Vape Coil

Vape Maintenance

When to Replace Your Vape Coil – And Which One to Buy Next

August 29, 2025

A worn-out vape coil can turn even the best e-liquid into a disappointing experience. But how do you know when it’s time for a change—and which replacement to buy?

If you’ve ever taken a puff on your favourite vape and been met with a burnt, metallic taste—or noticed your vapour suddenly feels weak or inconsistent—it’s likely time to replace your coil. Coils are the engine at the heart of every vape kit, and like any consumable part, they wear out over time.

While most coils last around 5–10 days depending on use and e-liquid type, there are clear signals when performance starts to drop off. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key signs your coil needs replacing, how to fix common issues, and how to choose the right replacement coil for your device and vape style.

Explore our full coil collection or try the Coil Finder Tool for a fast and simple match.

Key Takeaways

Most coils last between 5–10 days, depending on usage, wattage, and e-liquid type
Burnt taste, gurgling, muted flavour, and leaking are all signs a coil needs replacing
Replaceable coils offer flexibility and lower waste, while pre-built pods provide convenience
Choosing the correct resistance is crucial—MTL coils for higher resistance, DTL coils for low
Vapestore’s Coil Finder Tool can help match your device to the right coil

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How Long Does a Vape Coil Last?

There’s no universal lifespan, but the average range is 5 to 10 days with regular use. Your coil may wear out faster if:

1. You’re vaping sweetened or coloured e-liquids

2. You’re using high wattages

3. You’re chain vaping without breaks

4. You haven’t primed the coil properly

Some vapers stretch coils for two weeks or more with light use and good maintenance, but if flavour or vapour output dips, it’s time to swap.

Signs Your Vape Coil Needs Replacing

Burnt Taste The most obvious sign. If you’re tasting singed cotton or charred flavour, the coil’s wick has likely dried out or burnt through.

Muted or Unusual Flavours If your favourite e-liquid suddenly tastes dull or strange, it could be residue buildup on the coil degrading performance.

Gurgling or Leaking Flooded coils or excess e-liquid around the pod/tank base suggest a coil isn’t heating properly—or is nearing the end of its life.

Poor Vapour Production A noticeable drop in cloud output, especially on the same wattage, often indicates a tired coil.

Dark or Sludgy Coil Appearance If you remove the coil and see heavy dark residue or sludge, that’s a good visual cue to replace it.

Quick Fixes Before You Swap

Check Your Wattage: Make sure you’re within the coil’s recommended wattage range. Too high, and you’ll burn the wick; too low, and it won’t vaporise properly.

Prime It Properly: Always saturate a new coil with a few drops of e-liquid, then let it sit for 5–10 minutes after filling the tank.

Don’t Chain Vape: Give the coil time to re-saturate between puffs, especially with high-VG liquids.

Keep the Tank Topped Up: Running low can expose the coil and burn the wick.

Choosing the Right Replacement Coil

Once you’ve diagnosed that your coil is finished, the next step is replacing it with the right one for your device and vape style.

Check Compatibility

Coils are not universal—each brand and model uses its own range. Look for the exact coil model or series (e.g. Vaporesso GTX, SMOK RPM, Voopoo PnP) on your current coil or packaging. Or use our Coil Finder Tool.

Match Resistance to Your Vaping Style

When selecting a replacement coil, it’s crucial to choose the right resistance level based on your preferred vaping style:

Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) Vaping: Best suited to higher-resistance coils between 0.8ohm and 1.4ohm. These are ideal for use with nicotine salt e-liquids or 50/50 blends and provide a tighter draw that mimics the sensation of smoking.
Restricted Direct-Lung (RDL) Vaping: Coils in the 0.4ohm to 0.8ohm range strike a balance between vapour output and flavour clarity. Suitable for 50/50 e-liquids or light high-VG blends, RDL coils offer a looser draw than MTL but remain compact and power-efficient.
Direct-to-Lung (DTL) Vaping: Sub-ohm coils ranging from 0.15ohm to 0.4ohm are best for high-VG e-liquids. These are designed to produce thicker vapour, warmer hits, and a more open airflow experience, typically at higher wattages.

