How much nicotine is in a vape vs a cigarette?

One of the biggest question smokers have when transitioning to vaping is how much nicotine in their chosen e-liquid equates to their old cigarettes. While we can draw some comparisons to help give you a better idea, there are some variables to remember that we will explore below.

Nicotine in Vapes Vs Cigarettes

Cigarettes can contain between 8 and 20mg of nicotine, however the average of the most popular UK brands is around the 8mg mark. Regardless of whether you opted for one of these, or a stronger products, when smoking a filter cigarette you are typically going to absorb around 1.8mg of nicotine per cigarette.

This is because our bodies can only absorb so much of the nicotine content via inhalation, and despite it being one of the most direct and effective methods of delivering nicotine, it still does not capture the total ‘described’ nicotine content.

A basic comparison would be to take a 12mg e-liquid as an example. In a 10ml bottle this would equate to 120mg of nicotine total. Placing this into an average 2ml e-liquid tank means if you consume the full tank in one session you would ingest around 24mg, this equates to approximately 3 average strength cigarettes – but only at face value, this does not represent what is actually absorbed.

As a general rule of thumb, you can use this as a guide to help get an idea of what e-liquid strength to choose depending on your previous smoking frequency:

3mg/6mg = lighter smokers, only one or two cigarettes max per day
12mg = mid-weight smokers, consuming around 10 cigarettes per day
18mg = heavy smokers, consuming a pack of cigarettes each day
10mg/20mg nic salt = smokers who want to satisfy strong cravings, but do not want a harsh throat hit (menthol users for example)

Bear in mind though that this is a rough guide, and a little experimentation to find the balance that works best for you is normal when making the switch.

Nicotine Delivery

Between different forms of nicotine consumption, the method and amount of nicotine absorbed varies greatly. Nicotine patches for example deliver nicotine dermally which is slower and less effective than inhaling.

When comparing smoking and vaping, the following factors which influence the amount of nicotine actually delivered are shared:

The frequency/length of each drag/puff
The strength of the base products purchased
Your body’s natural metabolism

These factors are always going to influence the amount of nicotine delivered, and you should bear them in mind when working out which e-liquid strength to choose from, between 3mg, 6mg, 12mg or 18mg.

One factor that is unique to vaping however, is the type of device you choose to use. Open system kits like the Aspire PockeX tend to deliver more vapour when fired than smaller kits like the EDGE GO. Of course, the type of device used, will be dictated by the e-liquid you want to try, be it 50-50 or High-VG, as well as your lifestyle. You can learn more about devices here.

Higher powered kits will be capable of delivering more nicotine overall per puff than others, and even things like the material used in their coil can make a difference, so try to factor this in if you are tracking your nicotine consumption.

Remember to keep an eye on the frequency of your vaping – if you are reaching for your device too often, it may be because you are not getting enough nicotine to satisfy your cravings. If this is a concern, speak to a doctor of stop smoking service to get advice, or check out our new to vaping area where you can explore impartial guidance or your journey.

Our Sources:

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep04133

https://vapingfacts.health.nz/vaping-vs-smoking/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33762429/