Vape Nicotine: How much nicotine is in a vape?
Want to know how much nicotine a vape contains and whether the nicotine content is higher or lower than in a cigarette? In this Shisha Heaven guide, you’ll learn everything there is to know about vape nicotine—from mg/ml specifications to a direct comparison with tobacco cigarettes—explained in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
How much nicotine is in a vape?
A vape contains up to 20 mg/ml of nicotine. In practice, about 0.04 to 0.07 mg is absorbed per puff, which is less than with a cigarette.
Short Facts
- A vape contains up to 20 mg/ml of nicotine (legal limit)
- One puff delivers about 0.04–0.07 mg of nicotine
- A cigarette delivers about 0.10–0.20 mg of nicotine per puff
- Vapes are being used much more frequently
Nicotine Content: Vape vs. Cigarette
Do vapes contain more or less nicotine than cigarettes? This is a question many smokers who want to switch to vaping products ask themselves. Overall, vapes generally contain less nicotine per puff than cigarettes. Keep in mind, however, that your usage habits may change. The following figures represent a realistic average based on typical usage.
| Product | Included | Recorded | Ø Trains | Nicotine / Inhalation |
| Marlboro Red | 10–12 mg | 1–2 mg | ~10 | 0.18–0.20 mg |
| Marlboro Gold | 8–10 mg | 1–1.2 mg | ~12–15 | 0.07–0.09 mg |
| Elfbar mg/mL | 40 mg | 10–20 mg | ~300 | 0.04–0.07 mg |
With both vapes and cigarettes, only a portion of the nicotine they contain is actually absorbed by the lungs. For a realistic comparison, we assume about 300 puffs for an Elfbar and about 10 to 15 puffs per cigarette.
Conclusion:
A strong cigarette like Marlboro Red contains about 3 to 5 times as much nicotine per puff as a vape with a 20 mg/ml concentration. Lighter cigarettes like Marlboro Gold or Parisienne Jaune contain about twice as much.
Do smokers consume more nicotine than vapers?
It turns out that cigarettes generally contain more nicotine per puff than vapes. However, this does not automatically mean that smokers consume more nicotine overall.
This is because: When vaping, people usually take significantly more puffs per day than when smoking. As a result, total nicotine intake over the course of the day can be similarly high or even higher. There are several reasons for this:
- Many users find vapes less harmful
- Vapes are often more versatile in everyday life
- A vape isn't "used up" after just a few puffs; it can be used continuously
- The wide variety of flavors often leads to more frequent use
Less nicotine per puff—but often the same amount or more overall.
Even though vapes contain less nicotine per puff, daily nicotine intake can be comparable to or even higher than that of cigarettes due to the higher number of puffs.
Reduce nicotine use
E-cigarettes allow you to carefully control your nicotine intake and gradually reduce it. For example, you can switch from 20 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml or switch completely to nicotine-free vapes .
Find the right vape
Want to control or reduce your nicotine intake? Check out our selection of vapes and e-liquids in various nicotine strengths.
➜ Buy nicotine-free vapes
➜ Vapes with 10 mg of nicotine
➜ Discover vape liquids
➜ Discover all vapes
Vape & e-cigarettes
Tobias Schneider is a member of the management team at Shisha Heaven and is responsible for the leading online store's product range. He has been dealing with tobacco substitute products such as e-cigarettes and vapes for years.
I'm an avid vaper, but I'm wondering if the ingredients are more harmful than those in regular cigarettes. Can anyone tell me?
According to current scientific evidence, vaping is considered significantly less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes, but it is not risk-free.
The biggest difference is that cigarettes involve burning tobacco. This process produces thousands of harmful substances, such as tar, carbon monoxide, and many carcinogenic combustion byproducts. With e-cigarettes, on the other hand, the liquid is vaporized, not burned. As a result, many of the particularly harmful substances are not produced in the first place.
The typical ingredients in e-liquids are:
• Propylene glycol (PG)
• Vegetable glycerin (VG)
• Flavors
• Optional nicotine
Based on current scientific knowledge, these substances are considered significantly less harmful than tobacco smoke. Nevertheless, inhaling them can irritate the airways and put a strain on the lungs—especially with very heavy use or low-quality products. Furthermore, while these flavorings are approved for use in food and are safe for oral consumption, the effects of vaporizing and inhaling them have not been conclusively studied.
It is also important to note:
Nicotine itself is addictive, but it is not the main cause of the serious health risks associated with traditional cigarettes. The greatest danger posed by tobacco comes from the substances released during combustion.
Many public health agencies—including Public Health England—have therefore concluded that vaping can be a significantly less harmful alternative for adult smokers.
Our tip:
If you already smoke, switching to high-quality vapes can often provide a significantly less harmful alternative. If you don’t smoke, you shouldn’t start using nicotine products in the first place. In any case, the best choice for your health is to avoid cigarettes and e-cigarettes altogether.