Shortfill E-Liquid: What It Is and How to Use It

The vaping world is packed with such a huge variety of products, helping accommodate so many different vaping experiences. Within this variety are a range of e-liquids, all with varying flavours, PG/VG ratios, and nicotine strengths. Shortfill e-liquid is just one type of vape juice available. You might’ve heard of these products before, and they could be suitable for you. But exactly what is shortfill e-liquid?  

This guide takes you through all you need to know about shortfill e-liquid. We’ll explore what it is, how to use it, and which type of vapers can benefit the most from it.

What Is Shortfill E-liquid and How Do I Use Them?

Shortfill e-liquid is a 0 mg nicotine strength flavoured sub-ohm vape juice designed to be used with higher powered sub-ohm box mod kits and some vape pens. 

As its name suggests, these e-liquids come filled short of the bottle’s capacity, and leave a space so that users can top it up with a 10ml nicotine shot. Nic shot is a concentrated liquid containing 18 - 20 mg nicotine strength. Nic shots are specifically designed to be added to a shortfill e-liquid. The shortfills themselves typically bring the flavour (a range of flavours are available), while nic shots bring the nicotine, and are usually unflavoured or menthol.

Shortfills typically have a high VG to PG ratio (usually around 70VG/30PG). This means they’re best for sub-ohm style vaping, offered in devices like box mod kits.

You can use shortfill e-liquid in two different ways. Firstly, you can vape shortfill vape juice as it comes, without adding nicotine into the mixture. This is great for those who want a nicotine-free vaping experience. On the other hand, if you're going to include nicotine, simply dilute a nic shot into your selected shortfill bottle, close the lid and shake well before using. Different shortfills will come with different nic shot capacities. It’s common for 50 ml shortfills to come in 60 ml bottles, with 10 ml space for a nic shot, or 100 ml in 120 ml bottles with 20 ml space for the same purpose.

If you dilute 10 ml of nic shot with an 18 mg nicotine strength to 50 ml of vape juice, the nicotine strength will come to 3 mg - great for those who prefer a low nicotine strength when vaping. If you add a 20 mg nicotine shot like Nic Nic’s Nic Salt Shot 10 ml to a 60 ml shortfill flavour bottle, you will get a sub-ohm vape juice a little over 3 mgs in strength.  

Benefits of Shortfill E-Liquid

There are loads of benefits to shortfill e-liquid. This type of vape juice can be handy for those wanting to reduce their nicotine usage. These e-liquids tend to have a low nicotine strength, which is why they are designed to have nic shots diluted into them. Vaping the shortfill as is (i.e., 0 mg nicotine strength) removes nicotine from your vaping experience, helping you move further along your smoke-free, nicotine-free journey. This is useful to know if you’re keen to taper your nicotine use and graduate to vaping entirely nicotine free.

You should only ever vape to help you stop smoking.1 But once you stop smoking and start vaping, you can also work towards stopping vaping.1 Vaping is currently estimated to be around 95% less harmful than smoking.2 That said, it’s healthier not to smoke or vape, and lowering your nicotine intake gradually can help reduce the amount of this addictive substance you use.1 You can find out more about nicotine-free vaping in our guide Are Nicotine Free Vapes Safe?

Shortfill e-liquid also comes with a fantastic range of flavours. Choose from super sweet treat-like flavours, including Rhubarb & Custard and Strawberry Laces & Sherbet, or fruity blends like Kiwi Passion Kick and Dragon Berry Blend. If you’re more into menthol or tobacco-like flavours, there are plenty of shortfills to suit these tastes too. Explore the full range of shortfill e-liquid available at vaping.com.

Shortfills are ideal for a more economical, environmentally friendly and longer-lasting sub-ohm vape. If you want to buy in bulk, purchasing your favourite flavours in larger, 50 ml - 100 ml quantities can work out cheaper than buying the same flavours in 10 ml bottles. This can be true even when taking into account the cost of nic shots. Buying shortfills might also help reduce waste, as they give you more of your favourite e-liquid in one bottle, rather than lots of 10 ml bottles. 

Is Shortfill E-Liquid Right for Me?

Shortfill e-liquid can offer great benefits, but these are only useful to sub-ohm vapers. The vaping experience is unique to each and every vaper, and tailored to what they’re looking to get out of vaping. When considering whether this type is suitable for you, it’s good to first consider what you want from your e-liquid, and see whether shortfills meet your own vaping requirements. 

Shortfills are great for those who want more control over the nicotine content their e-liquids have. They allow users to choose their own nic shot and shortfill combination, and mix these two together, making for a more personalised flavour experience overall. Shortfills can also last longer than other, 10 ml premixed bottles, as they typically come in larger, 60 ml - 120 ml quantities.

