How long does a 10 ml eliquid (vape juice) last?

1. December 2023
Posted by Xmania

Every vaper knows it. After a day of casual, but mainly irregular ” goofing around” at work, it’s finally time to relax. But what an unpleasant surprise it can be when you discover that your vape tank is empty and the refill is just gone – spent. To avoid this happening to you, it is a good idea to know exactly how long a single e-liquid lasts and to equip yourself beforehand.

In this article you will find out:

What is e-liquid?
How many days on average does my e-liquid last?
How many cigarettes is the equivalent of a 10 ml bottle of e-liquid?
How long does the e-liquid last after opening?
How to store e-liquid?

Disclaimer: All information provided in this text is for educational purposes only. The purpose of the article is in no way to entice and encourage anyone to abuse any addictive substances. The text is not intended for persons under the age of 18.

Things have a habit of passing at the most inconvenient times. Paper towels when we just spilled a glass of water, coffee during a morning migraine, and liquid for electronic cigarette when we finally want to enjoy a moment to ourselves. It feels like it’s on purpose. Luckily, everything can be effectively dealt with. For example, you can estimate e-liquid’s lasting beforehand at the time of purchase.

What is e-liquid?

To understand what we are actually talking about, it’s useful to know the most basic definition of e-liquid. Because without it, electronic cigarettes would not work. As we all know, e-cigarettes (or vape kits) operate on a completely different mechanism than traditional ones. Smoking in this case is in a certain way simulated, as there is no combustion of tobacco. Instead, the battery-powered aerosol device heats up a liquid – e-liquid – which is then drawn into the mouth and lungs in this form.

So we now know that the basic form of e-liquid is liquid. Next, let’s talk about the four essential components that make up most electronic cigarette liquids.

Nicotine – it may or may not. The nicotine liquids are especially popular among vapers who switched to electronic cigarettes from traditional ones. Nicotine content in e-liquids can vary from 0 to 36 milligrams per milliliter. It is an unspoken rule that the leading e-liquid manufacturers in the world offer both nicotine and nicotine-free e-liquids in order to cover as much of the market as possible at the same time.

Propylene glycol – a synthetic food additive derived from propylene oxide. The name might sound off-putting, but this is nothing more than a standard conservative, stabiliser and thickener used commonly in the food industry. It is a flavour carrier in e-liquids. The higher the propylene glycol content of an e-liquid, the richer and more intense its flavour.

Vegetable glycerin – In this case it is also a colourless watery liquid, however, unlike propylene glycol with a natural origin. It has an irreplaceable role in the world of electronic cigarettes, since it takes care of the production of vapour clouds during vaping.

Water – you may also find water in certain liquids, although it is not a requirement. After all, water comes in both the liquid ingredients of e-liquids – propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin.

How many days on average does my e-liquid last?

Suppose you do not have the time or experience to make your own e-liquids for e-cigarettes at home. In this case, you will have to choose in specialized stores from the pre-made ones. The most common ones you will come across are plastic bottles with a capacity of 10 millilitres.

To estimate the vape juice lasting time in days, we need two indicators – the number of draws of the average vaper in a day and also the amount of liquid consumed in one draw.

Let’s assume that you’re an average smoker. Every day you take about 100-150 puffs from an e-cigarette.

The best way to calculate this is to take the example of a two-millilitre disposable cigarette. It holds approximately 600 draws. Therefore, the average smoker will consume it in 4-6 days. And since our liquid is five times larger, it also has five times the endurance – so about 3,000 draws. Keeping our average daily usage, we discover that an e-liquid like this could last you anywhere from three weeks to a month.

How many cigarettes is the equivalent of a 10 ml bottle of e-liquid?

Now let’s have a look at how e-cigarettes compare to traditional cigarettes. Suppose that a typical cigarette has a nicotine content of between 7 and 20 milligrams. This does not mean that smokers get all of it into their bodies – instead, only around 1 milligram is absorbed. This is a highly individual number, based on the time and frequency of smoking or the size of the filter in the cigarette.

A regular cigarette (not the longer version) holds about 10 drags. Assume that there are 20 of these cigarettes in a pack. That’s the equivalent of 200 drags. But we already know that in a 10-millilitre e-liquid there are about 3 000, or 15 times as many.

So what does it mean? Well, if we divide the number of total e-liquid draws (3,000) by the number of drags per cigarette (10), we get a number of 300. That is how many “cigarettes” are contained in one bottle of e-liquid.

How long does the e-liquid last after opening?

Just like every other product, e-liquids have a natural lifespan. In their case, we are talking about an expiry date. It is important to note that two of the main components of the liquids – propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine – are both preservatives by their very nature. Thus, these are responsible for the longevity of the liquid. Whereas propylene glycol (PG) lasts about 2 years, vegetable glycerin (VG) can last up to three times longer. However, it is generally advised not to go beyond the lifespan of just PG, i.e. two years.

An open bottle may or may not have an effect on e-liquid’s lifespan. The key is correct storing. The bottle needs to be tightly closed so that no air gets in. However, it’s very unlikely that you’ll store an open liquid for two years – and that’s even if you’re not an active vaper. So, you can, with a clear conscience, pour from it into your tank even after a few weeks or even months.

How to store e-liquid?

Storing vape juice is not difficult. Regardless of whether the bottle is open or closed, keep it in a dark and cold place. It’s a good idea to avoid exposure to direct sunlight as well as high temperatures or excessive humidity. An ideal place for storage is a cabinet or drawer in a bedside table. If you are carrying the e-liquid in the car, at the very least, block out the sun’s rays and put it in an enclosed storage compartment.

Do not leave the liquid open for long periods of time. You risk:

Exposure to air and with it associated not only evaporation (as the substances in the e-liquid are volatile), but also risk of oxidation and premature deterioration of the liquid.
Contamination by dust particles and other foreign particles that can enter the liquid through the open neck of the bottle.
Liquid spillage.
Risk of contamination animals or children who may swallow the open liquid.