The Best Wattage for Vaping: Choosing The Right Wattage

The term “wattage” is thrown around a lot in vaping, but what does it actually mean? When moving over to vaping from cigarettes, there are so many exciting ways to tailor your vaping experience - wattage being just one of them. Here, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of vape wattage, helping you gain a better understanding of what this is, why it’s important, and which levels could be best suited to you.

Some vapes allow you to adjust their wattage, while others, like disposable vapes won’t. Different wattages can offer up different vaping experiences, with some elevating certain flavours, throat hits and vapour production, while others make for a smoother inhale and subtle clouds. Wattage isn’t the only thing that affects these types of experiences. Other factors like the coil and the e-liquid used will also contribute to this.

The products reviewed below are for the UK Market, although there is some overlap.

Check out our current USA market collections at Vaping.com for information on what is currently available here. 

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Understanding Vaping Wattages

Vape wattage is simply a measurement of the electrical power your vape is operating at. The vape wattage plays a part in defining the temperature the e-liquid is heated to. 

You don’t need to dive too deep into the science of wattages to understand the basics of how they work in vapes. What you do need to know is that different vape wattages work best in different devices. One feature that will affect the wattage you vape at is the coils you use. 

For example, plus-ohm coils like the Aspire AVP Pro 1.15 Ohm Coil has a low recommended wattage range of 10-16W. This is because they have a high resistance and as a result, need less power to use them. These coils are best for the Mouth-to-Lung vaping style, and typically produce more subtle clouds. 

Sub-ohm coils like the GeekVape ZI Mesh Coil 0.4 Ohm Coil are best for a higher, 60-70W range. They have a lower resistance than plus-ohm coils, and need more power to use them. These coils typically produce big clouds. 

The types of coils compatible with your vape will depend on the specifics of the product you get. Find out more about vape coil variations and devices in our Beginner’s Guide to Vape Pens & Vape Devices.

Here are some of the main types of vapes which allow you to change their wattage. Not every device type will let you do this, so it’s worth checking the specific product details of the ones you’re considering.

Box Mod Kits

If you want the freedom to change your vaping wattage, box mod kits are a great option. These devices come with excellent battery life, and a chunkier design than other devices out there for those who like a bigger, more techy look. 

Of all the vapes out there, box mod kits can offer up some of the highest wattage options. That said, they can come with different wattage ranges, depending on the product. Here’s a taste of what’s available:

• Lower wattages with a smaller range - the Drag Q Kit by VooPoo offers an 8-25W power output. This vape can handle both sub and above-ohm vaping, meaning you’ll be able to use a wide range of e-liquids with the device - including regular sub-ohm liquids, above-ohm nic salts and 50/50 liquids.
• Wider wattage range with higher wattages - the Morph 2 Kit with TFV-Mini V2 Tank by Smok offers a 1-230VW power output. This vape is for sub-ohm vaping only, and can use regular vape juice with a 0 - 6 mg nicotine strength.
• Adjusts wattage depending on the coil - the Aegis Touch T200 Kit by GeekVape offers a 5-200W power output, as well as a SMART Mode which adjusts the wattage to the coil that’s inserted in the device. Like the Morph 2, this vape can only be used for sub-ohm vaping. You can use regular vape juice with a 0 - 6 mg nicotine strength with it.

Vape Pens

Vape pens are one of the most popular types of vape around. Vape pens allow you to customise your vaping experience, but offer up a lighter, less bulky design than devices like box mods. For those who like their vapes sleek but still customisable, vape pens can bring you the best of both worlds. 

Vape pens can offer a variety of different wattage ranges, depending on the product. Here are just a few of the different wattage ranges:

• Lower wattages with a smaller range - the Xros Mini Kit by Vaporesso offers an 11-16W power output. The vape comes with an above-ohm coil, ideal for strong nicotine salts and 50/50 vape juices. It’s also compatible with the Xros 0.8 Ohm Mesh Pod for sub-ohm vaping, great for shortfills and premixed vape juices with a 0 - 6 mg nicotine strength. 

• Wider wattage range with higher wattages - the Twister 2 80W Kit by Freemax offers a 15 - 80W output. This device is for sub-ohm vaping, and can be used with vape juices with a 0 - 6 mg nicotine strength - either premixed or shortfills (with or without a nic shot).

• Set wattage - the Aspire Zelos Nano Kit offers a set power output of 15W. This vape is best for above-ohm vaping, and can be used with a wide variety of nic salts, 50/50 and higher PG to VG ratio e-liquids.

