How Are Shortfills and Longfills Different?
The difference between shortfills and longfills is what you add before vaping. A shortfill is a nicotine-free e-liquid, usually 100ml, that needs only a nic shot. A longfill holds concentrated flavour that needs both a nic shot and your own VG/PG base.
The main difference between shortfills and longfills is what you add. A shortfill already contains finished, flavoured base, so you add only nicotine. A longfill contains flavour concentrate alone, so you add both base liquid and nicotine. That single distinction drives the effort, the customisation and the device fit of each format.
Both formats exist for one reason: UK law caps nicotine-containing e-liquid at 10ml per bottle, so larger nicotine-free bottles let vapers buy in volume and add nicotine at home.
Royal Vapery stocks shortfill e-liquids in 100ml across Kingston, Doozy, Ultimate, Hayati Pro Max and Ruthless, each supplied at 0mg for you to strengthen with a shot. Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but not risk-free, according to the NHS.
The table below sets the two formats side by side across the attributes that decide which suits you.
| Feature | Shortfill | Longfill |
|---|---|---|
| In the bottle at purchase | Flavoured 0mg e-liquid | Concentrated flavour only |
| What you add | One or two nic shots | VG/PG base plus nic shots |
| Mixing effort | Low, pour and shake | Moderate, mix and steep |
| Steeping | Rarely needed | Usually needed, 2 to 7 days |
| Customisation | Low, the ratio is fixed | High, the ratio and strength are yours |
| Best for | Value with minimal setup | Full control over the mix |
Shortfills win on speed, longfills win on control. Most UK vapers pick shortfills for the ready-made flavour, while dedicated mixers pick longfills for the freedom to dial in a bespoke liquid.
What is a shortfill e-liquid?
A shortfill e-liquid is a nicotine-free bottle sold larger than its contents, leaving headroom for a nic shot. A typical shortfill holds 50ml or 100ml of 0mg e-liquid in a slightly bigger bottle. The empty space exists so you can add nicotine yourself and reach your chosen strength.
Shortfills answer a legal limit. UK rules under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations restrict nicotine e-liquid to 10ml bottles, per GOV.UK. Selling a large bottle at 0mg sidesteps that limit, since the nicotine cap applies only to nicotine-containing liquid. You then add a legal 10ml nic shot to finish the mix.
A shortfill vaper gets the flavour and the volume without the price of ten separate small bottles. Browse the full shortfill e-liquid range to see the sizes and flavours available.
What is a longfill e-liquid?
A longfill e-liquid is a bottle holding a small amount of concentrated flavour, to which you add both a nic shot and your own VG/PG base. A longfill bottle runs 60ml to 120ml but arrives only part filled, often with 15ml to 30ml of concentrate. The rest is space for you to build the liquid.
Longfills hand you full control. You choose the VG/PG ratio, the nicotine style and the final strength, then top the bottle to the shoulder. Longfills reward vapers who enjoy mixing and want a liquid tuned to a specific device.
The trade-off is effort, since a longfill needs base liquid, nicotine and a steep before it tastes its best. Longfills stay a niche DIY format in the UK, well behind shortfills for everyday buying.
How do you mix a shortfill?
To mix a shortfill, add a nic shot, seal the bottle, and shake. The process takes under two minutes and needs no calculator, since the flavour and ratio are already set.
- Unscrew the cap and remove the nozzle from the shortfill bottle.
- Pour a full 10ml nic shot into the headroom, using two shots for a 100ml bottle and one for a 50ml bottle.
- Replace the cap and shake for one to two minutes until the liquid looks even.
- Rest the bottle for a few minutes so bubbles settle, then fill your pod or tank.
Royal Vapery supplies nicotine shots at 10ml so you can strengthen any 0mg base to roughly 3mg.
How do you mix a longfill?
To mix a longfill, add your base, add a nic shot, shake, and steep. A longfill needs one extra ingredient than a shortfill, which is the VG/PG base liquid that fills the bottle.
- Pour your chosen VG/PG base into the longfill bottle up to the fill line.
- Add a 10ml nic shot for the strength you want, keeping within the 20mg/ml legal cap.
- Seal the bottle and shake for one to two minutes.
- Steep the mix in a cool dark place for two to seven days so the concentrate blends fully.
A longfill tastes flat before steeping and rounds out once the flavour marries with the base.
Which works out cheaper, shortfills or longfills?
Longfills work out marginally cheaper per millilitre for high-volume mixers, because you buy plain base liquid in bulk. Shortfills stay better value for most vapers once you count the time saved on mixing and steeping. The price gap is small for anyone vaping a bottle or two a week.
