A Beginner’s Guide to Shortfill E-Liquids

Whether you’re just starting out or have been vaping for years, there’s always something new to learn. With so many devices, flavours and terms flying around, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — especially when it comes to the jargon. That’s why we’ve put together a series of easy-to-follow vaping guides, designed to help you get to grips with everything from the basics to more advanced setups.

In this guide, we’ll break down shortfill e-liquids — what they are, how to use them, and how to mix in nicotine to suit your needs.

What Are Shortfill E-Liquids?

Shortfill e-liquids are larger bottles of vape juice that come partially filled, leaving space for you to add nicotine shots (nic shots) if you choose. Typically, they’re available in 60ml or 120ml bottles filled with 50ml or 100ml of e-liquid respectively. However, other sizes like 30ml and 80ml are also available.

These e-liquids contain 0mg of nicotine by default, making them ideal for vapers who prefer nicotine-free options — or for those who want to customise their strength by adding nic shots. Adding nicotine won’t change the flavour or consistency if done correctly, but it will slightly increase the total volume of liquid in your bottle.

How to Use Shortfill E-Liquids

Using a shortfill is easy — you treat it just like any other vape juice, with a couple of simple steps if you’re adding nicotine:

1. Add nicotine shots (optional) to the shortfill bottle.
2. Shake well to make sure the nicotine is evenly mixed.
3. Fill your tank or pod and start vaping.

The type of vape kit you’re using will determine which shortfill is right for you:

• High VG shortfills (70VG/30PG) work best with sub-ohm kits and direct-to-lung (DTL) devices with a power output over 40W.
• 50/50 shortfills are ideal for mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping and are better suited to lower-powered devices (around 35W or below).

How to Mix Nicotine into a Shortfill

If you prefer vaping with nicotine, shortfills are designed to make that simple. Most bottles leave just enough room for you to add one or two 10ml nic shots, depending on the desired strength.

The most common setup is adding a single 18mg 10ml nic shot to a 50ml shortfill to achieve a 3mg nicotine strength. But if you’re after a different strength or using a different bottle size, the number of shots you’ll need will change.

To make it easy, we’ve included a handy mixing guide (see table below) so you can work out exactly how much nicotine to add.

Whether you’re looking for total control over your nicotine levels or just want more vape juice for your money, shortfills are a flexible and cost-effective choice. And if you’re still unsure about mixing or nicotine strengths, our team is always here to help.