• Adjusts wattage depending on the coil - the Vinci 2 Kit by VooPoo comes with a SMART mode, which automatically sets the wattage of the device based on the resistance of the coil that’s put into it. It also offers a power output range of 5-50W. The Vinci 2 is best for sub-ohm style vaping, great for 0 - 6 mg nicotine-strength vape juices.

Pod Systems

Pod systems are another top vape device. These vapes occasionally come with adjustable wattage settings, and can be either draw-activated or include a firing button. These vapes are unique from other devices out there. Instead of tanks, mod pod systems use refillable pods. These can come with integrated or changeable coils.

While not all of these pod systems come with ranging vape wattages, there are a few. Those available on vaping.com include:

• Lower wattages with a smaller range - the Aegis Boost Kit (Luxury Edition) from GeekVape offers a 5-40W power output. The vape can be used for both sub and above-ohm vaping. This means you can use the device with premixed vape juices and shortfills (with or without a nic shot), as well as stronger nic salts and 50/50 e-liquids - provided you’re using a coil that’s compatible with your chosen vape juice.

• Lower wattages with set power outputs - The Zero 2 Pod Twin Kit by Vaporesso offers two pods in its pack, one operating at 9W and one at 11W. This pod is for above-ohm vaping only, great for use with nic salts and other 50/50 e-liquids.

• Recommends wattage - the Vinci 3 Pod Kid by VooPoo makes navigating your wattage settings easy. On its screen, the vape will recommend a wattage for you, with a power output range of 5-50W. This vape is intended for sub-ohm vaping, and can use with shortfills and premixed vape juice with a 0 - 6 mg nicotine strength.

• Wider wattage range with higher wattages - the RPM 5 Pro Kit by Smok offers a power output range of 5-80W. This vape is for sub-ohm vaping, suitable with shortfills and premixed vape juice that hold a 0 - 6 mg nicotine strength.

Why Is Vaping Wattage Important?

What we’ve covered so far is that the wattage you vape at can affect the vaping experience. Great news for any vaper who enjoys the details and technicalities of vaping, or for those who want a truly customisable experience.

If you’ve just started your vaping journey, and have only recently switched over to vaping from cigarettes, you might want an experience that’s similar to smoking, to help with the transition. Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) style vaping mimics the way you inhale a cigarette, but only certain coils, and therefore certain wattages, are best suited to this style. On the other hand, if you’re more after those nice big clouds, it might be better to look at a lower resistance, sub-ohm coils. These also only operate properly at certain recommended wattages.

The vape wattage can also affect the vape device itself. Sub-ohm vapes that use higher wattages can deplete the vape battery faster than lower-wattage, plus-ohm coils. Similarly, the coils themselves can also be affected by different wattages. If you use a higher wattage on a coil than that recommended, it can fail quicker.

What Wattage Should I Vape At?

The wattage you should vape at will depend on a variety of factors. As well as personal preferences and the type of vaping experience you’re after, it’s important to only vape at the wattages your device allows for. 

If you can adjust the vape wattage, it’ll come with a wattage range you can use this device at. Similarly, the ideal wattage for the coil you’re using will usually be written on the side of the coil itself, or on the packaging it comes in. Following these recommendations help ensure you’re using the device properly, and getting the most out of what the vape can offer.

How Wattage Affects Throat Hit

The wattage you vape at is dependent on lots of different elements of the vape, all of which can contribute to the kind of throat hit you’ll get. Sub-ohm coils are commonly used to vape at higher wattages. This vaping style will usually use e-liquids which will lower levels of nicotine, and a higher VG to PG ratio (such as 70/30). All of this can typically lead to a smoother throat hit.

In comparison, plus-ohm coils are typically used to vape at lower wattages. This style of vaping is built for nic salts, which have a relatively high nicotine content and a 50/50 VG/PG ratio. When using the correct coil for plus-ohm vaping, users might find this offers a stronger throat hit.

The best type of throat hit is all down to personal preference. So, when choosing a vape, it’s important to check its wattage range - plus those other key aspects we’ve covered in this article - to help you find a device that’ll offer the throat hit you’re after.

How Wattage Affects Flavour

The wattage you vape at can bring out different flavours in the e-liquid. This is because different flavour elements will vaporise at different temperatures - and therefore different wattages. Flavours will be at their best when vaped at the correct temperatures for the device and coil’s optimum output.

That said, everyone has unique tastes and flavour preferences. If you’re unsure what wattage will best bring out your vape juice’s flavours, it’s a good idea to check for any recommended vape wattage ranges. Work your way up the range from the lowest one until you find the perfect level.

Vape wattage can seem confusing at first, but once you get into it, it’s really not as complicated as it might seem. For more insights on vapes and finding your best vaping match, check out our Blog.