Nicotine-free vaping: what 0mg vaping is and who uses it
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- 0mg e-liquid contains no nicotine. It is the usual base of PG, VG and flavourings, without the nicotine.
- It is mostly sold as shortfills and 0mg 10ml bottles. Because it has no nicotine, the 10ml bottle limit does not apply.
- It is for adults who already vape. The NHS says children and non-smokers should never vape.
- Questions about cutting nicotine belong with a professional. Your GP, pharmacist or local NHS stop smoking service can talk it through with you.
- 0mg does not mean risk-free. The NHS says vaping is not completely harmless and the long-term effects are not yet known.
What nicotine-free vaping is
Nicotine-free vaping, often written as 0mg vaping, simply means vaping an e-liquid that contains no nicotine. The device is the same, the way you use it is the same, and the liquid looks the same in the bottle. The only difference is that the nicotine has been left out.
The NHS says e-liquid typically contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings and nicotine. A 0mg liquid is that recipe without the last ingredient. PG carries the flavour and gives a lighter feel on the draw; VG makes the vapour thicker and adds a touch of sweetness. Our guide to what e-liquid is explains each ingredient in more detail, and the guide to PG/VG ratios covers how the balance changes the vape.
0mg
nicotine in a nicotine-free e-liquid
20mg/ml
UK legal maximum for nicotine liquid, which 0mg sits outside
10ml
bottle limit that applies only to liquids containing nicotine
Who uses nicotine-free e-liquid
People come to 0mg liquid for a handful of different reasons. These are the most common groups.
Flavour-first vapers
Adults who vape mainly for the taste and the ritual, and prefer their liquid without nicotine.
Shortfill users
Vapers who buy large 0mg shortfills and decide for themselves whether to add a nic shot.
Hobby and cloud vapers
People using sub-ohm tanks and high-VG liquid for flavour and vapour production.
Adults who have moved off nicotine
Adults who have decided they no longer want nicotine in their liquid.
Who it is not for matters just as much. The NHS says children and non-smokers should never vape, and that applies to nicotine-free liquid too. We do not sell any vaping product, including 0mg, to anyone under 18, and the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 extends the legal age-of-sale rules to nicotine-free vapes.
How 0mg compares with nicotine liquid
Taking the nicotine out changes how a vape feels more than how it tastes. Most vapers find a 0mg liquid noticeably softer on the throat than a nicotine one. Some vapers say flavours come through more clearly without it; others miss the sharper feel. Neither is right or wrong.
| 0mg e-liquid | Nicotine e-liquid | |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine | None | Up to 20mg/ml, the UK legal maximum |
| Bottle size | Any size, including 100ml and larger shortfills | Up to 10ml per bottle |
| Notification | Covered by general product safety law | Must be notified to the MHRA before sale |
| Throat feel | Softer | Stronger as the strength rises |
| Vaping Products Duty | Same rate per ml | Same rate per ml |
| Age of sale | We sell to adults 18+ only | 18+ by law |
The rules around nicotine liquid, including the 10ml bottle limit and the MHRA notification process, exist because of the nicotine. A 0mg liquid falls under general product safety law instead, which is why shortfills can be sold in 50ml, 100ml and larger bottles. Our guide to UK vape laws covers the full picture.
One thing 0mg does not escape is tax. The Vaping Products Duty applies to every vaping liquid regardless of nicotine content, so a 0mg liquid pays the same rate per ml as a nicotine one. Our explainer on the new vape tax sets out the figures.
Where 0mg liquid comes in
Most nicotine-free liquid is sold in two forms. The first is the shortfill: a large bottle of 0mg liquid, usually high in VG, with space left in the bottle. Many people vape shortfills exactly as they come, at 0mg. Others add a nic shot, and our comparison of shortfill vs 10ml e-liquid explains how the two formats differ.
Shortfills such as Lucky 7 80ml by The King of Vapes are 0mg as sold. The second form is the 0mg 10ml bottle, which many 10ml ranges offer alongside their nicotine strengths and which suits small pod kits.
