Shortfills

Shop shortfill vape juice from the world’s biggest brands at great prices. Available in hundreds of flavour options, these high VG, nicotine-free e-liquids work best with high-powered devices to create big, flavour-filled clouds. Don’t forget you can add nicotine shots to your preference too! See our mix & match multibuy offers for great deals, plus fast, free shipping available.

What are shortfills?

Shortfills are larger bottles (usually 50ml or 100ml) of nicotine-free vape juice. They are called shortfills simply because they are not filled to the top!
The space at the top is for adding nicotine shots - high nicotine strength, unflavoured e-liquids. Once this is added, you shake the bottle to mix the nic shot with the flavoured e-liquid.

On this page, we'll explore:

• how shortfills came about
• whether they are right for you
• how to use them
• how much nicotine you should add
   

The history behind shortfills

Prior to regulations that came into effect in May 2017, many vapers bought larger bottles of vape juice. However, the EU introduced a limit on the size of nicotine-containing e-liquid in the convoluted compromise that was the Tobacco Products Directive.

Crucially, the limit was on nicotine-containing, not nicotine-free e-liquids. 

There remained an immense and frustrated demand for larger bottles.

One problem is that it’s far cheaper to produce larger bottles than it is to produce smaller bottles - with that price being passed on to vapers. This doesn’t matter too much for vapers using lower-powered devices, but cloud chasers using high-powered devices can consume an immense amount of e-liquid in a short time. It’s also frankly frustrating to have multiple bottles of e-liquid knocking around instead of one bottle. Finally, many vapers also feel that smaller bottles lead to more plastic waste and environmental harm.

Enter shortfills! By separating the nicotine from the e-liquid, manufacturers were once again able to produce the larger bottles that vapers were demanding. You still need to buy nicotine shots separately, but in some ways, it’s definitely a step forward for vapers.

Who are shortfills for?

So now you know what shortfills are all about, you’re ready to get them? Hold fire - shortfills are not for everyone!

Shortfills are usually high VG e-liquids - which aren’t great for high-resistance coils. This is due to the thicker e-liquid burning out these kinds of coils. High VG e-liquids are more suited to cloud chasers who use low-resistance coils with larger port holes designed to handle the thickness of e-liquids.

They’re also not great for those who prefer stronger nicotine levels. Because EU regulations still apply to nicotine shots, the maximum strength allowed in nicotine shots is 2% (20mg). If you add a 10ml nic shot to 50ml of flavoured e-liquid, you’ll still end up with a relatively low nicotine level. For more powerful devices this isn’t such a big deal, but for starter devices, the nicotine hit can be very poor.

If you’re a cloud chaser with an advanced device, great! The high VG levels are perfect for blowing clouds and the larger quantity is great for devices that use more juice.

However, if you prefer a tight draw, a good throat hit and smaller clouds - the type produced with low-powered devices and higher-resistance coils - you’re probably better off sticking with 10ml e-liquids.

Pros of using shortfills

• Great for cloud chasing
• Often cheaper per ml
• Fewer bottles to carry/lose!
• May be better for the environment

Cons of using shortfills

• Low nicotine strengths
• Not usually right for low-powered devices
• Need to buy nicotine shots separately

How to use shortfills

Fortunately, using shortfills isn’t rocket science. Simply remove the top of the shortfill bottle, add your nicotine shot/s and shake vigorously before use. (If you struggle with opening the bottle, you can always use the Reewape Shortfill Removal tool.)
 

How much nicotine should you add?

To help you calculate the nicotine levels you need, we’ve put together this simple calculator. Bear in mind that because of the maximum level of nicotine in shortfills, there are limits on the nicotine strength you can get. Also, if you add too much nicotine then you’re going to lose the flavour of the shortfills. 

Looking for the very best new and upcoming vape liquid? Make sure to check out our vapes coming soon category!

Helpful Guides

• Best Shortfill Ranges
• 5 Best E-Liquids for Clouds
• E-Liquid Buying Guide