What Nicotine Strength Should I Vape? 5mg, 10mg or 20mg Explained

Choosing the right nicotine strength can make a huge difference to your vaping experience.

Pick a strength that is too low and you may find yourself vaping constantly without properly satisfying your cravings. Choose one that is stronger than you need and the vape may feel harsh or leave you feeling unpleasant.

For many UK vapers, the choice comes down to 5mg, 10mg or 20mg nicotine e-liquid.

So which strength should you choose?

The short answer is:

• 5mg – better suited to lighter nicotine users or people gradually reducing their nicotine intake

• 10mg – a popular middle ground for moderate nicotine users

• 20mg – a higher-strength option generally suited to people with stronger nicotine cravings

However, there is more to choosing nicotine strength than simply looking at how many cigarettes you previously smoked.

Your vape device, how frequently you vape and whether you use nic salts or freebase nicotine can all make a difference.

Quick Nicotine Strength Guide

These are only general guidelines.

Everyone's nicotine requirements are different, and the goal should be to find a strength that manages cravings without using more nicotine than you need.

What Does mg Mean in Vape Juice?

The nicotine strength printed on an e-liquid bottle is normally shown as mg/ml, meaning milligrams of nicotine per millilitre of e-liquid.

For example:

5mg = 5mg of nicotine per ml

10mg = 10mg of nicotine per ml

20mg = 20mg of nicotine per ml

You may also occasionally see nicotine strength shown as a percentage.

For example:

• 5mg ≈ 0.5%

• 10mg = 1%

• 20mg = 2%

Therefore, a 20mg e-liquid contains four times the nicotine concentration of a 5mg e-liquid.

That doesn't necessarily mean somebody using 20mg consumes four times as much nicotine overall, though.

How frequently you vape, how long your puffs are and the type of device you use will all influence your overall nicotine intake.

Is 5mg Nicotine Strong?

5mg is generally considered a relatively low nicotine strength.

It can work well for people who:

• previously smoked relatively few cigarettes

• already use lower-strength e-liquid

• vape fairly frequently

• are gradually reducing their nicotine intake

• find 10mg nicotine too strong

It can also be useful as a stepping stone when reducing nicotine.

For example, somebody who is comfortable using 10mg may eventually decide to move down to 5mg before progressing to an even lower strength or 0mg.

Who Might Find 5mg Too Weak?

Someone switching directly from regular or heavy cigarette smoking may find 5mg doesn't provide enough nicotine to manage their cravings.

Possible signs your nicotine strength is too low include:

• vaping far more frequently than expected

• repeatedly reaching for your vape

• continuing to experience strong cigarette cravings

• feeling unsatisfied shortly after vaping

• being tempted to return to smoking

If you have recently stopped smoking, using too little nicotine can sometimes make the transition unnecessarily difficult.

Is 10mg Nicotine Strong?

10mg is one of the most useful middle-ground nicotine strengths.

It provides considerably more nicotine than 5mg without being as strong as a 20mg e-liquid.

For this reason, it is particularly popular in pod kits and mouth-to-lung (MTL) devices.

10mg may suit someone who:

• previously smoked moderately

• finds 20mg stronger than necessary

• finds 5mg doesn't fully satisfy their cravings

• wants to reduce from 20mg

• prefers a balanced nicotine strength for everyday vaping

For many people, 10mg nic salts provide a good balance between nicotine satisfaction and a smooth inhale.

Is 20mg Nicotine Strong?

Yes. 20mg is a high-strength nicotine e-liquid by UK standards.

It is commonly available as nicotine salt e-liquid, particularly for use with pod kits and lower-powered mouth-to-lung devices.

20mg may be appropriate for adult smokers making the switch who previously had strong nicotine dependence or continue to experience substantial cigarette cravings.

It can also be useful for people who prefer taking fewer puffs rather than vaping continuously.

However, you should not automatically choose the strongest option.

If 10mg comfortably manages your cravings, there is little reason to move up to 20mg.

Signs 20mg Could Be Too Strong for You

Using more nicotine than your body is accustomed to can make you feel unpleasant.

Possible signs include:

• nausea

• dizziness or light-headedness

• headaches

• feeling jittery

• an unpleasantly strong nicotine sensation

If that happens, stop vaping for a while and consider trying a lower nicotine concentration.

5mg vs 10mg vs 20mg Nicotine

Here's a simple comparison.

5mg

Best for: Lower nicotine requirements

Advantages

• Lower nicotine concentration

• Useful when reducing nicotine

• Suitable for frequent vapers who don't need a high strength

Potential downside

May not satisfy stronger nicotine cravings.

10mg

Best for: Moderate nicotine requirements

Advantages

• Good balance between 5mg and 20mg

• Popular with refillable pod kits

• Useful when stepping down from 20mg

• Available in a huge range of nic salt flavours

Potential downside

Heavy smokers switching to vaping may initially require something stronger.

20mg

Best for: Stronger nicotine cravings

Advantages

• Higher nicotine concentration

• Often effective at satisfying cravings with fewer puffs

• Widely available as nic salts

• Particularly suited to low-powered MTL and pod devices

Potential downside

Can be unnecessarily strong for lighter nicotine users.

What Nicotine Strength Should I Choose Based on How Much I Smoked?

Your previous cigarette consumption can provide a useful starting point, although it isn't an exact science.

A rough guide could be:

Cigarettes vary considerably in nicotine delivery, and people's smoking habits are different.

Someone smoking ten cigarettes with deep, frequent draws may have very different nicotine requirements from somebody else smoking the same number.

The most important thing is whether your chosen strength controls your cigarette cravings comfortably.

Nic Salts vs Freebase Nicotine: Does It Affect Which Strength I Need?

