Shortfill Eliquid
What Is Shortfill E-Liquid?
Shortfill e-liquid is a nicotine-free e-liquid filled below bottle capacity to allow addition of nicotine shots. Shortfill e-liquid contains 0mg nicotine by default and leaves 10ml to 20ml empty space in bottles like 60ml or 120ml short fills.
Shortfill format exists due to regulations such as the TPD Regulations that restrict nicotine-containing bottle sizes. Shortfill e-liquids combine high vegetable glycerin and balanced propylene glycol to produce dense vapour and stable flavour delivery.
What Are The Different Types Of Shortfills?
Shortfills are classified into 3 main types based on bottle size, VG/PG ratio, and nicotine shot compatibility. Shortfills include different bottle sizes of shortfill, such as 50ml, 100ml hvg shortfills, and 200ml formats, where short fills are typically larger bottles of e-liquid designed to hold extra space for nicotine shots.
Shortfills include VG/PG ratio types such as high VG 70/30 blends and balanced 50/50 blends. Shortfills include nicotine compatibility types such as freebase nic shots, nic salt shots, nic cool shots, and 100% VG nic shots.
Types Based on VG/PG Ratio
Shortfills are divided into the following two VG/PG ratio types:
High VG Blends
High VG shortfills (70/30 or 80/20) use thicker liquid designed for sub-ohm kits and high-power devices to produce large vapour clouds. High VG options include IVG shortfills, which are high-VG (70% VG / 30% PG) e-liquids designed for dense vapour and strong flavour output.
50/50 Blends
50/50 shortfills use thinner liquid designed for mouth-to-lung devices and pod systems. 50/50 options provide controlled vapour with efficient liquid consumption for compact devices.
Types Based on Bottle Size
Shortfills are are usually available in three bottle size types, i.e., 50ml, 100ml, and 200ml formats. 50ml shortfills (in 60ml bottles) leave space for one nicotine shot such as 1 × 10ml nic shot. 100ml shortfills (in 120ml bottles) leave space for two nicotine shots such as 2 × 10ml nic shots. 30ml and 200ml shortfills provide smaller and bulk options, including 20ml/10ml fill formats and large volume usage for extended vaping.
Types Based on Flavour Profile
Shortfills are broadly available in three flavour profile types mentioned below.
Fruity & Icy
Fruity and icy shortfills include tropical, citrus, and berry blends with menthol cooling.
Dessert & Bakery
Dessert and bakery shortfills include custard, cake, and candy flavours with thicker profiles.
Tobacco & Menthol
Tobacco and menthol shortfills include traditional tobacco blends and menthol-based cooling flavours.
Types Based on Nicotine Shot Compatibility
Shortfills are divided into 3 nicotine types: freebase, nic salt, and ice/menthol shots. Freebase nicotine shots provide strong throat hit with standard nicotine delivery. Nic salt shots provide smoother inhale with faster absorption. Ice or menthol shots provide cooling effect by converting any flavour into an icy version.
Other Shortfill Variations
Shortfills include 2 additional variations: bar salt shortfills and double concentrated shortfills. Bar salt shortfills deliver disposable-style flavour profiles in formats such as 50/50 and 100ml bottles. Double concentrated shortfills provide stronger flavour designed for refillable pod systems.
Common Nicotine Ratios in Shortfills
Shortfills follow 2 common nicotine ratios: 3mg and 6mg strength setups. 3mg strength uses 1 shot in 50ml shortfill such as 1 × 18mg shot. 6mg strength uses 2 shots in 100ml shortfill such as 2 × 18mg shots.
Shortfills combine bottle size, VG/PG ratio, flavour profile, and nicotine type to define usage across all shortfills, including examples like fruit high VG shortfills, dessert 50/50 shortfills, and menthol nic salt mixed shortfills.
How To Use Shortfills?
Shortfills are used by adding a 10ml high strength shot of nicotine (usually 18mgs) into the bottle and shaking it properly.
Remove the cap
Remove the cap of your shortfill e-liquid and place it to the side before starting.
Open the bottle top
Pop the top open on your shortfill e-liquid bottle and prepare the space left for nicotine shots.
Add nicotine shot
Add a 10ml high strength shot of nicotine (usually 18mgs) into your big bottle.
Close and shake
Close the bottle securely and shake vigorously for proper mixing of the vape juice.
Let it settle
Leave the bottle for a short time or up to 48 hours after shaking to allow the liquid to settle before vaping.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Shortfills?
Shortfills provide 4 defined benefits: cost savings, reduced plastic use, flexible nicotine control, and convenience for high usage.
Shortfills reduce cost compared to multiple 10ml bottles, where one 50ml shortfill replaces several smaller bottles. Shortfills reduce plastic consumption due to fewer bottles required.
Shortfills allow flexible nicotine control by adding one nic shot for around 1.5mg or two shots for around 3mg strength. Shortfills support gradual nicotine reduction based on user preference.
