What are shortfills?

Why shortfills exist

UK and EU law under TRPR (Tobacco and Related Products Regulations) limits nicotine-containing e-liquid bottles to 10ml maximum. This was designed to prevent accidental large nicotine ingestion. But many vapers, especially sub-ohm DTL users, get through 10ml in a single day. Buying 10ml bottles one at a time is inefficient and expensive.

Shortfills are a legal workaround. The bottle itself contains 0mg e-liquid (not nicotine-containing, so the 10ml limit does not apply). You add nicotine at home from separately-sold 10ml nic shots. The end product is a nicotine-containing liquid in a larger bottle, but you have made it yourself.

• The law: Nicotine e-liquid must be sold in 10ml maximum bottles.
• The workaround: 0mg e-liquid has no bottle size limit. Sell it large.
• The DIY step: Customer adds 10ml nic shots at home.
• The result: Large bottle of nicotine-containing liquid, fully legal.

How shortfills work

The format is built around standard bottle sizes and the maths of mixing.

1. Buy the shortfill bottle

   Common sizes: 60ml bottle containing 50ml of 0mg liquid, or 120ml bottle containing 100ml of 0mg liquid. The empty space is for nic shots.

2. Buy nic shots separately

   10ml bottles of 18mg or 20mg freebase nicotine in either 50PG/50VG or 70VG/30PG. Choose the VG ratio matching your shortfill (most are 70VG/30PG).

3. Pour the nic shot into the shortfill

   Open both bottles. Pour the entire 10ml shot into the 50ml shortfill. The bottle should now be full.

4. Replace cap and shake

   Close the shortfill cap firmly. Shake well for 30-60 seconds to mix the nicotine evenly through the liquid.

5. Let it steep (optional)

   Some users let the mixed liquid sit for a few hours to fully blend. Most modern shortfills do not require this; they are ready to use immediately.

6. Use as normal

   The mixed liquid is now a regular nicotine e-liquid at your chosen strength. Pour into your tank or fill your pod as usual.

The mixing maths

Strength after mixing depends on bottle size, number of nic shots and nic shot strength.

For higher strengths than 6mg from a shortfill, you would need either many nic shots (rare to accommodate in the bottle) or to step up to 10ml nicotine bottles instead. Most shortfill users aim for 3mg.

Why shortfills are 70VG/30PG mostly

Shortfills are designed for sub-ohm DTL vaping. The high-VG ratio matches the needs of sub-ohm coils. Lower-VG shortfills exist but are less common.

• 70VG/30PG: The shortfill standard. Suits sub-ohm DTL coils. Big clouds, smooth inhale, good flavour.
• 50VG/50PG: Less common as shortfills. Designed for restricted DTL or MTL setups. Some brands offer this.
• 80VG/20PG: Premium shortfills. Slightly bigger clouds, smoother inhale, slight flavour reduction.
• 100VG (max VG): Rare. Specialist cloud-chasing shortfills.
• Nic shot ratio matters: Match the nic shot to the shortfill. 70VG nic shots in 70VG shortfill. Mismatched ratios shift the final blend slightly.

Cost comparison vs 10ml bottles

Shortfills work out cheaper per ml in most cases, especially for higher-volume vapers.

• UK shortfill prices (typical): 50ml shortfill £8-15. 100ml shortfill £15-25.
• UK nic shot prices (typical): 10ml nic shot £1-2. Multipacks cheaper per shot.
• 50ml shortfill + 1 nic shot (3mg): Roughly £10-17 for 60ml. About £0.17-0.28 per ml.
• 10ml nicotine bottle: Typical price £3-5 for 10ml. About £0.30-0.50 per ml.
• Shortfill savings: Roughly 30-50% cheaper per ml than 10ml bottles. Bigger savings on the 100ml format.
• VPD impact (from 1 October 2026): The new UK Vaping Products Duty applies based on e-liquid volume. Shortfill volume includes the 0mg portion, so the duty still adds £11-22 per 100ml shortfill at the standard rate.

Shortfills vs 10ml bottles: when to use which

Practical shortfill tips

1. Buy a multipack of nic shots

   Save money buying 4-10 nic shots at once. Cheaper per shot and you always have them on hand.

2. Match nic shot VG ratio to shortfill

   70VG nic shots in 70VG shortfills. Mismatched ratios shift the final VG slightly. Most retailers sell both ratios.

3. Shake well after adding

   30-60 seconds of vigorous shaking. Some users prefer to roll the bottle between palms gently for a few minutes for very thick liquid.

4. Label mixed bottles

   Once mixed, write the date and final nicotine strength on the bottle with a marker. Mixed shortfills have a slightly different shelf life than unmixed.

5. Store mixed shortfills correctly

   Cool, dark place. Once opened and mixed, use within 6 months for best flavour. Refrigeration extends shelf life.

6. Keep unmixed shortfills for longer-term storage

   Unmixed 0mg shortfills can last 1-2 years properly stored. The nic shot is what shortens shelf life.

The bottom line