Wattage – What It Means in Vaping & How It Affects Your Device

Definition

Wattage is the amount of electrical power, measured in watts (W), that a vape device delivers to the atomiser coil. By adjusting wattage, vapers control how hot the coil becomes, which in turn determines how quickly e-liquid is vaporised, the warmth of the vapour, and the intensity of flavour and Hit“>throat hit. Higher wattage produces warmer, denser vapour and stronger flavour, while lower wattage offers cooler, lighter draws and conserves battery life and e-liquid. Most modern vape mods allow users to set a preferred wattage within a safe range, making wattage the primary day-to-day variable for customising the vaping experience.

Technical Details

Wattage is calculated by multiplying voltage (V) by current (A): P = V × I. Regulated mods read the resistance of the installed coil (in ohms) and apply Ohm’s law to reach the user-selected wattage. Entry-level pods operate between 5 W and 20 W, mid-range devices from 20 W to 80 W, and high-power box mods can exceed 200 W. Temperature-control and smart modes cap wattage automatically to prevent dry hits. Coil mass, wire type, and wicking material all influence the ideal wattage: thin 28-ga Kanthal single coils may shine at 12 W, whereas beefy dual 0.12 Ω NiChrome wraps can demand 90–110 W for fast ramp-up. Always stay within the coil manufacturer’s recommended wattage range printed on the coil head to avoid burnt cotton or metal degradation.

Usage & Tips

• Start at the lower end of the coil’s wattage range and increase in 5 W steps until flavour peaks without a burnt taste.
• If vapour feels harsh or the device gets hot, reduce wattage or check that the wick is saturated; chain-vaping at high wattage can outrun wick speed.
• For battery safety, divide battery amp limit by coil resistance to estimate a safe theoretical max wattage; most dual-18650 mods handle 75 W comfortably.
• High wattage drains batteries faster—carry spares or lower power when travelling.
• Cloud competitors often exceed 150 W; ensure your batteries have a continuous discharge rating (CDR) above 30 A and that the device’s warranty covers that output.

History & Context

Early cig-a-likes operated on fixed 3.7 V batteries with no wattage choice, giving roughly 7 W. The 2010 introduction of variable-voltage ego twist batteries let users reach 11 W, while 2014’s DNA30 chip pioneered accurate variable wattage up to 30 W. Today’s mainstream vape mods routinely exceed 200 W, reflecting the industry’s push toward lower-resistance coils and sub-ohm cloud culture popular in the Australian and global markets.