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Vaping and Smoking Costs After the New Vape Tax

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is set to be a strong solution towards helping people stop smoking and vaping. It comes in conjunction with the plan for a smoke-free Britain, which in turn will gradually increase the price of products of both types to discourage users and further this goal. This also includes the prevention of the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009, even if they're 18 or above at the time of purchase.

The vape duty applies only to liquids intended to be used in an e-cigarette, regardless of nicotine concentration.

Looking at UK Vaping Costs

Average Vaping Cost in 2025

Vaping remains a much cheaper alternative to smoking, and although there will be an increase in vaping costs, it's worth noting that the government intend to keep vaping as a much more affordable alternative when compared to smoking.

After the initial cost of a vape kit, the e-liquid cost depends on what your preferred type is. Our most popular option is our original Core Range, starting at £2.50. It offers an extensive range of our best and most popular flavours at an affordable price.

EDGE Liq Peach Ice Nic Salt Eliquid from EDGE Vaping 10 mg

EDGE Nic Salts are popular amongst many vapers, most particularly users of disposable vapes - prior to their ban. Nic salts are preferred for their flavourful taste, as well as a fast-acting nicotine hit, faster and more impactful than when compared to smoking tobacco. For this reason, they're a preference to many vapers, at an affordable £3.50.

Our Elite Range is our most premium offering, with some of the Core Range favourites available with double-concentrated flavours and premium-quality ingredients. At £4.00, they're a premium option that doesn't break the bank.

EDGE GO pre-filled pods are an efficient alternative to fill-bottles, allowing users to switch out pods in one motion with no need to fill with e-liquid. They cost £4 for a pack of two 1.5ml pods.

Currently, vaping remains a very affordable alternative to smoking, and though it will stay the cost-effective alternative, prices will still increase notably.

Average Cost of Vaping in 2026

The vape tax will come into effect from 1st October 2026. Until this point, prices will remain the same, though over time, you may see less stock from businesses unable to keep up or comply with the duty regulations.

Following the implementation of the vape tax, the Core Range will increase in price to £5.14 per bottle. By comparison, the Core Range experiences the largest percentage in price increase, doubling in price.

Our Elite Range will also see an increase, though not as impactful by comparison to the Core Range. Currently selling at £4.00, with the price after the vape duty rising to £6.64.

EDGE Vaping UK GO Pods Blackcurrant 0mg Nicotine

Nic salts will see an increase to £6.14. This is still more affordable than the price of disposable vapes, which although now not legal for sale, were the primary way of vaping for many vapers.

EDGE GO Pods will be the least affected product, as each pod contains only 1.5ml of e-liquid. Since the tax charges only apply per ml of e-liquid, it doesn't affect pre-fills as dramatically as 10ml bottles.

Pre-filled EDGE GO pods only see an increase of 79p to their overall cost at £4.79. Though 10ml bottles still offer more value per ml, pre-fills will remain a popular alternative due to their ease-of-use, now benefitting from being even cheaper than bottles.

Shop EDGE Products

EDGE Vaping Core 10ml E-Liquid Cherry Menthol 12mg

EDGE Core Range
EDGE Vaping UK GO Pods Very Menthol No Nicotine

EDGE GO Pre-Filled Pods

EDGE Elite Range
EDGE Liq Nic Salts Strawberry Watermelon Vape Juice 10mg

EDGE Nic Salts

Looking at UK Tobacco Costs

Average Tobacco Cost in 2025

Since vaping's conception, tobacco has always been the more expensive form of nicotine intake. This has only become more and more prominent with continuous excise taxes on tobacco and cigarette products.

According to the Office for National Statistics' Retail Price Index, the average price for a 20 pack of cigarettes in January 2025 is £16.60. They are set to increase in excise duty by the RPI measure of inflation, as well as a subsequent 2% value overall annually.

A bottle of e-liquid is typically less expensive and lasts longer than a pack of cigarettes. This remains consistent even past the vape duty, with cigarettes and rolling tobacco providing less overall value.

Stock image of cigarettes on pile of tobacco

Average Cost of Tobacco in 2026

The 2% further increase in tobacco tax came into effect from 26th November 2025, and on 1st October 2026, this 2% increase will be accompanied by a further £2.20 charge per 100 cigarettes and £2.20 per 50g on other tobacco products.

This will add a further jump in the already rapidly increasing price of tobacco over time, and more importantly, set a distance between the cost of smoking compared to vaping - even after the implementation of the vape tax.

Smoking vs Vaping

The Costs of Smoking vs Costs of Vaping After Tax

  • EDGE Vaping Pod Icon in Gold

    Vaping

    Most customers use our EDGE Core Range e-liquid, which will cost £5.14 after taxes. Although this is still an increase, vaping remains a much more affordable incentive to quit smoking, which has been greatly impacted by taxes, and will only continue to become more and more expensive over time.

  • gold cigarette icon with transparent background

    Smoking

    Tobacco will be highly impacted by rising costs, particularly due to the November 2025 excise tax, including an annual 2% further increase in cost. In October 2026 this will increase even more so, with £2.20 tax added per 100 cigarettes and £2.20 per 50g. The government have made clear intentions to prevent non-smokers from starting, whilst making smoking more difficult for current users.

Vaping Will Remain Cheaper Than Smoking

Although the vape tax is concerning from a price perspective, it will be highly unlikely to encourage vapers to switch back to smoking. This is primarily due to the already high cost of tobacco products, which will increase further over time.

Currently, the average cost of vaping in the UK is approximately 10x cheaper than the average cost of smoking. Even after the new vape duty is enforced, vaping will remain approximately 4x cheaper than smoking.

While vaping products are set to be taxed from October 2026, the UK Government intend to keep vaping as a more affordable alternative, with additional tobacco taxation set to ensure the price gap remains as large as possible for adult smokers looking to quit.
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