Shortfill E-Liquids are larger bottles of E-Liquid which have been "short filled" with nicotine-free vape juice, leaving the perfect amount of space in each bottle for nicotine shots to be added, should you wish to vape with nicotine.
Shortfill E-Liquids entered the vaping market in late 2017 to early 2018 as a result of TPD regulations limiting the maximum bottle size for E-Liquids containing nicotine to just 10ml.
This was an issue for sub-ohm vapers, as they tend to vape at higher wattages, consuming much more E-Liquid with a lower nicotine strength. As a result, the shortfill concept was born, allowing nicotine-free E-Liquids to be produced and sold in larger quantities than the regulations would have allowed.
At Vape Green, we stock thousands of premium shortfill E-Liquids from top brands like Twelve Monkeys, Doozy, and IVG—just to name a few.
Shortfills are mostly formulated with high ratios of VG, making them best suited for sub-ohm vapers using advanced vape kits and mods. We do not recommend using shortfill E-Liquids in basic pod kits or starter vape kits due to the viscosity of the juices.
Still not sure about shortfills? Check out our what are shortfill e-liquids guide to learn more.
Short fill vape juices are nicotine-free and come in underfilled ("short filled") bottles, leaving room for you to add your own nicotine.
These thicker E-Liquids are specifically designed for advanced vapers using sub-ohm vape kits, DTL tanks, and mods and are not compatible with MTL devices.
Shortfills came about when TPD was introduced, which limited nicotine-containing E-Liquid bottles to 10ml. Shortfills allow you to buy more E-Liquid at once, since they have no nicotine.
This is a cost-effective workaround for sub-ohm vapers, as their DTL vape kits tend to consume more E-Liquid per puff.
These e-juices are meant to be vaped at lower nicotine strengths of no more than 6mg. This is because higher strengths could be unpleasant on the throat with DTL vaping.
Shortfills come with zero nicotine added so you can mix in your own nic shots, or vape them nicotine-free.
The juices come "short filled," leaving enough space for you to add in 1 or 2 nic shots depending on the bottle.
Thanks to their high VG concentration, these E-Liquids produce huge clouds and tons of flavour!
These e-juices are specifically designed for use with high-powered sub-ohm vape kits and mods.
To add nicotine to your shortfill, you'll first need to purchase nic shots. For a 50ml shortfill, you'll need one nic shot, and for a 100ml shortfill, you'll need two.
These large bottles of vape juice have a removable nib which can be popped off either by hand or with a bottle opener tool. You'll also need to remove the nib on your nic shot(s). Once you've removed the nibs, pour the nic shot(s) into your shortfill bottle and replace the nib. This will fill the bottle all the way to the top. You should hear or feel a "click" once the nib is back in place.
From here, place your finger over the nozzle on top and shake the bottle vigorously for at least 30 seconds to make sure the nicotine is fully mixed.
You should aim for no higher than a 6mg nicotine strength. In practice, 6mg means removing some of the E-Liquid first. Most sub-ohm vapers opt for 3mg.
We generally recommend that you purchase one 18mg nic shot for a 50ml liquid, and two 18mg nic shots for a 100ml liquid.
| Bottle Size | Nic Shot | Total Strength |
|---|---|---|
| 50ml/60ml | 9mg | 1.5mg |
| 50ml/60ml | 18mg | 3mg |
| 50ml/60ml | 20mg | ≈ 3.3mg |
| 100ml/120ml | 2 x 9mg | 1.5mg |
| 100ml/120ml | 2 x 18mg | 3mg |
| 100ml/120ml | 2 x 20mg | ≈ 3.3mg |
If you prefer nic salts, you can also purchase nic salt shots which are made with nicotine salt instead of freebase nicotine.
Shortfills are typically made with a high VG concentration (over 50% VG), which means that they're generally thicker than 10ml E-Liquids.
For this reason, shortfills need specific sub-ohm coils to work properly. Shortfills are compatible with advanced vape kits, DTL tanks, and most vape mods. Using the incorrect type of set-up (such as an MTL device) with your shortfill can lead to unpleasant side effects, such as burnt hits and leaking.
There are a few exceptions from brands such as Drifter Bar Juice, whose shortfills are made in a 50% VG & 50% PG formulation for use with basic vape starter kits and pod kits.
This is absolutely a matter of preference, but some of our most popular shortfills are from Doozy, Seriously, and Twelve Monkeys. If you like botanical flavours, Ohm Boy has an excellent selection. And if dessert flavours are more your thing, check out the Charlie's Chalk Dust range for some fan favourites!
And for sub-ohm vapers on a budget, we have a great selection of over a hundred premium 50ml and 100ml shortfills in our Mix & Match 2 for £20 offer! For even more savings, check out the One E-Liquids budget range, which offers a selection of 50ml shortfills for £4 each or Mix & Match any 2 for £7.
Plus, if you have a PG intolerance, allergy, or sensitivity, we offer the UK's largest selection of PG-free 100% VG E-Liquids from Frugi!
Thanks to their lack of nicotine, shortfills can be manufactured and purchased in a variety of bottle sizes. The most popular sizes are 50/60ml and 100/120ml, but there are also 200/240ml bottles available as well. The most common bottle size in the UK is 60ml with 50ml of E-Liquid or 120ml with 100ml of E-Liquid.
No. Here in the UK, you cannot buy shortfills with nicotine already mixed in.
This is because of TPD regulations limiting nicotine-containing E-Liquids to 10ml bottles. For this reason, shortfills come with no nicotine, but there is space left in the bottle for you to add your own, if you want to.
We are unable to pre-mix any nicotine into your shortfills for you. You will have to do this by purchasing nicotine shots separately and mixing them at home.
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