Vape nicotine strength explained in one line: Canada caps it at 20 mg/mL, which is the same as 2.0%. The strength printed on a bottle, pod or disposable is the concentration of nicotine in the liquid, shown in milligrams per millilitre (mg/mL). Divide that number by 10 to get a percentage.
Vaping products are for adults 19 and older in Ontario (see our guide to Ontario vaping rules). This guide explains how to read labels. It does not recommend a strength.
What the number on the label means
Nicotine strength tells you how much nicotine is dissolved in each millilitre of liquid. A label that says 12 mg/mL means 12 milligrams of nicotine in every millilitre. It says nothing about bottle size, tank size or how many puffs a device holds. A larger container at the same strength holds more nicotine in total.
Under the federal Vaping Products Labelling and Packaging Regulations, a vaping product that contains nicotine must show a nicotine concentration statement in mg/mL. For packaged products it goes on the main display panel of the outer package.
mg/mL versus percent
Some labels use a percentage instead of, or next to, mg/mL. The conversion is simple: 1% is 10 mg/mL. So 20 mg/mL is 2.0%, 6 mg/mL is 0.6% and 3 mg/mL is 0.3%.
| mg/mL (on the label) | Percent (mg/mL divided by 10) |
|---|---|
| 0 mg/mL | 0.0% |
| 3 mg/mL | 0.3% |
| 6 mg/mL | 0.6% |
| 10 mg/mL | 1.0% |
| 12 mg/mL | 1.2% |
| 18 mg/mL | 1.8% |
| 20 mg/mL | 2.0% (federal maximum) |
One caution. The percent figure is a rounded shortcut. The federal limit is written in mg/mL, and the regulation converts lab results into mg/mL using the density of the liquid. Treat the mg/mL number as the reference.
Canada’s 20 mg/mL limit
The Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations came into force on July 8, 2021. They say a vaping product must not contain nicotine in a concentration above 20 mg/mL, measured with the ISO 20714 test method.
Health Canada’s guidance adds that the limit applies to vaping products manufactured or imported for sale in Canada. Packaging or selling a product whose displayed concentration is over 20 mg/mL is also prohibited. So 20 mg/mL, or 2.0%, is the ceiling for retail vaping products in Canada.
How to read a bottle, pod or disposable
- Find the nicotine statement. Look for the strength in mg/mL on the main panel of the package.
- Check any percentage. Multiply a percent by 10 to compare it with mg/mL. A label showing 2.0% should match 20 mg/mL.
- Check the volume. Total nicotine in a container is the strength times the volume. A 10 mL bottle at 6 mg/mL holds 60 mg in total.
- Note the product type. Salt nic, freebase, pod and disposable labels all use the same mg/mL scale, but they are built for different devices.
- Find the health warning. Every product with nicotine must carry it.
Salt nic and freebase labels
Both types follow the same federal rule, so both are labelled in mg/mL and both are capped at 20 mg/mL. What differs is the form of nicotine and the kind of device the liquid is made for.
Salt nic
Salt nic liquids are typically made for low-power pod systems and disposables. Check the label: the figure is in mg/mL and can sit anywhere up to the 20 mg/mL limit. See our salt nic range for what the shop carries.
Freebase
Freebase liquids are the traditional form and are typically used in refillable tanks and mods. They are generally sold at lower mg/mL figures than salt nic. Browse our freebase range or our full selection of e-liquid in Scarborough.
Higher-wattage sub-ohm devices
Higher-wattage sub-ohm devices are built to send more power through a larger coil and vaporize more liquid with each draw. Liquids made for them are typically sold at lower freebase strengths. Low-power pod devices are typically matched with higher strengths. The device maker’s instructions are the best guide to which liquids suit a given device.
Other label details to look for
- Health warning: products with nicotine must display the warning from Health Canada’s List of Health Warnings for Vaping Products. The list has one warning: WARNING: Nicotine is highly addictive.
- Warning format: the first word is in upper case and bold, and the rest is in sentence case and not bold.
- Child-resistant containers: containers of liquid with nicotine at 0.1 mg/mL or more must meet child-resistant requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is 20 mg/mL the same as 2%?
Yes, using the standard shortcut. Divide mg/mL by 10 to get a percent, so 20 mg/mL is 2.0%. The federal limit itself is written in mg/mL.
Does the 20 mg/mL limit apply to disposables and pods as well as bottles?
Health Canada says the limit applies to vaping products manufactured or imported for sale in Canada. Pods, disposables and bottled liquid are all vaping products, so the ceiling applies across those formats at retail.
Why do some labels show a percent and others show mg/mL?
Canadian rules require a nicotine statement in mg/mL on products that contain nicotine. If a percent also appears, it is a conversion of the same figure, so 2.0% matches 20 mg/mL. If the two ever look inconsistent, ask the retailer and go by the mg/mL statement.
What warning must appear on nicotine vaping products?
Products that contain nicotine must display the health warning from Health Canada’s List of Health Warnings for Vaping Products. The current list has one warning, which reads WARNING: Nicotine is highly addictive.
Questions at the Port Union store
If you are in east Scarborough and want to see how a label is laid out, you are welcome to visit GTA Vapes Port Union at 91 Rylander Blvd, Unit 1018, Scarborough. Staff can point out the nicotine statement and the warning on any product. We serve Port Union, West Rouge, Highland Creek, Centennial and West Hill.
We are open Monday to Wednesday 8am to 11pm, Thursday and Friday 8am to midnight, Saturday 9am to midnight and Sunday 10am to 11pm. Call (416) 724-8237 or read about our vape store open late in Scarborough. Bring photo ID, as all customers must be 19 or older.
Sources
- Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations (SOR/2021-123)
- Vaping Products Labelling and Packaging Regulations (SOR/2019-353)
- Health Canada: Guidance for regulated parties on nicotine concentration in vaping products
- Health Canada: List of Health Warnings for Vaping Products
- Health Canada: Vaping products regulations
- Ontario: Rules for selling tobacco and vapour products
