Nicotine Strength Calculator

What Nicotine Strength Should I Vape?

If you’re switching from smoking to vaping, one of the first and most important questions is: What nicotine strength should I vape? Knowing the right nicotine level will help control cravings, avoid withdrawal symptoms, and make your vaping experience satisfying enough to stick with it.

How Much Nicotine is in a Cigarette?

nic-cig.png__PID:a4c291ca-35ee-4295-a95f-9251d23ee7f4

A typical cigarette contains roughly 10-12mg of nicotine, but not all of it gets absorbed by your body when you smoke. Nicotine intake depends on how deeply and frequently you inhale. Vaping works differently, so you need to choose your e-liquid strength accordingly to match your nicotine needs.

Nicotine is in a Cigarette
infographic.png__PID:87fa5282-0c9c-48a1-8ae6-9f4b3d1f710f

Using Our Nicotine Strength Calculator

We’ve created a simple nicotine strength calculator to help you find the right starting point based on how much you currently smoke. This tool considers your daily cigarette consumption and suggests an appropriate nicotine level for your e-liquid. You can try it out to get a personalised nicotine strength recommendation before buying your vape kit or e-liquids.

Nicotine Strength Guide: How to Choose and Test Your Level

Here’s a straightforward guide based on your smoking habits:

Type of Smoker
No. of Cigarettes
Suggested Nic Strength
Heavy Smoker
10 or more cigarettes a day
18mg or more
Medium Smoker
5-10 cigarettes a day
10-12mg
Light Smoker1-5 cigarettes a day3-6mg
Occasional or Social SmokerLess than 2 cigarettes a week1-3mg

How to Test Your Nicotine Strength

nic-calc.jpg__PID:161896c3-420d-4310-8130-a379a325e716

1. Start with the calculator’s recommendation. Order e-liquids matching that strength.

headache.jpg__PID:4130a379-a325-4716-9e4d-74e48a9e79ef

2. Observe your cravings and satisfaction. If you still feel strong urges or withdrawal symptoms (headaches, irritability), try a slightly higher nicotine strength.

reduce.jpg__PID:a379a325-e716-4e4d-b4e4-8a9e79effdaa

3. If you feel dizzy or nauseous, the strength may be too high; reduce it gradually.

nicstrength.jpg__PID:a325e716-9e4d-44e4-8a9e-79effdaa84ee

4. Adjust as needed over time. Many users find their nicotine needs decrease as they get used to vaping.

I’m New to Vaping — What Now?

If this is your first time, we recommend starting with our New to Vaping guide which explains devices, e-liquids, and how vaping works.

Next, explore our range of starter kits, designed for ease of use and optimal nicotine delivery.

For those switching from cigarettes, prefilled pod vapes can be a great choice — check out our blog on which are the best vapes to Quit Smoking.

Experienced Vapers — Need to Mix Your Own Nicotine Strength?

If you already vape but want to know how many nicotine shots to add to your shortfill bottles, use our Nicotine Shot Calculator. It helps you mix your preferred strength easily and safely.

Supporting Your Quit Smoking Journey

At myCigara, we’re committed to helping the UK become smoke-free by offering reliable advice and quality vaping products. Choosing the right nicotine strength is one of the most important steps in successfully quitting smoking with vaping.

Got questions? Our expert team is ready to help in-store or online. Visit our contact page or pop into your nearest myCigara vape shop.

Recommended Reads

Single Use Vapes UK Ban Update 2025 - myCigara

Single Use Vapes UK Ban Update 2025

Mar 13, 2025
by
Jemma Wolfe

Best Vape Stores London - myCigara

Best Vape Stores London

Jan 24, 2024
by
Jemma Wolfe

Vuse ePod Becomes Vuse PRO - myCigara

Vuse ePod Becomes Vuse PRO

Dec 08, 2023
by
Jemma Wolfe

Vype is now Vuse - myCigara

Vype is now Vuse

Nov 09, 2023
by
Theo Wilson

Swap To Stop Campaign - myCigara

Swap To Stop Campaign

Sep 01, 2023
by
Jemma Wolfe

Introducing Nordic Spirit - myCigara

Introducing Nordic Spirit

Sep 12, 2022
by
Jemma Wolfe