Flavour concentrates in our DIY and concentrates range are also nicotine-free, but they are ingredients for mixing, not liquids to vape on their own. Never put a concentrate straight into a tank or pod. For our pick of the flavours worth trying, see the best zero-nicotine e-liquid flavours.
Choosing a kit for 0mg liquid
Nicotine-free liquid works in any refillable device, so the kit you choose depends on how you like to vape rather than on the liquid. There are two broad styles.
Mouth-to-lung (MTL). You draw vapour into your mouth first, then inhale, the way you would sip through a straw. MTL pod kits run coils of 0.6 ohm and above at low wattage and are best with 50/50 liquid, which usually means a 0mg 10ml bottle. They are small, quiet and easy to carry.
Direct-to-lung (DTL). You inhale straight into your lungs with a looser, more open draw. DTL kits use sub-ohm coils below about 0.6 ohm, need more power and suit high-VG shortfills. Many people who vape 0mg shortfills use this style, because a sub-ohm tank gets through more liquid and produces more vapour.
If you are not sure which style suits you, our guide to choosing a vape by inhalation style explains the difference in more detail.
Thinking about your nicotine use
Some people who vape start to wonder whether they want nicotine in their liquid at all, or at what strength. That is a personal decision, and it is one worth talking through with someone qualified to advise you rather than working it out from a shop’s blog.
Your GP, a pharmacist or your local NHS stop smoking service can talk about your nicotine use with you and help you decide what suits you. The NHS page on vaping to quit smoking says a specialist vape shop or your local Stop Smoking Service can advise you, and it explains how the NHS approaches nicotine strength. Our own how to stop smoking page points to the same services.
If you are simply choosing a strength for a new kit, our nicotine strength guide sets out the usual starting points for freebase and nic salts. It is a buying guide, not medical advice.
Is 0mg vaping risk-free?
No, and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise. The NHS says vaping is not completely harmless and that we do not yet know what the long-term effects may be. That statement is about vaping in general, and removing the nicotine does not change it.
What 0mg does change is the list of ingredients: there is no nicotine in the bottle. The other ingredients, PG, VG and flavourings, are still inhaled in the same way. If you want to understand the evidence in more depth, our article on whether nicotine-free e-juices are safe looks at what the named bodies say. For anything specific to your own health, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Using 0mg liquid well
- 1
Match the liquid to the kit. 50/50 liquid suits mouth-to-lung coils of 0.6 ohm and above. High-VG 70/30 shortfills suit coils below about 0.6 ohm in sub-ohm tanks.
- 2
Label your bottles. If you keep both 0mg and nicotine liquids at home, store them apart and make sure you can tell them apart at a glance.
- 3
Store it properly. Keep bottles capped, upright, and away from heat, sunlight, children and pets. Our e-liquid storage guide explains how long bottles last once opened.
- 4
Buy from a UK retailer. Liquids sold in the UK carry UK labelling, and a UK retailer is easy to contact if there is a problem with an order.
Read before you choose
More guides on nicotine-free vaping
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Quick answers
What is nicotine-free vaping?
Vaping an e-liquid that contains no nicotine, usually labelled 0mg. It is made from PG, VG and flavourings.
Is 0mg vaping safe?
The NHS says vaping is not completely harmless and the long-term effects are not yet known. That applies to 0mg too. For personal health questions, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Can I buy 0mg e-liquid if I am under 18?
No. We do not sell any vaping product, including 0mg, to anyone under 18.
Why are 0mg shortfills sold in big bottles?
The 10ml bottle limit applies only to liquid containing nicotine. 0mg liquid is not covered by it, so it can be sold in 50ml, 100ml or larger bottles.
Is 0mg e-liquid taxed?
Yes. The Vaping Products Duty applies to every vaping liquid regardless of nicotine content, at the same rate per ml.
Who can help me think about cutting my nicotine?
Your GP, a pharmacist or your local NHS stop smoking service. They can talk through your options with you.
