What Is Shortfill E-Liquid? A Beginner's Guide

If you've been browsing vape juice options and kept seeing large bottles labelled "shortfill," you're not alone in wondering what they are. So, what is shortfill e liquid? Simply put, a shortfill is a large bottle of nicotine-free vape juice that's intentionally not filled to the top. That gap at the top leaves room for you to add a nicotine shot, giving you full control over your nicotine strength.

Understanding what is a shortfill e liquid is one of the most useful things a vaper can know. It opens up a much wider world of flavour variety, better value for money, and genuine control over your vaping experience. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from how shortfills work to which device suits them best. Whether you eventually pick a 50ml, 100ml, or 200ml bottle, the shortfill e liquid range at Vaping 101 has options for every taste and budget.

What Is Shortfill E-Liquid and Why Was It Created?

Shortfills exist because of UK and EU regulations introduced in 2017 under the Tobacco Products Directive, known as the TPD. The TPD made it illegal to sell nicotine-containing e-liquid in bottles larger than 10ml. It also capped nicotine strength at 20mg per bottle.

This created a problem for sub-ohm vapers who consumed much more liquid than a 10ml bottle could supply. The solution was the shortfill: a large bottle of nicotine-free shortfill e liquid that bypasses the 10ml restriction, because it contains no nicotine at all. Vapers then add separate nic shots to achieve their desired strength. Both are stocked in abundance at Vaping 101 alongside the full vape juice range.

Understanding what is e liquid shortfill in the context of TPD rules explains why all shortfill bottles look the way they do: a 100ml bottle in a 120ml container, or a 50ml bottle in a 60ml container. That extra space is always intentional.

How Does a Shortfill Work?

A shortfill comes pre-filled with flavoured, nicotine-free e-liquid. The bottle has a deliberate gap at the top. You pop open the nozzle, squeeze in your nicotine shots, replace the cap, and shake. The result is a custom-strength vape juice ready to fill your tank.

The most common format is a 100ml shortfill in a 120ml bottle. Adding two 18mg nicotine shots gives you 120ml of 3mg vape juice. For a 50ml shortfill in a 60ml bottle, one 18mg nic shot gives you 60ml at 3mg. The shortfill calculator at Vaping 101 makes working this out straightforward if you want a different strength.

If you need more detailed mixing instructions, the how to use shortfills guide walks through every step clearly. The whole process takes less than two minutes once you've done it a couple of times. You can also use the shortfill calculator to plan your nicotine strength before you buy.

Choosing the Right Nicotine Shot

Not all nic shots are the same. The main types are:

• Freebase 50/50 nic shots: standard choice, suitable for most shortfills, gives a slightly stronger throat hit
• High VG nic shots (70/30 or 100VG): better for high VG shortfills, keeps the ratio consistent for cloud production
• Nic salt shots: smoother delivery, faster absorption, ideal for vapers who find freebase nic shots too harsh

The Nic Nic 50/50 Shot 18mg is one of the most popular options, covering a wide range of shortfill formats. Match your nic shot VG/PG ratio as closely as possible to your shortfill to keep flavour and vapour output consistent.

What VG/PG Ratio Do Shortfills Have?

VG (vegetable glycerine) and PG (propylene glycol) are the two base liquids in all e-liquid. The ratio between them affects cloud production, flavour intensity, and throat hit. Shortfills typically come in the following ratios:

Most standard shortfills use a 70/30 or 80/20 VG/PG ratio. The higher the VG content, the thicker the liquid, the denser the cloud, and the smoother the throat hit. This is why high VG shortfills suit sub-ohm setups, which need thick liquid to wick properly through large coils. The e juice collection at Vaping 101 covers all VG/PG formats across shortfills and 10ml options.

50/50 Shortfills Explained

A growing category of shortfills now uses a balanced 50/50 VG/PG ratio. These work in a wider range of devices, including some MTL tanks and pod systems that can't handle thick high-VG liquid. The 50/50 e liquid range at Vaping 101 includes shortfills in this format.

50/50 shortfills deliver a stronger throat hit and more flavour clarity, though cloud production is lower compared to high VG versions. If you use a starter kit or vape pen rather than a full sub-ohm setup, a 50/50 shortfill is the safer choice.

The key rule: always check your device before buying a shortfill. High VG liquid in the wrong device causes poor wicking, dry hits, and burnt coils.

What Devices Work With Shortfill E-Liquid?

This is one of the most important things to understand about what is shortfill e-liquid for beginners. Most standard shortfills with 70/30 or 80/20 VG ratios are designed for sub-ohm devices.

Sub-ohm devices use coils with resistance below 1.0 ohm. They fire at higher wattages and produce substantial vapour from thick liquids. The advanced vape kits at Vaping 101 cover this category, from compact sub-ohm pod mods to powerful box mod and tank combinations. You also need a suitable sub-ohm tank to pair with your mod. Trusted brands for sub-ohm hardware include Smok, Voopoo, and GeekVape.

Sub-Ohm Kits vs Pod Kits for Shortfills

Standard pod vapes and MTL devices are not compatible with high VG shortfills. The thin wicks inside pod coils simply can't absorb thick liquid fast enough, which causes dry hits and ruins coils quickly.

If you use a pod system and want to buy in bulk, your best option is 50/50 shortfills or standard nic salts in 10ml format. The exception is certain advanced pod mods designed for thicker liquids, which handle 70/30 blends without issue.

For new vapers who aren't sure which path to take, the vape kits page at Vaping 101 covers all categories clearly so you can find the right device for the e-liquid you want to use. If you're transitioning from disposables, a starter kit paired with nic salts or a 50/50 shortfill is usually the easiest first step. If you're ready to step up to clouds and flavour chasing, an advanced vape kit with a high VG shortfill is the direction to go.

Shortfill vs Nic Salt: Which Should You Choose?

Understanding what is a shortfill e-liquid becomes clearer when you compare it directly to nic salts. These two formats suit completely different styles of vaping.

Shortfills are for sub-ohm vapers who want large volumes of nicotine-free or low-nicotine liquid, big clouds, and bold flavour from high-powered devices. Nic salts are for MTL and pod vape vapers who want higher nicotine strengths in a smooth, compact format that suits low-powered devices.

You can't use a high VG shortfill in the same device you'd use a nic salt, and vice versa. The two formats serve different vapers with different setups. The nic salts vs 50/50 vape juice guide covers the differences in much more detail if you're still deciding between the two.

The short version: if you're cloud chasing and flavour hunting with an advanced kit, shortfills are your format. If you're on a pod vape or starter kit and want higher nicotine satisfaction, go with nic salts. Both types of e-liquid are available in abundance at Vaping 101 alongside coils and other hardware accessories.

Are Shortfills Good Value?

One of the biggest reasons shortfills are so popular is the cost per ml. A 100ml shortfill typically costs between £8 and £20. Buying 10 separate 10ml e-liquid bottles from the same brand would usually cost significantly more for the same volume.

Adding two 18mg nic shots to a 100ml shortfill costs roughly £1 to £2 extra, still making the overall price considerably lower per ml than buying small bottles. For regular sub-ohm vapers who go through 5ml to 10ml of liquid per day, the savings over a month are substantial. The Nic Nic 50/50 Shot 18mg is one of the most popular budget-friendly nic shot choices to pair with any shortfill.

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