Shortfills improve convenience for regular vaping, where carrying one large bottle remains easier than handling multiple small bottles.
What Are The Different Flavours Of Shortfills?
Shortfill e-liquids include 6 main vape flavours categories. Shortfill e-liquids group vape flavours based on taste profile, where each category defines sweetness, cooling effect, or traditional flavour experience.
Shortfill flavours remain available across 50ml shortfills, 100ml shortfills, and high VG shortfills used in sub-ohm vaping.
Fruit Vape Flavours
Fruit vape flavours include sweet and fresh blends such as strawberry, mango, blueberry, apple, and pineapple. Fruit shortfills remain the most common category across vape shortfills and shortfills 70/30 formats. Fruit blends include berry mixes, tropical mixes, and orchard fruit combinations.
Dessert & Bakery Vape Flavours
Dessert vape flavours include rich and sweet blends such as vanilla custard, cheesecake, doughnut, and banana bread. Dessert shortfills deliver thick flavour profiles across 100ml shortfills and high VG shortfills. Dessert blends include creamy flavours and baked flavour combinations.
Menthol & Ice Vape Flavours
Menthol vape flavours include cooling blends such as menthol, spearmint, and ice-based flavours. Menthol shortfills create a cooling effect in vape shortfills and shortfills 50/50 formats. Ice blends combine fruit or candy flavours with menthol cooling.
Drinks Vape Flavours
Drinks vape flavours include beverage-inspired blends such as cola, lemonade, mojito, and coffee. Drink shortfills replicate fizzy and liquid-based taste profiles across e liquid shortfills and 100ml shortfills. Drink blends include soda-based and cocktail-style flavours.
Candy & Sweet Vape Flavours
Candy vape flavours include sugary blends such as bubblegum, gummy bears, and sherbet. Candy shortfills deliver high sweetness levels across cheap shortfills and popular vape shortfills. Candy blends include nostalgic and artificial sweet flavour profiles.
Tobacco Vape Flavours
Tobacco vape flavours include traditional blends such as gold tobacco and caramel tobacco. Tobacco shortfills replicate cigarette-style taste across vape shortfills and mtl shortfills. Tobacco blends include classic and flavoured tobacco variations.
Shortfill vape flavours combine category-based taste profiles with VG/PG ratios and nicotine customization, including examples like fruit high VG shortfills, dessert 50/50 shortfills, and menthol ice shortfills.
What Vape Kits Work with Shortfills?
Shortfill e-liquids work with 2 main vape kit types based on VG/PG ratio:
Sub-ohm Kits for High VG
Pod Kits for 50/50 liquids
Shortfills require device compatibility based on liquid thickness, where high VG shortfills need powerful devices and 50/50 shortfills need low-power pod systems. Shortfills do not work correctly in all devices due to differences in coil resistance and airflow.
High VG Shortfills (70/30): Sub-Ohm Vape Kits
High VG shortfills work with sub-ohm vape kits using low-resistance coils (≤0.6 Ω) and high power output. High VG shortfills use thick liquid designed for sub-ohm vaping and cloud production. High VG liquids require powerful devices to handle viscosity and produce dense vapour.
Sub-ohm kits include devices like Vaporesso Luxe XR Max and Smok Nord 5 that support high wattage and mesh coils.
50/50 Shortfills: Pod Kits & MTL Devices
50/50 shortfills work with pod kits and MTL devices using higher-resistance coils (≥0.7 Ω). 50/50 shortfills use thinner liquid designed for mouth-to-lung vaping and controlled airflow. 50/50 liquids deliver stronger throat hit and stable nicotine delivery in compact devices.
Pod kits include devices like Aspire Gotek X and Voopoo Argus P2 that operate at lower wattage with tighter airflow.
Shortfill compatibility depends on liquid thickness, where higher VG requires higher power and lower resistance. High VG liquids require sub-ohm devices with more power, while 50/50 liquids require pod systems with less power and higher resistance coils.
FAQs
Sub-ohm vape kits work best with high VG (70/30) shortfills, while pod kits and MTL devices work best with 50/50 shortfills, as coil resistance and power must match liquid thickness for proper performance.
Choose shortfill size based on usage frequency, where 50ml suits occasional use, 100ml suits regular use, and 200ml suits heavy daily vaping. Larger bottles reduce refill frequency, while smaller bottles help test flavours before committing to higher volumes.
Mix nicotine with shortfill e-liquid by removing the cap, adding one or more 10ml nicotine shots, and sealing the bottle securely. Shake for at least 60 seconds to blend evenly, then leave the mixture to steep for a few hours or up to 48 hours for proper mixing.
Shortfill e-liquids can be used without nicotine as they are nicotine-free by default. Vape the liquid directly without adding nic shots, or add PG/VG base to dilute the flavour if it feels too strong for regular use.