How Much Nicotine Is in a Disposable Vape?

Making the switch from a traditional tobacco cigarette to a disposable vape is a major decision that can profoundly impact your life. If you're trying to quit smoking, knowing how much nicotine content is in a vape can help you make the transition from smoking cigarettes to vaping.

Tracking how many cigarettes you've smoked is easy. But with vaping, you'll have to find the amount of nicotine inside each vape device to monitor your daily intake. We'll cover how much nicotine is in a disposable vape compared to cigarettes.

How Much Nicotine Is in Traditional Cigarettes?

The nicotine level in a cigarette varies significantly from one brand to the next. They can range from 6 milligrams (mg) to 28 milligrams (mg) of nicotine. The average nicotine level of traditional cigarettes is approximately 10 to 12 milligrams.

However, an independent study by the CDC revealed that Marlboro and Newport cigarette brands contain 19.4 mg of nicotine and 20.3 mg of tobacco.

However, it's important to know that you won't inhale every bit of nicotine when smoking a cigarette. Typically, you'll inhale between 1.1 to 1.8 mg per cigarette. That means you may inhale 22 to 36 mg from a pack of 20 tobacco cigarettes. However, unlike disposable vapes or vape juices, cigarettes won't reveal the exact amount in a single cigarette.

The FDA has begun research to reduce cigarette nicotine levels to non-addictive levels, hoping to dissuade young adults from smoking cigarettes.

How Much Nicotine Is in Disposable Vapes?

The most common disposable vapes on the market come in nicotine salt strength of either 2.5% (25mg/ml) or 5% (50mg/ml). The 2.5% strength is most popular for infrequent smokers who haven't developed strong vaping habits and are looking to reduce their intake. Around the 5% strength is ideal for people who smoke a lot and are switching to vaping.

There are two primary types of nicotine used in disposable vapes. Freebase nicotine is found in low-nicotine level vapes and usually caps out at 20 to 25 mg. Nicotine salts deliver up to 50 mg, and some consider them a more pleasant experience and satisfying vapour. Furthermore, salts provide a "throat feel," with the puffs mimicking the sensation of tobacco smoking.

Calculating the Nicotine Amount

To compare an average cigarette to a disposable vape, you'll need to find the vape device's nicotine content and total e-liquid.

Let's say a disposable vape has 3.5 ml of e-liquid and a nicotine strength of 50mg/ml, which equates to a total of 175 mg of nicotine. How many cigarettes is that? Well, a single disposable vape equals about 120 cigarettes or six packs.

Comparatively, a disposable vape with 3.5 ml of e-liquid and 25 mg/ml of nicotine strength has about 87.5 mg of nicotine, which equals about 60 cigarettes or three packs.

But how many puffs do you get from disposable vapes? The RELX Stick delivers up to 1600 puffs, an amount of nicotine that equals about 160 cigarettes or eight packs.

The Difference Between Nicotine Delivery and Absorption

Vaping offers a more efficient delivery system than cigarette smoking. Depending on the strength of the E-juice and whether you take long, deep puffs will affect the absorption rate in the human body.

One study compared an e-cigarette to traditional cigarettes and first-generation e-cigarettes and found a considerable discrepancy between absorption rates. Vapes with e-liquids of 18mg of nicotine absorbed one-third to one-fifth of the amount of nicotine. Researchers suggest that the latest e-cigarettes may be a safer alternative because they deliver nicotine much slower than tobacco cigarettes. As a result, you'll need more puffs to intake the desired amount, even if the disposable vape juice offers a high nicotine strength.

Most cigarettes contain over 4000 additives, many of which are harmful and specifically only enhance addiction. Comparatively, e-liquids in vape devices only contain nicotine, flavourings, vegetable glycerine, and propylene glycol.

Smoking and vaping have a fundamental difference in their delivery methods. Smoking burns tobacco, leading to smoking-related ailments, while a vape delivers nicotine by heating the liquid more mildly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most commonly asked questions about nicotine in vapes.

Is 5% Nicotine Intake a Lot for Those with Nicotine Addiction?

Yes, 5% of nicotine is a lot. However, some vape users still use it. It's common for heavy smokers who switch to vaping to believe they'll need more nicotine and puffs. Other than that, 5% is likely too much for the average smoker.

For reference, 5% of nicotine vape juice contains 50 milligrams, which in a rough estimate is equivalent to an entire pack of cigarettes. Five cigarettes are equivalent to 20 milligrams of nicotine.

Vaping can be the more reliable alternative to using sub-ohm devices with low nicotine levels in the vape juice, especially if you want to vape all day.

What Percent of Nicotine Is in a Disposable?

Disposable vapes vary in the amount of nicotine contained in each product. On the high end, expect 5% nicotine (50mg), while some vapes will have 0%.

However, you can expect a 2% percentage form (20 mg) nicotine content for most disposable vapes.

Final Thoughts

With so many factors involved, finding a vape pen with the same amount of nicotine as the typical cigarette is vital.

Many quality disposable vape devices are available, but RELX outperforms other brands. The RELX Bar (19mg/one milliliter) and the RELX Stick (1.65 % or 16.5 mg/ml) offer low-strength nicotine levels. Many vapers like to take long, slow puffs to maximize the vape juice.

Knowing your daily nicotine consumption will allow you to curb your smoking habits. Switching from tobacco smoke to disposable vapes can be difficult. However, vaping offers a convenient alternative while giving you more puffs and prolonged usage than buying cigarette packs.