A vape kit is a set of connected parts that convert e-liquid into inhalable vapour. Every vape kit shares 5 core parts: a battery, a coil, a pod or tank, a mouthpiece, and an airflow control. Each part performs one job, and the parts rely on one another to produce a consistent draw.
The sections below define each part, explain how they differ across vape kits, and show which parts you replace over time. Adult smokers switching from cigarettes use these devices as a less harmful alternative to smoking, though vaping is not risk-free, per NHS guidance.
What Are the Main Parts of a Vape Kit?
The main parts of a vape kit are the battery, the coil, the pod or tank, the mouthpiece, and the airflow control. Each part carries out a single function, and the 5 parts together turn e-liquid into vapour. The breakdown below runs from the power source through to the mouthpiece.
Battery
The battery is the part that powers a vape kit. Current flows from the battery to the coil every time you draw or press the fire button. Internal batteries charge through a USB-C port and sit inside most pod kits and starter kits. External batteries, notably 18650 and 21700 cells, power larger sub-ohm kits and draw from separate vape batteries that charge outside the device for safety and lifespan.
Coil
The coil is the heating element inside a vape kit. Current from the battery passes through the coil's wire, which warms the cotton wick soaked in e-liquid until it vaporises. Resistance, measured in ohms (Ω), determines the power a coil needs: coils above 1.0Ω suit low-power MTL vaping, while sub-ohm coils below 1.0Ω suit high-power DTL vaping. Prefilled and many refillable pods seal the coil inside the pod, so you replace the whole pod, whereas tanks and some pods use a screw-in coil you swap on its own, a distinction covered in full across vape coils.
Pod or Tank
The pod or tank is the part that holds e-liquid inside a vape kit. A pod is a compact reservoir used in pod kits, sold prefilled with e-liquid or as a refillable unit. A tank is a larger, refillable reservoir fitted to starter kits, mods, and sub-ohm kits, and vape tanks usually take replaceable glass. UK law caps a nicotine pod or tank at 2ml and a refill bottle at 10ml under TRPR, so pods sold with vape pods stay within the legal size.
Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is the part you draw vapour through on a vape kit. The mouthpiece channels vapour from the coil to your mouth, and its bore shapes the draw. Narrow mouthpieces tighten the draw for a cigarette-style MTL inhale, while wider mouthpieces open the draw for a DTL inhale. Pod kits build the mouthpiece into the pod, whereas tanks use a removable drip tip you clean or replace.
Airflow Control
The airflow control is the part that adjusts draw resistance on a vape kit. Vents open or close to mix air with vapour, which changes the draw's warmth and density. A tighter setting raises warmth and throat hit for MTL vaping, while a looser setting cools the vapour for DTL vaping, and adjusting vape airflow fine-tunes flavour intensity. Not every pod kit includes adjustable airflow, so check the specification before buying if a custom draw matters.
What Parts Come Included in a Vape Kit?
A vape kit includes the device plus the parts needed to start vaping. Most kits ship with 5 items in the box:
- The device or battery unit: the body that holds the battery and electronics
- A pod or tank: the reservoir that holds e-liquid
- One or more coils: or a pod with the coil already built in
- A USB-C charging cable: used to recharge internal batteries
- A user manual: covers safe use, charging, and filling
Some beginner kits add a spare pod or coil. Refillable pod kits pair best with nicotine salt e-liquids at a 50/50 ratio, bought separately, since the pod ships empty.
How Do the Parts of a Vape Kit Work Together?
The parts of a vape kit work in sequence to turn e-liquid into vapour. The battery sends current to the coil, which heats the e-liquid in its wick; the vapour passes through the airflow control, and the mouthpiece delivers it to you.
Draw-activated kits trigger this cycle on inhale, while button kits fire on a press. Each stage depends on matched parts, and how vape kits work explains the electronics behind the cycle in detail.
Do Vape Kit Parts Differ Across Device Types?
Yes, vape kit parts differ across device types in battery type, pod or tank design, and coil format. 4 common device types show the clearest differences.
| Device Type | Battery | Pod / Tank | Coil | Draw Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vape pen kit | Internal, fixed output | Integrated pod or tank | Fixed or coil-in-pod | MTL |
| Pod kit | Internal, USB-C | Prefilled or refillable pod | Built-in or replaceable | MTL / RDL |
| Starter kit | Internal | Refillable pod or tank | Replaceable coil or pod | MTL |
| Sub-ohm kit | Internal or external 18650/21700 | Large refillable tank | Replaceable sub-ohm coil | DTL |
Beginners moving off cigarettes tend to start with pod kits or vape starter kits for their sealed, low-maintenance parts. Experienced vapers who want bigger clouds move to sub-ohm kits, which separate the parts into a mod, tank, and swappable coil.
Which Vape Kit Parts Can You Replace?
Replaceable vape kit parts include coils, pods, tanks, replacement glass, and external batteries. Each part is changed as it wears rather than being fixed:
- Coils: swap the coil when flavour dulls or a burnt taste appears, following how to replace a vape coil
- Pods: replace a prefilled pod whole, or reuse a refillable pod until its coil wears; browse fresh replacement vape pods to match your kit
- Tanks and glass: replace cracked glass or a worn tank on larger kits
- External batteries: swap 18650 or 21700 cells on mods, and charge internal batteries rather than swap them
Single-use disposable vapes carried no replaceable parts, so a dead battery or spent coil turned the whole device into waste. The UK banned the sale of single-use disposable vapes from 1 June 2025 on environmental and youth-access grounds. Refillable pod kits reverse this by letting you replace one worn part instead of the entire device, which lowers cost and waste over time.
Adult vapers moving off banned disposables can switch to disposable vape alternatives that run on replaceable coils and pods.
FAQs
The coil is the most important part of a vape kit, because it produces the vapour you inhale. The coil heats e-liquid held in its wick, and a worn coil dulls flavour or burns the wick. Battery and pod both matter, yet the coil sets the daily quality of every draw.
The coil heats e-liquid into vapour inside a vape kit. Current from the battery passes through the coil's wire, which warms the cotton wick soaked in e-liquid until it vaporises. Resistance, set in ohms, decides how much power the coil needs and which vaping style the coil suits.
Yes, you can replace parts on most vape kits as they wear. Coils, pods, replacement glass, and external batteries all swap out on the right device. Sealed pods get replaced whole, while tanks and pod kits with screw-in coils let you change only the coil, which keeps the device running for longer.
No, vape kits share core parts but differ in design. Every kit uses a battery, coil, e-liquid reservoir, mouthpiece, and airflow path, yet a pod kit seals these into a compact unit while a sub-ohm kit separates them into a mod, tank, and replaceable coil. Device type sets the exact format of each part.
No, disposable vapes had no replaceable parts, which is one reason the UK banned their sale from 1 June 2025. A single-use device sealed the battery, coil, and e-liquid together for one cycle, so nothing could be swapped or refilled. Refillable pod kits replace this model with parts you change as needed.
Royal Vapery supplies vape kit parts across the UK, including replacement pods, coils, tanks, and batteries. Each part is stocked to match popular device ranges, with TPD-compliant pods capped at 2ml. Fast UK delivery and secure checkout support adult vapers keeping a kit running without buying a full new device.
