A shortfill is a bottle of zero-nicotine e-liquid that’s deliberately not filled to the top. The gap is there so you can add nicotine shots and mix your own strength. Sounds roundabout. It exists because of EU and UK regulations that limit nicotine-containing e-liquid to 10ml bottles.
I remember being confused the first time I bought one. Why do I have to mix my own nicotine? Once I understood the rules and did the cost math, it made perfect sense. Shortfills are way cheaper per ml than buying 10ml bottles, and they generate far less plastic waste. This guide covers the basics quickly.
The vast majority of shortfills are 70/30 or 80/20 VG/PG, designed for sub-ohm and DTL setups that need high-VG liquid for smooth draws and big clouds. Some brands now make 50/50 shortfills for MTL vapers, though they’re still a minority. You can learn more about how VG/PG ratios affect your vape in our PG vs VG guide.
Why Do Shortfills Exist?
The EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), UK law since 2016, says nicotine-containing e-liquid can’t be sold in bottles larger than 10ml. The idea was a safety measure, limiting how much nicotine someone could buy at once.
For vapers going through 10ml every couple of days, that’s expensive and wasteful. The workaround: since the TPD only restricts e-liquid with nicotine, sell nicotine-free juice in bigger bottles with space at the top. You buy the big 0mg bottle, add a separate 10ml nic shot, and mix them yourself. Simple, legal, and much cheaper.
The UK kept TPD rules after Brexit. The TPD also limits tank capacity to 2ml and nicotine strength to 20mg/ml. That’s why the UK vaping market looks different from the US, where you can buy 50mg nic salt in 30ml bottles. The NCBI review on e-cigarette regulation covers these differences in detail (NCBI e-cig constituents).
Shortfill Sizes
| Juice Volume | Bottle Size | Space For |
|---|---|---|
| 50ml | 60ml | 1 nic shot |
| 100ml | 120ml | 2 nic shots |
| 200ml | 220ml | 2 nic shots |
50ml and 100ml are the most popular sizes. 50ml in a 60ml bottle gives you room for one nic shot. 100ml in a 120ml bottle gives you room for two. 200ml is less common but great for heavy vapers.
One thing people miss: 50ml + 1 shot = 60ml of 3mg. 100ml + 2 shots = 120ml of 3mg. The per-ml price on the 100ml is almost always better. Know you’ll use it? Go bigger. That’s what I do.
Nic Shot Calculator
| Shortfill | 18mg Shots | Final Strength | Total Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50ml | 1 | 3mg | 60ml |
| 50ml | 2 | 6mg | 70ml |
| 100ml | 2 | 3mg | 120ml |
| 200ml | 4 | 3mg | 240ml |
Most shortfill vapers sit at 3mg. That’s the sweet spot for sub-ohm and DTL. Want higher than 6mg? You’re probably better off with 10ml nic salt bottles in a pod system. Freebase gets way too harsh above 6mg.
Types of Nic Shots
A standard 18mg freebase shot is the default choice. For DTL/sub-ohm vapers mixing to 3mg. This is what most shops hand you when you buy a shortfill.
Nic salt shots (18-20mg) give a smoother throat hit at higher strengths. Good for MTL/pod users wanting 6mg+ without the harshness.
Ice/menthol shots add a cooling sensation along with nicotine. I use these in the summer. Nice with fruit flavors.
VG-heavy shots maintain the overall VG/PG ratio when mixing. See our PG vs VG guide for why the ratio matters.
How to Mix a Shortfill
1. Push down and twist to remove the childproof cap.
2. Pop off the nozzle insert. Use the notch on Chubby Gorilla bottles.
3. Pour the nic shot(s) into the shortfill.
4. Replace nozzle and cap. Tighten it up.
5. Shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. Don’t just swirl it. Skip the shake and your first puffs will be way stronger than the rest. I learned that one fast.
6. Optional: steep 24 to 48 hours for better flavor blending. Or just vape it right away. The difference is subtle.
One thing to keep in mind: adding a nic shot to a 70/30 shortfill shifts the final ratio slightly toward PG since most nic shots are 50/50 or 70/30 VG/PG. The drop from 70/30 to about 68/32 is barely noticeable. Picky about your ratio? VG-heavy nic shots can help.
