Walk into any vape shop and you'll see two dominant e-liquid formats: shortfills and nic salts. They're not interchangeable — here's what you need to know.
What Is a Nic Salt?
Nic salts use a different form of nicotine (nicotine salt rather than freebase) that's absorbed faster and feels smoother at higher strengths. They come in small bottles — typically 10ml — at strengths of 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg.
Best for: Beginners, ex-smokers, pod kit users, anyone who wants a satisfying hit without harsh throat sensation.
What Is a Shortfill?
Shortfills are larger bottles (50ml, 100ml) of nicotine-free e-liquid, with space left at the top to add a nicotine shot (nic shot). Once you add the shot, you get a diluted nicotine strength — typically 3mg in a 50ml bottle with one 10ml nic shot.
Best for: Experienced vapers, DTL (sub-ohm) users, those who prefer lower nicotine and bigger clouds.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Nic Salt | Shortfill | |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine strength | 5–20mg | 0–6mg (after nic shot) |
| Bottle size | 10ml | 50ml / 100ml |
| Device type | Pod / MTL | Sub-ohm / DTL |
| Throat hit | Smooth | More pronounced |
| Cost per ml | Higher | Lower |
| Best for | Beginners / ex-smokers | Experienced vapers |
Can You Use Nic Salts in a Sub-Ohm Device?
Technically yes, but we'd advise against it. High-strength nic salts in a powerful sub-ohm device will deliver nicotine far too quickly and can cause dizziness or nausea. Due to Nic salts typically being a thinner 50/50 mix often you'll find the coil will burnt out nearly immediately, Stick to the right format for your device.
Not Sure Which to Choose?
Our team at Elite Vape in Letchworth can help you find the right e-liquid for your device and nicotine preference. We stock over 400 e-liquids across both formats — browse our shortfills and nic salts online, or visit us in store.