Milligram (mg) – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
In vaping, a Milligram (mg) is the metric unit used to measure the amount of nicotine present in e-liquid or nicotine salts. One milligram equals one-thousandth of a gram. When you see “3 mg” printed on a bottle, it means there are 3 milligrams of nicotine in every millilitre of juice. This tiny measurement tells you how strong the Hit“>throat hit will be and how much nicotine your body absorbs with each puff. Choosing the right mg level helps smokers transition comfortably, while experienced vapers use it to fine-tune flavour and satisfaction.
Technical Details
Milligram strength is expressed as mg/ml (milligrams per millilitre). Australian law caps retail nicotine liquids at 20 mg/ml for pods and 100 mg/ml for concentrate. Common commercial ranges are 0 mg (nicotine-free), 3 mg, 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg and 20 mg. High-nicotine nicotine-salt formulations allow smooth 25–50 mg/ml without harshness, ideal for MTL (Mouth to Lung) devices. Lower strengths (3–6 mg) suit high-wattage Coil“>mesh coil tanks that vaporise more liquid per puff, keeping total nicotine intake balanced. Temperature, airflow and modwattage all affect how many milligrams are actually delivered, so labelling is an average, not an exact dose.
Usage & Tips
- Match to device: Use 20–50 mg salts only in low-power pod systems; 3–6 mg freebase works best in sub-ohm tanks.
- Switching down: Drop one concentration level (e.g., 12 mg → 6 mg) every few weeks to taper nicotine gradually.
- Shake well: High-mg liquids can stratify; shake the bottle so every millilitre contains the stated milligrams.
- Storage: Keep bottles upright, cool and dark; UV light degrades nicotine, lowering effective mg over time.
- Safety: Never eyeball high-strength concentrate; use syringes or scales to avoid accidental overdose when DIY mixing.
History & Context
Early cig-a-likes in the late-2000s offered 24–36 mg to satisfy heavy smokers. As variable-wattage mechanical mods and sub-ohm tanks emerged, vapers consumed more liquid per puff, so manufacturers released 3 mg and 6 mg variants. The 2021 Australian prescription model reinforced milligram labelling standards, ensuring patients and doctors can accurately track nicotine intake for smoking-cessation plans.