Yes, it can.

The two main types of nicotine used in e-liquid are:

Nicotine salts (nic salts)
and
Freebase nicotine

Nicotine Salts

Nic salts are particularly popular in strengths such as 5mg, 10mg and 20mg.

They are commonly used with:

• pod kits

• starter kits

• low-powered vape devices

• mouth-to-lung devices

Nic salts are designed to provide nicotine with a relatively smooth throat sensation, which makes higher strengths such as 10mg and 20mg easier for many users to vape.

Freebase Nicotine

Freebase nicotine traditionally provides a stronger throat hit as the nicotine concentration increases.

This means many people using larger or more powerful vape devices choose lower nicotine concentrations.

If you're unsure about the difference, read our guide to Nic Salts vs Freebase Nicotine.

Your Vape Kit Matters Too

Nicotine strength should always be considered alongside the type of vape you're using.

This is extremely important.

A 20mg nic salt shouldn't normally be used in a high-powered sub-ohm device designed to produce large quantities of vapour.

Higher nicotine strengths are generally intended for lower-powered devices that produce less vapour per puff.

These include:

• refillable pod kits

• MTL vape kits

• starter kits

• low-powered devices

Higher-powered direct-to-lung devices produce much more vapour with every puff, so users generally choose much lower nicotine concentrations.

Simple rule:

Low-powered device + smaller vapour production = higher nicotine strengths may be suitable

High-powered device + large vapour production = lower nicotine strengths are normally used

What If My Nicotine Strength Is Too Low?

One of the biggest mistakes people make when switching from cigarettes is immediately trying to use as little nicotine as possible.

The priority when switching should be avoiding cigarettes.

If your e-liquid is too weak, you may:

• vape excessively

• still experience strong cravings

• feel dissatisfied

• start smoking cigarettes alongside vaping

If you're constantly vaping but still craving cigarettes, you may need a stronger nicotine strength.

What If My Nicotine Strength Is Too High?

There is also no benefit in using significantly more nicotine than you need.

If your vape feels excessively strong or you experience symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or headaches after vaping, your nicotine concentration may be too high.

Try taking fewer puffs and consider moving to a lower strength.

For example:

20mg → 10mg

or

10mg → 5mg

Should I Reduce My Nicotine Strength Over Time?

You don't have to reduce your nicotine immediately after switching from cigarettes.

For many people, successfully stopping smoking comes first.

Once you are comfortable vaping and confident that you're unlikely to return to cigarettes, you may choose to gradually lower your nicotine concentration.

A simple progression could look like:

20mg → 10mg → 5mg → lower strength → 0mg

There's no requirement to rush.

If reducing your nicotine strength causes you to vape substantially more or gives you strong cigarette cravings, you may have reduced it too quickly.

Is 20mg the Strongest Vape Juice in the UK?

For standard nicotine-containing e-liquid legally supplied to UK consumers, 20mg/ml is the current maximum permitted nicotine concentration.

This is why you'll commonly see nicotine salt ranges offered in strengths such as:

5mg

10mg

20mg

Nicotine-free e-liquids are also widely available in 0mg.

What Nicotine Strength Is Best for a Pod Kit?

Most refillable pod kits are designed for 50/50 e-liquids and nicotine salts, making them particularly suitable for strengths such as 5mg, 10mg and 20mg.

A good starting point is:

Strong cravings → 20mg

Moderate cravings → 10mg

Lower nicotine requirement → 5mg

You can then adjust the strength depending on how satisfied you feel.

Can I Mix Different Nicotine Strengths?

It is possible to mix compatible e-liquids to create an intermediate nicotine strength.

For example, mixing equal quantities of:

10mg + 20mg

would produce approximately:

15mg

However, both liquids should ideally have compatible VG/PG ratios and flavours.

Always calculate nicotine concentrations carefully rather than guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 20mg nicotine a lot?

20mg/ml is a relatively high nicotine concentration for UK e-liquid and is the maximum strength permitted for standard consumer nicotine e-liquid. It is primarily used in lower-powered vape devices such as pod kits.

Is 10mg nicotine enough?

For many moderate nicotine users, 10mg can provide a good balance. Someone with stronger cigarette cravings may require 20mg, while lighter users may prefer 5mg.

Is 5mg nicotine good for beginners?

It depends on the person's previous nicotine use. A light smoker may find 5mg sufficient, while someone previously smoking heavily could find it too weak.

Should I start with 10mg or 20mg?

If you are switching from smoking, your starting strength should be high enough to manage cigarette cravings. Moderate smokers may find 10mg suitable, while people with stronger nicotine dependence may find 20mg more effective.

Can I reduce from 20mg to 10mg?

Yes. Many vapers gradually reduce their nicotine strength over time. If moving directly from 20mg to 10mg leaves you experiencing strong cravings or vaping much more frequently, consider reducing more gradually.

What nicotine strength should a non-smoker use?

None.

People who do not currently smoke or use nicotine should not start vaping nicotine products.

Finding the Right Nicotine Strength

There isn't one nicotine strength that works for everyone.

The right choice depends on:

• how much nicotine you previously consumed

• how strong your cravings are

• the vape device you use

• how frequently you vape

• whether you're using nic salts or freebase nicotine

As a general starting point:

5mg = lower nicotine requirement

10mg = moderate nicotine requirement

20mg = stronger nicotine requirement

The aim is to use a strength that keeps cigarette cravings under control without using more nicotine than you need.

If you're switching from cigarettes, don't become obsessed with reducing nicotine immediately. Getting away from combustible cigarettes is the more important first step. Once you're comfortable, you can gradually reduce your nicotine strength if you want to.

Nicotine is addictive. Vape products are intended for adults and should not be used by children or non-smokers.