Shortfill e-liquid can also be a good choice for those who like a lot of one type of flavour. Shortfills typically come in larger amounts than other types of e-liquids, as they don’t contain nicotine. Many vape juices are available in 10 ml bottles, and if you enjoy a particular flavour, you might find yourself buying a lot of the same product. Shortfills, in comparison, can come in larger quantities (e.g., 60 ml and 120 ml bottles), giving you a lot more of the juice in fewer bottles.

The Best Shortfill Vape Juice

There are lots of different e-liquids available on the market, but what are the best shortfill vape juice products? Here, we take you through some of the top e-liquids you can find on vaping.com, and nic shots to use with them.

Shoku Monkey Shortfill

The Shoku Monkey shortfill e-liquid from Twelve Monkeys brings a tropical blend of strawberries, raspberries and passion fruit. The flavour is heavy with the sweet taste of passion fruit, followed by tart raspberry notes and sweet strawberry to finish. 

This vape juice can be enjoyed nicotine-free on its own, or with a nic shot - the bottle leaving 10 ml of space for this. With such a full flavour already coming from the shortfill, why not pair this with something like Nic Nic’s 10 ml, 18 mg Nic Shot. Diluting this into the 50 ml Shoku Monkey vape juice will give a 3 mg/ml nicotine strength. 

This product also has a 65VG/35PG ratio, making it great for sub-ohm vaping.

Brutal Raspberry Sour Shortfill

If you like tart and tangy flavours, the Brutal Raspberry Sour shortfill e-liquid from Just Juice is worth checking out. This vape juice offers a seriously sour raspberry candy flavour to tantalise the taste buds. 

The vape juice is available in a 120 ml bottle, with 100 ml of shortfill e-liquid leaving 20 ml for a nic shot. You can enjoy the Brutal Raspberry Sour as it comes - nicotine free - or dilute a nic shot that suits your nicotine preferences for a satisfying experience. With this shortfill, why not use ZAP! Juice’s Salt Nic Shot. This nic shot provides 3 mg/ml of nicotine per 50 ml of shortfill without affecting the flavour.

Just Juice’s Brutal Raspberry Sour comes in a 70VG/30PG ratio, excellent for sub-ohm style vaping.

Silver Tobacco Shortfill

IVG’s Silver Tobacco Shortfill e-liquid offers a rich tobacco flavour for those who prefer a more cigarette-like taste to their vape. This balances a soft smokey tobacco taste with sweet notes of honey for a nicely balanced flavour experience.

The bottle size is 60 ml filled with 50 ml of liquid, with 10 ml of space left for a nic shot. This product can be enjoyed on its own for a nicotine-free vaping experience, or mixed with your chosen nic shot. Nic Nic’s Nic Shot 10 ml (18 mg/100 VG) might pair well with this particular shortfill, with an 18 mg nicotine strength. When diluted into 50 ml of shortfill, this nic shot makes the e-liquid 3 mg/ml. This nic shot is also unflavoured, and won’t take anything away from the rich tobacco flavour of the Silver Tobacco vape juice.

This shortfill comes in a 70VG/30PG ratio, ideal for vaping sub-ohm style.

Spearmint Shortfill

Those who like their vape juice minty might enjoy IVG’s Spearmint Shortfill e-liquid. This vape juice comes with a refreshingly light menthol taste and a candy-sweet edge, great for enjoying the sweeter side of the mint flavour range.

The Spearmint Shortfill comes in a 60 ml bottle filled with 50 ml of liquid with a 10 ml space for nic shot. Why not enhance the minty flavour of the shortfill with Nic Nic’s Nic Ice Shot - a 10 ml, 18 mg nicotine strength nic shot with an iced mint flavour. Dilute this to a 50 ml nicotine-free shortfill to create a 3 mg nicotine-strength e-liquid. 

This spearmint vape juice comes with a 70VG/30PG ratio, best used for sub-ohm vaping.

Peach Iced Tea Shortfill

Some shortfill vape juice products come with a complimenting nic shot in the package - just like ZAP! Juice’s Peach Iced Tea Shortfill. This e-liquid comes with a mouth-watering flavour of juicy peach iced tea - perfect for summer (or if you’re wishing for summer!).

This vape juice comes in a 60 ml bottle size filled with 50 ml of liquid, with 10 ml of a nic shot. Without the nic shot, you can enjoy the e-liquid at a 0 mg nicotine strength. Mixing the nic shot in increases the nicotine strength to 3 mg.

The shortfill holds a 70VG/30PG ratio, best for sub-ohm vaping.

If none of the above takes your fancy, don’t fret! There are so many other shortfills available. Explore the range at vaping.com, alongside accompanying nic shots.

Sources: 

  1. NHS, Vaping to quit smoking: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/ 
  2. Gov.uk, E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e-cigarettes-around-95-less-harmful-than-tobacco-estimates-landmark-review