When you're vaping, it's very important to know what nicotine levels you're vaping on. Although disposable vapes have higher nicotine levels, they come in all different strengths.
Disposable vapes are arguably among some of the best vaporizer devices for those looking to start vaping, if you use it correctly. Their compact build, ease of use, and host of variations make them appealing to those who don’t want to have to go through the process of using more feature-rich and technical vapes. That being said, what few may know about disposable vapes is how much nicotine is contained within the e-liquid in their pods or cartridges.
If you’re thinking about trying out disposable vapes for yourself, let’s take a closer look at the different nicotine levels in disposable vapes and how much nicotine will be suitable for your needs when you begin vaping or switch over to it.
What Nicotine Strengths Do Disposable Vapes Have?
Disposable vapes can have anywhere from 0% nicotine to 6% nicotine, catering to the wide range of needs of individuals who are starting to vape. Here’s what you need to know about these different levels and how they will impact your experience.
0% (0mg) Nicotine
0% nicotine or nicotine-free vapes serve as a desirable alternative for those who are looking to vape without experiencing the effects of nicotine. Whether you find vaping soothing or you’re right on the verge of quitting nicotine altogether, you’ll find disposable vapes that offer this level of nicotine while still providing a quality experience in regards to convenience and flavors.
1% (10mg) Nicotine
1% nicotine vapes are on the lower end of the spectrum, offering individuals looking to quit or those who enjoy the feeling of nicotine something they can use without having to worry that they’re inhaling substantial amounts of nicotine at a time.
2% (20mg) Nicotine
2% nicotine vapes are where we start to enter higher strengths that those who tend to smoke a bit more often are accustomed to. These vapes are defined by a harsher throat feel (which may depend on whether your device contains salt nicotine, which we’ll cover later) but are still on the lower end in comparison to the higher concentrations listed below.
3% (30mg) Nicotine
3% nicotine vapes are where we reach the middle of the road when it comes to nicotine concentrations. 3% nicotine is still considered to be in the lighter territory, but it will still be harsher to inhale. It may be better suited for those who smoke a little more than the average and need something close to what they currently get or want something that can begin to ween them off of nicotine.
5% (50mg) Nicotine
5% nicotine trends towards the highest concentrations of nicotine that you may be able to find in various disposable vape brands, giving you a harsher and more potent nicotine experience. This is the most common nicotine strength if your device is filled with nicotine salts. If you’re someone who smokes several packs a day, this is likely more along the lines of what you need in a disposable vape.
6% (60mg) Nicotine
6% is one of the strongest concentrations of nicotine offered in disposable vapes. Only those who consume around this amount of nicotine via smoking cigarettes should consider using these kinds of disposable vapes due to the sheer amount contained within each pod.
What Nicotine Strength Should I Use?
Knowing which nicotine strength you should use is much easier when you know exactly who these different nicotine strengths are developed for. Here’s a quick breakdown of which nicotine strength you should choose based on your current tolerance to smoking.
- 0mg-10mg is for non-smokers
- 20mg-30mg is for light smokers
- 50mg is for average smokers
- 60mg is for heavy smokers
Naturally, you’ll find that you’ll start using less and less if you’re trying to get off smoking, so start at a level you’re comfortable with and gradually decrease the number of times you’re using your vape per day as well as how much nicotine you’re inhaling to work towards quitting altogether.
Nicotine in a Disposable vs. a Cigarette
There are several topics that we need to touch on when it comes to the amount of nicotine that’s found in a disposable vape versus the amount of nicotine found in a cigarette. These include the overall nicotine levels in each as well as the difference between vapes containing nicotine salt and those containing freebase nicotine.
Many wonder, how much nicotine am I getting in a cigarette versus when I’m using my vape? While the amount of nicotine per cigarette tends to vary across brands, it’s believed that the average cigarette contains around 1.1 to 1.8 milligrams per cigarette. This is why many recommend that you start with a vape concentration that correlates to how many cigarettes you smoke per day.
Of course, it’s also important to consider whether your chosen disposable vape uses freebase nicotine or nicotine salt. Nicotine salt is a recent invention from JUUL that has chemically altered freebase nicotine so that it goes down smoother. However, this alteration also makes it so that it’s absorbed faster by the body and so that you can put substantially more nicotine in a pod than you might with freebase nicotine. Some other changes include less vapor and better integration with lower-wattage devices.
Freebase nicotine is the same kind of nicotine you’d find in a cigarette, which results in a harsher throat feel as well as more clouds and slower absorption. Keep these differences in mind when you’re shopping for disposable vapes.
How Many Cigarettes Are in a Disposable Vape?
The amount of cigarettes in a disposable vape depends on the concentration of nicotine in your disposable vape. If we estimate that there’s around 1 milligram of nicotine in each cigarette, it’s reasonable to believe that a 2% nicotine vape would contain around a pack of cigarettes. Knowing this makes it easier to find the right vape based on your current smoking habits. Just keep in mind that the amount of nicotine in your cigarettes will vary, so you may be getting closer to 1 milligram or closer to 2 milligrams of nicotine depending on what you smoke. You may need to try a few types of disposable vapes before you find something that works for you.
Nicotine levels are important to understand as you seek to transition from cigarettes to disposable vape products. The guide above gives you the comprehensive information you need to shop with confidence as you seek to tackle your current smoking habits and work towards getting less nicotine daily.
FAQ
Why Do Different Countries Have Different Nicotine Levels
As with most other laws, different countries approach activities like vaping in different ways. The culture around vaping is vastly different in the U.S. than it is in, say, the U.K, where the legal limit is 20 milligrams or 2% nicotine. The U.K. has greater restrictions on smoking and nicotine sales overall, whereas the U.S. is much more liberal about these activities (although we do have programs aiming to eliminate smoking and vaping as well as certain restrictions on flavored vapes). This is why you can find disposable vapes with much higher concentrations of nicotine that you can purchase legally.
Why Do Disposable Vapes Come in Different Nicotine Strengths?
Not every smoker is the same. Some might only smoke from time to time when they’re stressed while others are addicted to nicotine and smoke several packs a day. Naturally, those who fall into the latter category won’t need a disposable vape with a high nicotine concentration, whereas those who need a substantial amount of nicotine will. Having different nicotine strengths makes it so that vape brands producing these products can cater to the wide range of needs that soon-to-be vapers have.