A nicotine shot, sometimes called a nic shot, is a 10ml bottle of unflavoured liquid containing nicotine, usually at 18mg/ml or 20mg/ml. You add it to a nicotine-free shortfill to give the finished bottle some nicotine. One 18mg shot in a 50ml shortfill gives you 60ml at 3mg/ml. Two shots in a 100ml shortfill also come out at 3mg/ml. Shots exist because of UK rules on nicotine bottle size, which our e-liquid hub explains in full.
Why nicotine shots exist
UK law, in regulation 36 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, limits bottles of nicotine e-liquid to 10ml and caps strength at 20mg/ml. Larger bottles can only be sold without nicotine. That's where shortfills come in: big bottles of nicotine-free liquid, deliberately under-filled so there's room for a shot or two. The shot is the nicotine you add yourself.
So a nicotine shot is one half of a two-part product. On its own, it isn't meant for vaping. Our shortfills guide covers the other half.
Types of shot
Shots vary in three ways.
- Strength. 18mg/ml is the most common. 20mg/ml shots exist too. Neither can legally go above 20mg/ml.
- VG/PG ratio. You'll see 50/50, 70/30 and 100% VG shots. A 50/50 shot thins a thick shortfill slightly. A high-VG shot keeps it thick. The VG/PG ratio guide explains why that matters.
- Nicotine type. Most are freebase. Nic salt shots are available too, and some people find them smoother, though at the low strengths shortfills end up at, the difference is smaller.
Working out the final strength
The maths is the bit people get wrong, so here it is in one line:
Final strength = (number of shots × 10ml × shot strength) ÷ total ml in the bottle
| Shortfill | Shots added | Total liquid | Final strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50ml | One 18mg | 60ml | 3mg/ml |
| 50ml | One 20mg | 60ml | 3.3mg/ml |
| 100ml | One 18mg | 110ml | 1.6mg/ml |
| 100ml | Two 18mg | 120ml | 3mg/ml |
| 100ml | Two 20mg | 120ml | 3.3mg/ml |
Worked example: one 10ml shot at 18mg/ml contains 180mg of nicotine. Spread across 60ml, that's 180 ÷ 60 = 3mg/ml.
Note what this means. Adding shots to a shortfill gives you a low-strength liquid, usually around 3mg/ml. You can't reach nic salt pod strengths such as 10mg or 20mg this way. If you need more, a ready-made 10ml e-liquid is the answer. Our guide on what nicotine strength to vape helps you decide.
Also check the bottle size. A 50ml shortfill usually comes in a 60ml bottle, which only fits one shot. Adding more than the bottle has room for isn't possible without decanting.
Step by step
1. Check the bottle has room
Look at the shortfill label. It usually says how much space is left, often 10ml in a 50ml bottle or 20ml in a 100ml bottle.
2. Open the shortfill
Twist off the child-resistant cap. On most shortfills, the plastic nozzle also pulls off so you can pour into the bottle. Use a fingernail or the edge of the cap to lift it. Take care, because they can pop off suddenly.
3. Pour in the shot
Open the nicotine shot and squeeze it slowly into the shortfill. Do it over a sink or a sheet of kitchen roll in case of spills. Wipe up any spills straight away and wash your hands if liquid gets on your skin.
4. Refit the nozzle and cap
Push the nozzle firmly back into the shortfill bottle until it clicks, then screw the cap on.
5. Shake it
Shake the bottle well for a minute or so to mix the nicotine evenly through the liquid. Uneven mixing means the first fills can be weaker or stronger than they should be.
6. Let it settle
Some people leave it for a few hours, or overnight, before vaping. It isn't strictly needed, but it gives any bubbles time to clear.
7. Label it
Write the final strength on the bottle with a marker. In a month's time you won't remember if you added one shot or two.
Common mistakes
Adding a shot to a bottle that's already full. Some shortfills are sold as 0mg liquids in full bottles, with no space. If there's no room, there's no shot.
Getting the maths wrong. A frequent one is assuming two 18mg shots make 36mg. They don't. Strengths average out across the whole bottle, so the result is always lower than the shot itself.
Not shaking enough. Nicotine settles unevenly if you don't mix it properly, so give the bottle a good shake and a quick shake again before each refill.
Forgetting which bottle is which. If you keep a 0mg and a 3mg version of the same flavour, label them.
Storage and safety
- Keep shots and mixed shortfills out of reach of children and pets. Nicotine is toxic if swallowed. UK nicotine bottles must be child-resistant, but treat that as a backup.
- Store them somewhere cool and dark, with caps on.
- Don't decant into unlabelled bottles.
Is a shot right for your kit?
Most shortfills are thick, high-VG liquids made for sub-ohm kits. They often struggle in a small mouth-to-lung pod coil, and the 3mg result is low for pod vaping. If you use a pod kit, ready-made 10ml nic salts are usually the better fit. The nic salt vs freebase guide explains why, and our vape kits hub helps if you're weighing up a bigger device.
Questions people ask
What strength does one nicotine shot make in a 50ml shortfill?
One 10ml shot at 18mg/ml added to 50ml of shortfill makes 60ml at 3mg/ml. A 20mg/ml shot makes it about 3.3mg/ml.
Do nicotine shots have flavour?
No. They're unflavoured, so they dilute the shortfill's flavour slightly. Shortfills are made with that in mind.
Can I vape a nicotine shot on its own?
It isn't designed for that. Shots are unflavoured and meant to be mixed into a shortfill or other nicotine-free liquid.
Can I use a nicotine shot in a pod kit?
You can add one to a nicotine-free liquid that suits your pod coil, but most shortfills are thick high-VG liquids for sub-ohm kits, and the result is a low strength. Most pod users are better off with ready-made 10ml nic salts.
