Vape to Cigarette Calculator: How Many Cigarettes Is Your Vape?

To calculate how many cigarettes are equivalent to a vape, several factors need to be considered. These include the nicotine concentration in the e-liquid, the type of nicotine used (freebase or nicotine salt), the power and efficiency of the vaping device, the number of puffs taken, and how deeply the vapour is inhaled. Even the user’s experience level and puff duration can change how much nicotine is actually absorbed.

Nicotine from smoking is absorbed rapidly through the lungs, while vaping mainly delivers it through the mouth and throat, leading to slower absorption. However, frequent vaping can raise blood nicotine levels to match or exceed those of smoking. This is especially true with high-strength liquids and sub-ohm devices.

There is no universal vape-to-cigarette ratio, but common estimates suggest 10–15 vape puffs are roughly equal to one cigarette. Based on this, 600 puffs could equal 40–60 cigarettes, while large devices offering 10,000–15,000 puffs might replace up to 75 packs.

Ultimately, nicotine absorption is highly individual. To find a suitable replacement for smoking, vapers should choose the right device and nicotine strength based on how much they used to smoke and how they intend to vape.

How much nicotine is there in a cigarette?

An average cigarette contains about 10 to 12 mg of nicotine. However, the amount of nicotine in a cigarette varies considerably from brand to brand. Though a single cigarette contains about 10 to 12 mg of nicotine per average cigarette, only about 1 to 2 mg of nicotine is absorbed into the body. Most of the nicotine goes up in smoke during some combustion, some is lost as sidestream smoke, and some simply isn't absorbed by the smoker. How much nicotine is absorbed depends on inhalation technique, frequency of puffs, and the type of cigarette used (light versus regular) 

How much nicotine is there in a vape?

Vape nicotine levels typically range from 0mg/mL to 50mg/mL or even higher. The nicotine concentration is measured in milligrams per millilitre (mg/mL). E-liquids on the market will usually provide six standard nicotine concentrations such as 0 mg/ml, 3 mg/ml, 6 mg/ml, 12 mg/ml, 18 mg/ml, and 20 mg/ml, with 10 bottles being the standard in regions like the UK (due to TPD regulations). One puff of vape contains about 53 micrograms of nicotine strength, although the amount can vary. Approximately 10-15 vape puffs are equal to a cigarette, although nicotine absorption may differ between smoking and vaping. 

How much nicotine is absorbed from vaping?

Nicotine absorption from vaping varies based on different factors. The concentration of nicotine in e-liquid, vaping frequency, working power of the device, puff duration, and properly inhaling the vapour contribute to the factors that influence the amount of nicotine absorbed from vaping.

High-powered vapour production through sub-ohm devices could allow for greater nicotine consumption, hence acting on the reverse of what may be expected from low-watt pod systems. Likewise, nicotine salts allow for greater and more immediate absorption at higher concentrations (10 mg-20 mg) because of their low pH and enhanced bioavailability. The experience level of the user also enters into the equation, as more experienced vapers take long, deep puffs, therefore enhancing nicotine delivery.

Nicotine in vapour is primarily absorbed in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract, while cigarette smoke introduces nicotine right into the lungs for faster absorption in the bloodstream. Nicotine delivery per puff is lower in vaping compared to smoking. However, heavy use during the day often achieves nicotine levels in the blood that are comparable to or greater than those seen in smoking.

The actual quantity of nicotine absorbed through vaping is quite personalised and depends on how, what, and how often one vapes. To control their intake effectively, vapers should select the proper nicotine strength and device setup that is applicable to their needs.

What is the vape to cigarette ratio?

The ratio of vape to cigarettes is an estimated comparison between the amounts of nicotine inhaled when smoking conventional cigarettes and when using vaporising devices. There is no concrete conversion due to the many different types of absorption rates and delivery methods, as well as user behaviour, but it is typically close to 1 ml of 20 mg/ml nicotine strength e-liquid, which is roughly equivalent to 20 cigarettes a day. The equivalent amount of nicotine intake based on vaping, therefore, is an amount that can range from 1 to 10 packs per day, depending on one's vaping habit and the efficacy with which their device delivers nicotine if you are using a 10ml bottle of the 20mg nicotine salt e-liquid.

With freebase nicotine, a much lower-strength alternative, the equivalencies vary far more. One smoker would be able to take in a similar amount of nicotine per week by consuming 30-60ml of 3mg e-liquid, depending somewhat on the length of the puff, power of the device, and frequency of inhalation.

How to Calculate Vape Equivalent to Cigarettes?

To calculate vape equivalent to cigarettes, one needs to first know about the nicotine content in a cigarette. Nicotine content averages about 10–12mg per cigarette. However, because of combustion losses and incomplete absorption, only about 1–1.8mg makes it into the body. A 20-pack of cigarettes then contains around 20-30mg of nicotine absorbed. 

Let’s say you are using a 10ml e-liquid with 12mg/ml nicotine concentration, that makes a total of 120mg of nicotine altogether. On the contrary, the absorption of nicotine through vaping is said to be lower and spread over a longer time than that with the cigarette. The general absorption of 30-50% of nicotine from the e-liquid by the vaper, based on the type of device used, smoking style, and personal metabolism. Therefore, from the 120mg of e-liquid nicotine, your body would absorb anywhere from 36mg to 60mg, the equivalent of 1.5 to 3 packs of cigarettes.

Vape Juice to Cigarette Equivalent Tabulation

Vape to Cigarette Calculator: Puff Count vs. Cigarette Equivalent

In order to estimate the number of cigarettes that a disposable vape might replace, one can consider the average puff-to-cigarette ratio, which is typically accepted to be:1 cigarette ≈ 10–15 puffs

Using this, we will derive the apparent equivalent number of cigarettes for different vaping puff counts:

Note:
The above tabulation is an approximation as it might tend to change due to variable factors such as inhalation strength, nicotine concentration (mg/ml), the efficiency of the device, and user habits. Furthermore, the length of the puff drawn on an inhaler varies from a standardised cigarette drag, so one's experience may differ.

Is Vaping Better or Worse Than Smoking?

Yes, vaping is better than smoking. Vaping involves fewer and lower-level exposure to toxins compared to smoking cigarettes. An evidence review titled “Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update” reports that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Smoking delivers many chemical agents into the user, including tar and carbon monoxide; on the other hand, no combustion means vaping avoids exposure to these toxicants and thus is the lesser risk for the active smoker. However, vaping does carry its own risks, so one must keep this in mind.