Shortfill vs 10ml Bottles
Go shortfill if: you vape DTL/sub-ohm, go through 10ml+ per week, want 3mg or lower, and prefer 70/30 or 80/20 VG/PG. Way cheaper per ml.
Go 10ml if: you use nic salts in a pod, want 10mg+, prefer 50/50, or vape MTL at low volumes. The convenience of pre-mixed bottles is hard to beat for pod vapers.
The gray area is MTL vapers at 6mg freebase. Two 18mg shots in a 50ml shortfill gets you there, though it dilutes the flavor. For anything above 6mg, 10ml bottles are the smarter choice. When I was vaping DTL at 3mg, switching to shortfills saved me about £30 per month. That’s real money over a year.
The UK Vape Tax (October 2026)
The Vaping Products Duty starts October 1, 2026: £2.20 per 10ml on all e-liquid, with or without nicotine. Full details on the UK Government VPD page.
For a 100ml shortfill + 2 nic shots: roughly £15 to £25 (product) + £26.40 (tax) = about £41 to £51 total.
For twelve 10ml bottles of 3mg: roughly £36 to £60 (product) + £26.40 (tax) = about £62 to £86 total.
Shortfills still win on price. The margin shrinks, though. Stocking up before October and storing properly makes sense. See our e-liquid lifespan guide for storage tips.
One practical note: buying in bulk before the tax kicks in? Storage matters even more. A 100ml shortfill sitting in a hot cupboard for six months isn’t a bargain once it tastes terrible. Buy only what you’ll use within 12 months, store in a cool dark place, and rotate your stock.
Common Mistakes
Not shaking enough. Nicotine sits at the top when you just gently swirl. Shake hard for 10 seconds minimum.
Wrong nic shots. Using nic salt shots in a 100ml DTL shortfill is a waste. Stick with standard 18mg freebase for shortfills.
Spilling when removing the nozzle. Hold the bottle gently around the middle, not the top. Use a fingernail to lift the nozzle tab. I squeezed juice everywhere the first time I tried this. It’s a rite of passage.
Flavor dilution. Adding nic shots dilutes the base flavor by about 17%. Some brands compensate. Others don’t. Mixed juice tasting weak? Try a brand known for bold flavors.
Not checking expiration. Shortfills are 0mg and last up to two years unopened. Once you add nic shots, use it within 3 to 6 months. Don’t mix a shortfill and let it sit in a drawer for a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nic shots for 3mg?
One 18mg shot in a 50ml, or two in a 100ml. Standard DTL setup.
Can I use nic salt shots in a shortfill?
You can, though freebase shots are the standard for most shortfills. Nic salt shots make more sense for mixing to 6mg+ in smaller volumes. See our nic salt vs freebase comparison.
Do I need to steep after mixing?
Not required. 24 to 48 hours can help flavor blending. Fruit flavors are usually fine immediately. Dessert and tobacco benefit most from steeping.
Are shortfills legal in the UK?
Yes. They contain zero nicotine, so TPD bottle size limits don’t apply. Nic shots are sold separately in compliant 10ml bottles.
Can I vape a shortfill without nic shots?
Absolutely. It’s 0mg juice. Great for anyone who’s quit nicotine yet still enjoys vaping. Some shortfills taste a bit flat without nic though, since nicotine adds throat hit and can enhance certain flavors. See our nicotine-free vape safety article for more.
Can I use shortfill juice in a pod system?
Most shortfills are 70/30 or 80/20 VG/PG. Too thick for pods. Pod wicking ports can’t handle high-VG liquid. You’ll get dry hits and burnt coils. 50/50 shortfills work when you can find them. Otherwise, 10ml bottles for pods. Our beginner guide covers matching juice to devices, and our MTL vs DTL guide explains why the draw style matters.
What is a longfill?
A longfill is mostly empty, with just concentrated flavor base at the bottom. You fill the rest with VG/PG and nic shots yourself. More control over ratio and strength, more effort. Shortfills are far more popular because most vapers don’t want to play chemist. They just want to add a shot and go.
Kevin Li — Founder & Editor, VapeObservation.com Kevin reviews vape products hands-on, prioritizing real-world performance over manufacturer claims. His goal: honest, practical advice that helps everyday vapers make informed choices. Before launching VapeObservation, he was a longtime vaper frustrated by promotional content disguised as reviews. Every article on the site reflects his commitment to data-driven, reader-first testing.