What the 2026 duty means for shortfills
Both formats face a new cost from 2026. Vaping Products Duty applies from 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml on all vaping liquid, nicotine-free bottles included, per GOV.UK.
A 100ml shortfill carries £22 in duty before VAT, so buying ahead of the change saves money. Duty stamps appear on retail packaging from that date, and unstamped stock cannot be sold after 1 April 2027.
Are shortfills good for beginners?
Yes, shortfills suit beginners because they need only one step. Pour in a nic shot, seal the bottle, shake, and vape. No VG/PG maths and no mixing calculator apply, since the ratio and the flavour are fixed by the maker.
Longfills demand more, which makes shortfills the gentler starting point. A newer vaper avoids weighing base, steeping for days and guessing at strength.
A shortfill delivers finished flavour with a single addition, so you spend your effort on choosing a taste rather than building the liquid. Pair a 50/50 shortfill with refillable pod kits for a simple, low-fuss setup.
Do shortfills only work with sub-ohm devices?
No, shortfills work with both MTL and sub-ohm devices, depending on the VG/PG ratio. A common myth ties shortfills to cloud chasing alone, yet the format covers two ratios that suit two very different vaping styles.
50/50 shortfills
A 50/50 shortfill runs well in mouth-to-lung pod kits with higher-resistance coils, giving a tighter draw and a cooler vape. Kingston Pod Juice and the Hayati Pro Max 50/50 base sit in this camp.
70/30 shortfills
A 70/30 shortfill runs in sub-ohm kits with lower-resistance coils, giving warmer vapour and bigger clouds. Higher VG carries the vapour, so the draw feels softer and looser.
Check the ratio on the bottle, since it decides the device, not the shortfill label itself. The point holds for longfills too, where you set your own ratio to match either style.
Which shortfill e-liquids does Royal Vapery stock?
Royal Vapery stocks shortfill e-liquids from 5 brands, Kingston, Doozy, Ultimate, Hayati Pro Max and Ruthless, all in 100ml at 0mg. The range spans fizzy sodas, fruit blends, desserts and menthols, so you can add a nic shot to a flavour you already enjoy.
Kingston shortfills
- Pod Juice 50/50: a balanced base for pod kits, sold as the Kingston Pod Juice 50/50 100ml bottle.
- Desserts: bakery-led profiles in a 100ml shortfill at 0mg.
- Classic Cola: a cola profile in a 100ml shortfill at 0mg.
- Gazillions: the Kingston Gazillions line, poured at 100ml and 0mg.
Doozy shortfills
Discover the bold and fruity flavours available in the Doozy Shortfills range.
- Seriously Soda: fizzy soda profiles in a 100ml shortfill.
- Seriously Fruity: fruit-led blends in a 100ml shortfill.
- Seriously Slushy: iced slush profiles in a 100ml shortfill.
- Temptations: the Doozy Temptations line in a 100ml shortfill.
Ultimate shortfills
Explore Ultimate Shortfills for a wide range of bold and satisfying vape flavours.
- Ultimate Juice: the core Ultimate line in a 100ml shortfill.
- On Ice: iced profiles in a 100ml shortfill.
- Candy Drops: confectionery profiles in a 100ml shortfill.
- Menthol: cool menthol profiles in a 100ml shortfill.
Hayati Pro Max shortfills
- 70/30 base: higher VG for sub-ohm vapour, sold as the Hayati Pro Max 70/30 100ml shortfill.
- 50/50 base: a balanced ratio for mouth-to-lung pod kits, in 100ml at 0mg.
Ruthless shortfills
Browse the Ruthless Shortfills range to discover expertly crafted e-liquids.
- Ruthless 100ml: the Ruthless shortfill line, poured at 100ml and 0mg.
Should you choose a shortfill or a longfill?
It depends on how much setup you want and how precise your mix needs to be. Choose a shortfill for finished flavour and a single addition. Choose a longfill for total control over ratio, nicotine and strength.
Choose a shortfill if
- Speed matters: one nic shot finishes the bottle in under two minutes.
- Setup is a chore: no base mixing and no steeping wait.
- Value counts: 100ml plus two shots beats ten small bottles on price.
Choose a longfill if
- Control matters: you set the VG/PG ratio and the nicotine strength.
- Mixing appeals: blending base and concentrate is part of the hobby.
- Volume is high: buying base in bulk trims the cost per millilitre.
A shortfill fits a vaper who wants value and speed, since one shot turns the bottle into a ready liquid. A longfill fits a hobbyist who enjoys mixing and wants a liquid tuned to one device.