Still unsure which style suits your needs? Our Coil Finder Tool can help you narrow down the right choice aligned with your device and vape style.

Choosing the Right Replacement Coil

Once you’ve diagnosed that your coil is finished, the next step is replacing it with the right one for your device and vape style.

Check Compatibility

Coils are not universal—each brand and model uses its own range. Look for the exact vape coil model or series (e.g. Vaporesso GTX, SMOK RPM, Voopoo PnP) on your current coil or packaging. Or use our Coil Finder Tool.

Match Resistance to Your Vaping Style

When selecting a replacement coil, it’s crucial to choose the right resistance level based on your preferred vaping style:

Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) Vaping: Best suited to higher-resistance coils between 0.8ohm and 1.4ohm. These are ideal for use with nicotine salt e-liquids or 50/50 blends and provide a tighter draw that mimics the sensation of smoking.
Restricted Direct-Lung (RDL) Vaping: Coils in the 0.4ohm to 0.8ohm range strike a balance between vapour output and flavour clarity. Suitable for 50/50 e-liquids or light high-VG blends, RDL coils offer a looser draw than MTL but remain compact and power-efficient.
Direct-to-Lung (DTL) Vaping: Sub-ohm coils ranging from 0.15ohm to 0.4ohm are best for high-VG e-liquids. These are designed to produce thicker vapour, warmer hits, and a more open airflow experience, typically at higher wattages.

Still unsure which style suits your needs? Our Coil Finder Tool can help you narrow down the right choice aligned with your device and vape style.

What About Pre-Built Pods?

If your device uses prefilled pods or refillable pods with non-replaceable coils, the signs of wear are the same—but instead of changing just the coil, you replace the whole pod.

These pods are precision-built to match coil resistance and airflow characteristics, so swapping them restores fresh performance immediately. Look for 2-packs of replacement pods to keep on hand.

Final Tip: Don’t Wait Too Long!

Using a burnt or expired coil doesn’t just ruin flavour—it can shorten your device’s life and negatively affect your e-liquid’s performance. If in doubt, replace early.

Conclusion

Knowing when to replace your vape coil—and which one to choose next—is one of the most valuable bits of vape knowledge you can learn. Pay attention to signs like burnt taste, leaking, or flavour drop-offs, and keep a spare coil or pod ready for when performance dips.

If you’re keen to dig deeper into coil selection—resistance, materials, and compatibility—check out our complete resource: How to Choose the Right Vape Coils.

Explore our full coil collection or try our Coil Finder Tool to get the perfect match for your kit. Still unsure? Our Customer Services Team is happy to help you find the right replacement based on your device of choice and vaping preferences.

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FAQs

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What do coils look like?

Vape coils are small, cylindrical components that screw into your tank or pod. They typically have a metal outer casing with threading, visible cotton wicking material in the centre, and resistance wire wrapped around or through the cotton. Most coils are about the size of your fingertip and have the resistance value (like 0.8ohm) printed on the side.

How often to change vape coil?

You should change your vape coil every 5-10 days on average, or whenever you notice signs of wear like burnt taste, weak flavour, reduced vapour production, or gurgling sounds. Heavy users might need to change coils more frequently, while occasional vapers may get longer life from each coil.

Why does my vape taste burnt with new coil?

A new coil might taste burnt if it wasn't primed properly before first use. Make sure to apply 2-3 drops of e-liquid directly onto the visible cotton, fill your tank, wait 5-10 minutes, then start vaping at the lower end of the recommended wattage range. Also check you're not using a wattage that's too high for your coil.

How long should a vape coil last?

A vape coil should last between 5-10 days under normal conditions, though this can vary significantly based on individual usage. Proper priming, appropriate wattage settings, avoiding chain vaping, and using less sugary e-liquids can help maximise coil lifespan. Replace immediately if you taste anything burnt or unpleasant.

When to Replace Your Vape Coil – And Which One to Buy Next

Key Takeaways