Quick answer:
- Disposables (2 ml): typically 400–700 puffs, or 1–3 days for a moderate user.
- Prefilled pods / Big Puff (2 ml + 10ml each): 5–15 days per pod; the device itself can last 6–18 months.
- Refillable pod kits: coils last 5–14 days; pods 1–4 weeks; battery 6–18 months.
- Sub-ohm tanks/mods: coils 3–10 days (sweet juice = shorter); batteries 200–500 charge cycles.
- E-liquid: once opened, aim to use within 6–12 months (check “best before”).
Your mileage varies with puff length, wattage, nicotine strength, coil type, and how sweet or acidic your e-liquid is.
What “lasts” means for vapes
- How many puffs before a disposable runs out.
- How long a pod or coil lasts before flavour drops or it burns.
- How long a battery charge lasts in a day.
- How many months before a device/battery needs replacing.
- How long e-liquid keeps after opening.
How long different vape types last
600 Puff Prefilled
- UK-legal prefilled contain up to 2 ml of e-liquid and are often marketed at ~600 puffs.
- Real-world range is ~400–700 puffs because puff length and temperature vary by user.
- For a moderate vaper (≈ 150–250 puffs/day), that’s 1–3 days.
Why they seem to “die early”: cold weather, long drags, and sweet flavours can reduce usable puffs. Built-in batteries are sized only to finish the 2 ml; if you chain vape, the battery can empty before every last drop is used.
Prefilled pod kits / Big Puff
- Each 2 ml pod usually lasts 1–3 days for moderate use.
- Each has a 10 ml bottle attached to the device that lasts up to 5–15 days with moderate usage.
- The device (battery + body) can last 6–18 months, depending on care and total charge cycles.
Refillable pod kits
- Coils: typically 5–14 days (50/50 at lower wattage lasts longer; very sweet/dark juices shorten life).
- Pods (cartridge): 1–4 weeks before seals loosen or plastic flavours creep in.
- Battery/device: 6–18 months with everyday care.
Sub-ohm tanks & box mods
- Coils: 3–10 days depending on wattage and sweetener content.
- External 18650/21700 cells: expect ~200–500 full charge cycles.
- Tanks can last many months; replace O-rings and glass if they wear or crack.
- Vape Juice can affect O-rings; PMMA “glass” can crack with aniseed flavours. Details here.
What affects lifespan
- Wattage & heat: higher power burns e-liquid faster and wears coils sooner.
- Coil type: tight MTL coils (≥1.0 Ω) sip; big mesh coils (≤0.3 Ω) gulp.
- E-liquid recipe: high sweetener/dark flavours caramelise on coils.
- Nicotine strength: too low → more puffs to feel satisfied.
- Puff length: long 4–6 s drags drain batteries and overheat wicks.
- Airflow: wide-open = more vapour per puff → more juice used.
- Temperature & storage: cold lithium cells deliver less; hot cars age them faster.
- Maintenance: priming coils, not over-tightening tanks, and cleaning contacts all help.
Signs your vape is finished
Disposables & closed pods
- Very weak or burnt flavour
- Flashing light / no draw
- Dry hits even after resting
Refillable coils/pods
- Flavour tastes muted, burnt, or sweet-burnt after a few puffs
- Gurgling/leaks after many refills (pod seals tired)
- Hotter vape at the same wattage
Batteries/devices
- Charge that used to last a day now lasts half as long
- Device randomly resets or struggles under load
How to make vapes last longer
For prefilled devices
- Take shorter, gentler puffs (1–3 s)
- Avoid chain vaping; let the wick re-saturate
- Keep it warm (not hot); cold pockets reduce battery output
For pods & coils
- Choose a nicotine strength that satisfies you with fewer puffs
- Use 50/50 or 60/40 liquids for MTL pods (unless the device specifies otherwise)
- Prime new coils and wait 5–10 min before first use; start at the low end of the wattage range
- Avoid very sweet/dark juices if coil life matters most
- Keep pods topped up; don’t let the wick run dry
For batteries/devices
- Charge between roughly 20%–80% when practical
- Use a reputable 5 V charger and the supplied cable
- Don’t leave charging overnight on soft surfaces
- Store around ~20 °C; avoid hot cars/windowsills
Simple puff & ml maths
- Typical MTL puff uses about 0.003–0.005 ml of e-liquid.
- 2 ml at 0.004 ml/puff ≈ 500 puffs.
- If you take 200 puffs/day, a 2 ml pod lasts ≈ 2.5 days.
- Light MTL users often vape 1–3 ml/day; DTL users 5–15 ml/day.
Rule of thumb: If you’re emptying a 2 ml pod in under a day, raise nicotine strength (within legal limits) or tighten airflow/raise resistance.
UK rules that shape lifespan
- Maximum tank/pod size is 2 ml for nicotine-containing e-liquid.
- Maximum nicotine strength is 20 mg/ml (2%).
- Disposables and pods are designed around those limits; hence the common ~600-puff claims.
FAQs
Glossary
- MTL (Mouth-to-Lung): tight draw like a cigarette; efficient.
- DTL (Direct-to-Lung): airy draw; more vapour, higher juice use.
- mAh: battery capacity. Higher mAh = longer between charges.
- Resistance (Ω): higher Ω uses less power at a given voltage.