If you’ve bought a shortfill vape juice and you’re still wondering, “How many nicotine shots do I need?”, then you’re not alone. Beginner confusion around nic shots is extremely common in the UK vaping community.

The answer depends on:

• Your bottle size
• Your desired nicotine strength
• The strength of your nicotine shots.

In this complete shortfill nicotine guide, we’ll explain:

• How many nicotine shots for 100ml to make 3mg
• How many nicotine shots for 100ml to make 6mg
• How many nicotine shots for 100ml to make 18mg
• How to use nic shots properly.

UK vaping laws around nicotine strength. Browse Nic Salts

What Is a Nicotine Shot?

First things first: Nicotine shots (often called “nic shots”) are:

• Small, 10ml bottles
• Usually unflavoured
• Added to nicotine-free shortfills.

They allow vapers to customise nicotine strength while staying compliant with UK TPD regulations.

Under current UK vaping laws, nicotine-containing e-liquids are limited to:

• A maximum bottle size of 10ml
• A maximum nicotine strength of 20mg/ml.
• That’s why you’ll find that most larger vape juices are sold nicotine-free.

That’s why you’ll find that most larger vape juices are sold nicotine-free.

Typical UK Shortfill Sizes

Most UK shortfills are designed with extra space for nic shots:

• 50ml shortfill in a 60ml bottle
• 100ml shortfill in a 120ml bottle.

This makes adding nicotine shots to vape juice simple and convenient.

How Many Nicotine Shots for 100ml to Make 3mg?

There’s a simple answer to this question.

To make approximately 3mg nicotine strength, add:

2 x 10ml 18mg nicotine shots

The result gives you 120ml total e-liquid with roughly 3mg nicotine strength.

Why 3mg Is So Popular

3mg is the most common strength for sub-ohm vaping, high-VG e-liquids, and cloud chasing because it offers a mild throat hit, a smooth inhale, and ideal flavour clarity.

Many UK shortfills are specifically designed for this exact setup. Brands and retailers like FREESMO commonly recommend adding two nic shots to a 100ml shortfill to create a smooth 3mg vape.

How Many Nicotine Shots for 100ml to Make 6mg?

It’s important to note that many users search for how many nicotine shots for 100ml to make 6mg, but standard shortfill bottles create a limitation.

A typical 100ml shortfill bottle only has space for 2 nicotine shots, and 2 x 18mg shots only create around 3mg strength.

So, can you make 6mg in a 100ml shortfill?

Technically yes, but that’s not realistic using the original bottle alone.

To reach approximately 6mg strength, you would need:

• Extra empty bottle space
• Additional nicotine shots
• DIY mixing equipment.

Why Too Many Nic Shots Can Be a Problem

Many beginners incorrectly assume more nic shots always means better performance.

In reality, excessive nic shots can:

• Dilute flavour
• Change VG/PG ratio
• Make vaping feel harsher
• Reduce vapour production.

This is especially noticeable with high-VG shortfills designed for sub-ohm devices.

Better Alternatives for 6mg Vapers

If you prefer stronger nicotine strengths, a better option may be:

• Pre-mixed 10ml e-liquids
• Nicotine salts
• Ready-made higher-strength vape juice.

PRO TIP: If you want higher nicotine strengths, choose pre-mixed liquids instead of excessively modifying shortfills.

How Many Nicotine Shots for 100ml to Make 18mg?

The short answer? This simply isn’t practical with standard shortfills.

Why? Well, to make 100ml of 18mg vape juice, nearly the entire bottle would need to contain concentrated nicotine, which isn’t possible, as UK TPD laws restrict nicotine shots to:

• Maximum 10ml bottle size
• Maximum 20mg nicotine strength.

Because of this, standard nic shots cannot realistically turn a 100ml shortfill into 18mg e-liquid.

How to Use Nic Shots Properly

If you’re new to vaping, here’s a quick primer on how to use nic shots safely and correctly:

1. Remove the shortfill cap
2. Add your nicotine shots
3. Replace the nozzle and cap securely
4. Shake thoroughly for 1–2 minutes
5. Allow the liquid to settle before vaping.

Proper mixing helps ensure:

• Even nicotine distribution
• Better flavour consistency
• Smoother performance.

Quick Nicotine Shot Guide

Frequently Asked Questions: Nic Shots and Shortfills

Q: How many nicotine shots do I need for 100ml to make 3mg?

A: You typically need 2 x 10ml 18mg nicotine shots.

This creates approximately 120ml of e-liquid and around 3mg nicotine strength.

This is the standard setup for most UK 100ml shortfills.

Q: How many nicotine shots for 100ml to make 6mg?

A: To reach close to 6mg, you would usually need around 5–6 nicotine shots.

However, this is not practical in a standard shortfill bottle because:

• There is not enough space
• Flavour may become diluted
• The vape may feel harsher.

Many vapers instead choose pre-mixed higher-strength liquids or nic salts.

Q: Can I make 18mg e-liquid from a 100ml shortfill?

A: No, not realistically.

Under UK TPD laws, nicotine shots are limited to 10ml bottles, and the maximum nicotine strength is 20mg/ml.

Because of these restrictions, standard nic shots cannot turn a 100ml shortfill into 18mg vape juice.

Q: What is a nicotine shot?

A: A nicotine shot is a small 10ml bottle of unflavoured nicotine liquid that is designed to be added to nicotine-free shortfills.

Nic shots allow users to customise nicotine strength legally and easily.

Q: Do nicotine shots affect flavour?

A: Yes. Adding too many nicotine shots can:

• Dilute flavour
• Alter the VG/PG ratio
• Increase throat hit
• Reduce vapour production.

That’s why most shortfills are designed for only 1–2 nic shots.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how many nicotine shots you need helps avoid common mixing mistakes and achieve the best vaping experience.

For most UK vapers:

• 2 nic shots in a 100ml shortfill creates approximately 3mg
• Higher strengths like 6mg become impractical due to bottle space and flavour dilution
• 18mg shortfill mixing is not realistic under UK TPD rules.

If you’re unsure which setup is best for you, consider your device type, vaping style, and desired throat hit before mixing nicotine shots into your vape juice.