Buying guide
Everything you need to know about Shortfill E-Liquids
Larger bottles, zero nicotine, and better value per ml, everything you need to get started with shortfills.
What are shortfill e-liquids?
Due to TPD regulations, manufacturers cannot sell nicotine e-liquids in bottles larger than 10ml. To continue offering better value for money, shortfills were created — larger bottles of flavoured e-liquid supplied with zero nicotine, short-filled to leave space for you to add your own nicotine shot.
A standard shortfill comes in a 60ml bottle filled to 50ml, leaving a 10ml gap for a nicotine shot. Larger formats,such as 120ml bottles filled to 100ml,are also available, with space for two nic shots. Shortfills are available in both 70VG/30PG and 50VG/50PG ratios. High-VG 70/30 blends are best suited to sub-ohm and direct-to-lung devices, while 50/50 shortfills can be used in MTL devices and some pod kits.
Better value per ml
Shortfills offer significantly better value compared to buying multiple 10ml bottles. A 50ml shortfill plus one nic shot costs considerably less than five separate 10ml bottles of the same flavour.
You choose the strength
Adding one nic shot to a 50ml shortfill gives approximately 3mg. Add two shots for 6mg. You control the final nicotine level rather than being limited to fixed options.
Choose your ratio
70VG shortfills produce dense vapour and smooth inhales, suited to sub-ohm and DTL devices. 50/50 shortfills are thinner and wick more easily in MTL devices and certain pod kits, always check your device is compatible before buying.
How to mix a shortfill e-liquid
Mixing a shortfill takes less than a minute and only requires your bottle of shortfill and one or two nicotine shots.
Open the bottle
Remove the cap and take off the pipette nozzle from your shortfill bottle. This exposes the opening so you can pour in your nicotine shot.
Add your nic shot
Squeeze your desired nicotine shot into the shortfill bottle. For a 50ml shortfill, one 18mg nic shot gives approximately 3mg. For 6mg, add two shots, though some 60ml bottles may need a small amount of liquid decanted first to make room.
Replace the nozzle and shake
Refit the pipette nozzle and replace the cap securely. Shake the bottle thoroughly to ensure the nicotine is evenly mixed throughout the liquid.
Wait for bubbles to settle
Leave the bottle for a few minutes until any bubbles have cleared. Once the liquid looks settled and clear, fill your tank and you are ready to vape. Give the bottle a gentle shake now and again between uses to keep the mix consistent.
For help calculating your final nicotine strength, use our nic shot calculator.
Choosing your nicotine strength
Shortfills are supplied at zero nicotine. Adding nicotine shots lets you set your own final strength. The most common result is 3mg, which suits the majority of sub-ohm vapers, at higher wattages, more vapour is produced per puff so less nicotine is needed per ml to feel satisfying.
Freebase vs nic salt shots
When adding nicotine to a shortfill you have two options. Freebase nicotine is the most common choice, it is more affordable and produces a stronger throat hit at higher concentrations, making it well suited to sub-ohm setups at 3mg or 6mg.
Nicotine salts use a lower pH formula that is smoother at higher doses and vaporises at lower temperatures. They can be useful if you want to push your shortfill to a higher final strength without the harshness, though for most sub-ohm vapers at 3mg, freebase remains the standard choice.
Shop nicotine shots →
Frequently asked questions about shortfill e-liquids
What are shortfill e-liquids?
Shortfills are large-format bottles of flavoured e-liquid supplied with zero nicotine. The bottle is deliberately under-filled, typically to 50ml in a 60ml bottle, leaving space for you to add one or two nicotine shots of your choice. They were created to offer better value per ml within UK TPD regulations, which restrict nicotine e-liquids to 10ml bottles.
How do I mix a shortfill?
Remove the cap and pipette nozzle, squeeze in your nicotine shot, replace the nozzle and cap, then shake well. Wait a few minutes for bubbles to clear before filling your tank. Give the bottle a gentle shake between uses to keep the mix consistent.
What nicotine strength will I get?
Adding one 18mg freebase nic shot to a 50ml shortfill gives approximately 3mg. Adding two shots gives approximately 6mg, though you may need to decant a small amount of liquid first to make room. For a 100ml shortfill, two 18mg shots also gives 3mg. Use our nic shot calculator to work out exact strengths for different combinations.
Can I use a shortfill in a pod kit or starter kit?
It depends on the ratio. Standard 70VG shortfills are too thick for MTL coils and most pod systems. However, 50/50 shortfills are available and are compatible with many MTL devices and some pod kits. Always check the VG/PG ratio before buying, and if in doubt, nicotine salts or 50/50 10ml e-liquids remain the safer choice for pod kits.
Should I use freebase or nic salt shots?
For most sub-ohm vapers using shortfills at 3mg, freebase nicotine shots are the standard and most affordable choice. Nicotine salt shots offer a smoother throat hit if you want to add more nicotine without harshness, but at 3mg the difference is minimal for most people.
Are shortfills available in different sizes?
Yes. The most common formats are 60ml bottles short-filled to 50ml (one nic shot space) and 120ml bottles short-filled to 100ml (two nic shot spaces). Some brands also offer 25ml and other sizes. Larger formats generally offer better value per ml for higher-consumption vapers.
