not heavy smokers or for vapers who have been gradually reducing their nicotine intake.

Freebase vs. Nicotine Salts: Why the "Feel" is Different 

As you can see from the recommendations, the type of nicotine in your e-liquid is just as important as the strength. The two main types, Freebase and Nicotine Salt, feel very different to vape. 

Freebase Nicotine is the traditional form of nicotine used in most e-liquids. It provides a noticeable "throat hit," a sensation that grows more intense as the nicotine strength increases. Many people appreciate this tactile feedback, as it closely mimics the feeling of smoking. 

Nicotine Salts are a more recent innovation. They use a slightly different chemical composition which results in a much smoother, gentler sensation on the inhale. This is why a 20mg Nic Salt can feel surprisingly comfortable to vape, whereas a 20mg Freebase e-liquid would be unpleasantly harsh for most users. 

Shortfills and Custom Strengths: A Note for Advanced Users 

For those using more powerful, sub-ohm vape kits, you'll most often be using Shortfills. These are large, nicotine-free bottles of e-liquid with space at the top to add a Nicotine Shot. This allows you to create a large batch of low-strength, high-VG e-liquid, which is perfect for direct-to-lung vaping. 

The calculation is simple: 

• Adding two 10ml, 18mg nicotine shots to a 100ml shortfill creates 120ml of 3mg e-liquid.
• Adding one 10ml, 18mg nicotine shot to a 50ml shortfill creates 60ml of 3mg e-liquid.

Don't Be Afraid to Adjust

It’s important to remember that this guide offers a starting point, not a permanent rule. Vaping is a personal journey, and finding your perfect nicotine strength is part of that process. 

If you find your chosen strength isn't quite right, don't be discouraged. If your vape feels harsh or too intense, try a lower strength or, if using freebase vape juice, switch to a nic salt. If you find you're vaping constantly and still not feeling satisfied, you may need to go up a level. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of vaping, so listen to your body and adjust your choice until it feels perfect for you.