Neither format is better across the board, and the right pick tracks your patience and your goals. For most UK vapers the shortfill wins on convenience, which is why it leads the market.
Shop 100ml shortfill e-liquids
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can vape a shortfill without adding nicotine, because a shortfill arrives as a 0mg nicotine-free e-liquid. The nic shot is optional. Vapers who prefer nicotine-free vaping fill their tank straight from the bottle. Adding a shot raises the strength only when you want nicotine in the mix.
You add two 10ml nic shots to a 100ml shortfill to reach roughly 3mg/ml. Each shot carries 18mg or 20mg of nicotine, the UK maximum. Two shots fill the headroom and lift a 100ml bottle to 120ml. For a 50ml shortfill, one 10ml shot gives about the same 3mg strength.
Yes, you shake a shortfill after adding a nic shot so the nicotine spreads evenly through the base. Seal the cap, then shake for one to two minutes until the liquid looks uniform. A quick rest of a few minutes lets any bubbles settle before you fill your pod or tank.
A shortfill gives you roughly 3mg/ml once you add the standard nic shots. A 100ml bottle plus two 10ml 20mg shots lands near 3mg. Reaching 6mg means adding more nicotine and accepting less total liquid, since UK nic shots cap at 20mg/ml. Most shortfill vapers settle at 3mg.
Yes, shortfills are cheaper than 10ml e-liquids per millilitre in most cases, because you buy the base in bulk. A 100ml shortfill plus two nic shots costs far less per ml than ten separate 10ml bottles. From 1 October 2026, Vaping Products Duty adds £2.20 per 10ml to every liquid, per GOV.UK.
Longfills need steeping, while most shortfills are ready after a shake. Steeping means resting the mix for a few days so the concentrated flavour blends fully. Shortfills already hold finished flavour in the base, so a shake spreads the nicotine and they vape well straight away. A short rest still helps either format.
Yes, a beginner can use a shortfill with one simple step. Pour in a nic shot, seal the bottle, shake, and vape. No mixing calculator and no VG/PG maths apply, since the ratio and flavour are fixed. Shortfills suit newer vapers who want value without the setup that longfills demand.
Shortfills come in 50/50 and 70/30 VG/PG ratios most commonly. A 50/50 shortfill suits mouth-to-lung pod kits and tighter draws. A 70/30 shortfill suits sub-ohm devices and bigger clouds. Check the bottle, since the ratio decides which device the shortfill pairs with best.
Shortfills last roughly 2 years unopened when stored cool and dark, away from sunlight. Check the batch code and expiry on the bottle. Once you add nic shots, use the mix within a few months for the freshest flavour, though it stays safe for one to two years.
Yes, shortfills work in pod kits when the ratio matches the device. A 50/50 shortfill suits refillable mouth-to-lung pod kits and small coils. A 70/30 shortfill suits sub-ohm pods and lower-resistance coils. Match the VG/PG ratio to your pod, and the shortfill performs as intended.
Yes, Vaping Products Duty is charged on shortfills from 1 October 2026, nicotine-free bottles included, per GOV.UK. The rate is £2.20 per 10ml, so a 100ml shortfill carries £22 in duty before VAT. Duty stamps appear on retail packaging from that date. Unstamped stock cannot be sold after 1 April 2027.
The difference between a shortfill and a nic salt is format against nicotine type. A shortfill is a large 0mg bottle you strengthen with a shot. A nic salt is a ready-mixed 10ml e-liquid using smoother salt nicotine. Shortfills suit larger-volume vaping, while nic salts suit plug-and-play pod use.
Yes, you can mix two shortfill flavours together to create your own blend. Combine them in one bottle, add your nic shots, then shake. Keep a note of the ratio so you can repeat a mix you enjoy. Steep the blend for a day or two if the flavours taste sharp at first.
It depends on how much liquid you get through. Longfills can work out marginally cheaper per ml for high-volume mixers who buy base in bulk. Shortfills offer better value for most vapers once you count the time saved, since they skip the base-mixing and long steep that longfills require.
You can buy shortfill e-liquids in the UK from Royal Vapery, an online vape store based in Preston, Lancashire. The range spans 100ml bottles from Kingston, Doozy, Ultimate, Hayati Pro Max and Ruthless. UK delivery is free over £49.99, with orders before 12pm dispatched the same working day.
Royal Vapery sells to over 18s only, with age verification at checkout. Every e-liquid is TRPR compliant and MHRA notified, capped at 20mg/ml nicotine in 10ml bottles. Single-use disposable vapes have been banned across the UK since 1 June 2025. Vaping Products Duty applies from 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml.
