What Strength Bar Juice Should You Choose?
Bar Juice comes in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg nicotine strengths. The 100ml shortfills contain 0mg nicotine before a nic shot is added.
Choosing the wrong strength is one of the most common reasons new vapers struggle. Too little nicotine may leave cravings unmanaged, while too much can make the experience uncomfortable. This guide explains what each strength means, who it may suit and how to reduce nicotine over time.
Why Nicotine Strength Matters More Than People Expect
Many beginners focus on flavour when choosing an e-liquid and treat nicotine strength as an afterthought.
If the strength is too low, vaping may not satisfy cravings and you may vape continuously or return to cigarettes. If it is too high, each puff can feel unpleasant and put you off the device.
Getting the strength right makes the experience smoother and more satisfying. Once cravings are controlled, flavour becomes easier to prioritise.
The 10ml Bar Juice range uses a nicotine salt formula. Compared with freebase nicotine, nic salts usually feel smoother at higher strengths and deliver nicotine efficiently in low-powered MTL devices.
What the Strengths Actually Mean
Nicotine strength is measured in milligrams per millilitre, usually written as mg/ml or simply mg.
5mg: 5mg of nicotine in each millilitre, or 50mg across a 10ml bottle.
10mg: 10mg per millilitre, or 100mg across a 10ml bottle.
20mg: 20mg per millilitre, or 200mg across a 10ml bottle.
20mg/ml is the maximum permitted nicotine concentration for standard nicotine-containing e-liquids sold in the UK.
Bar Juice Strengths at a Glance
Strength guide20mg: Higher-strength option for heavier smokers or daily disposable users.
10mg: Mid-strength option for moderate smokers or users stepping down.
Best approach
- Choose the lowest strength that comfortably controls cravings.
Avoid
- Starting too low and compensating by vaping continuously.
5mg: Lower-strength option for light smokers or people reducing nicotine.
0mg shortfill: Nicotine-free until a nic shot is added.
Choosing by Smoking History
Heavy Smoker: 20mg
If you smoked around 20 or more cigarettes per day, 20mg may be the most suitable starting point.
Using too little nicotine at this level of dependence can leave you vaping frequently without feeling satisfied.
In a compatible low-powered pod kit, 20mg nic salt delivers a meaningful nicotine hit without the harshness normally associated with high-strength freebase nicotine.
Moderate Smoker: 10mg
If you smoked roughly 10 to 15 cigarettes per day, 10mg is a sensible starting point.
It provides noticeable nicotine delivery without the same intensity as 20mg and creates a manageable step towards 5mg later.
Light Smoker: 5mg
If you smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, smoked socially or are already reducing nicotine, 5mg may suit you.
5mg is not simply a beginner strength. It is a deliberate lower-nicotine option that many experienced vapers use long-term.
Choosing by Previous Disposable Use
If you're moving from disposable vapes, your previous frequency matters.
Many UK disposable products use nicotine levels close to 20mg/ml. If you used one or more strong disposables per day, 20mg Bar Juice is the closest direct match.
If you only used disposables occasionally or one device lasted several days, 10mg may be sufficient.
Products such as the Elf Bar 600 and Lost Mary ranges are useful reference points, but personal use varies.
Use Bar Juice Nic Salts in the Right Device
Device pairingBar Juice nic salts are best used in low-powered MTL pod kits designed for 50/50 e-liquid.
Recommended
- Follow the pod or coil manufacturer's wattage range.
Avoid
- High-powered sub-ohm and direct-to-lung setups.
A restricted draw and controlled vapour output help deliver nicotine smoothly. Avoid using high-strength nic salts in powerful sub-ohm devices.
What About the 100ml Shortfill?
The shortfill range contains 0mg nicotine before a nic shot is added.
You add nicotine by mixing separate nic shots into the bottle.
The final strength depends on the amount of nicotine, the shot strength and the final total liquid volume. Always use a nicotine calculator or follow the bottle and nic-shot instructions rather than guessing.
Shortfills are generally better suited to lower-nicotine users and higher-powered direct-to-lung setups, where more vapour is produced per puff.
For someone completely new to vaping, a pre-mixed 10ml nic salt at a defined strength is usually simpler.
How to Tell If You've Got the Strength Wrong
Signs the Strength May Be Too Low
- You're vaping almost constantly but still feel unsatisfied.
- Cravings continue despite regular use.
- You're thinking about cigarettes while vaping.
Signs the Strength May Be Too High
- Each puff feels unpleasantly harsh in a compatible device.
- You feel lightheaded, nauseous or develop a headache.
- You need to stop after only one or two puffs.
Stop vaping if you feel unwell. Reduce the strength or frequency of use and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or continue.
Stepping Down Over Time
Bar Juice makes it possible to move from 20mg to 10mg and then 5mg without changing flavour or device.
There is no universal schedule. Reduce only when the lower strength still controls cravings comfortably.
If your long-term goal is 0mg, a gradual route is 20mg to 10mg to 5mg, then a low-strength shortfill and eventually a nicotine-free shortfill.
Where to Buy Bar Juice in Your Preferred Strength
Vaping 101 stocks the Bar Juice 5000 range across available strengths, along with the 100ml shortfill range.
Bar Juice Strength Comparison
| Strength | Level | May suit | Previous use | Recommended device | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg | Low | Light users or reducing nicotine | Fewer than 10 cigarettes daily | Low-powered MTL pod | 5mg E-Liquid |
| 10mg | Medium | Moderate smokers | Around 10–15 cigarettes daily | Low-powered MTL pod | 10mg E-Liquid |
| 20mg | High | Heavy smokers or daily disposable users | Around 20+ cigarettes daily | Low-powered MTL pod | 20mg E-Liquid |
| 100ml Shortfill | 0mg before nic shots | Lower nicotine or DTL users | Experienced vapers | Sub-ohm / DTL setup | 100ml |
| MTL Pod Kit | Recommended hardware | Bar Juice nic salts | Refillable | Low wattage | Pod Vapes |
These are broad starting points. Personal nicotine needs vary, and the lowest strength that comfortably controls cravings is usually the best long-term choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
20mg is a high-strength nic salt, but the salt formulation makes it smoother than the same strength of freebase nicotine. It may be appropriate for heavier adult smokers when used in a compatible low-powered MTL device.
You can mix two nic salts of the same flavour and VG/PG style to create an intermediate strength. For example, equal parts 10mg and 20mg produce approximately 15mg.
Check the pod or coil, wattage and priming. A burnt, damaged or unsuitable coil can make a moderate-strength liquid feel harsh. Also make sure the device is intended for 50/50 nic salts.
No. Flavour concentration and nicotine strength are separate. The same Bar Juice flavour should taste broadly similar across strengths, although the throat sensation may differ slightly.
No compliant UK nicotine-containing e-liquid can exceed 20mg/ml. Products claiming higher strengths in the UK market should be treated with caution.
Consider moving down when 20mg begins to feel stronger than necessary, you are no longer struggling with cigarette cravings and the lower strength still keeps you comfortable.
