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Vape Vape Guides · Part 4 of 4
Ready-made e-liquid, longfill or shortfill: differences, mixing, costs
You vape a ready-made e-liquid straight from the 10 ml bottle. A longfill is just the flavouring: 10 to 20 ml in a 60 or 120 ml bottle that you top up with base and nicotine shots. A shortfill is already mixed and nicotine-free, and the bottle has room left for one or two shots.
In this article10 chapters
- Ready-made e-liquid, longfill and shortfill compared
- Ready-made e-liquid: unscrew and fill
- Longfill: flavouring that you top up yourself
- Mixing a longfill: how it works
- Steeping time: when does the longfill taste right?
- Shortfill: ready mixed, just without nicotine
- What does a millilitre cost?
- Which e-liquid suits you?
- Bottles in pictures
- Frequently asked questions
Ready-made e-liquid, longfill and shortfill compared
All three end up as e-liquid in the tank or pod. The difference is how much you do yourself.
| Feature | Ready-made e-liquid | Longfill | Shortfill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle | 10 ml | 60 or 120 ml, containing 10 to 20 ml of flavouring | For example 50 ml of e-liquid in a 60 ml bottle |
| Nicotine | Already in it, no more than 20 mg/ml, also nicotine-free | Via shots, freely selectable | Nicotine-free, with one shot about 3 mg/ml |
| What you do | Unscrew, fill | Top up with base and shots, shake | Add shot, shake |
| Steeping time | None | One day to several weeks | None |
| VG/PG | Depends on the e-liquid, often 50/50 | You choose the base | Usually 70/30 or more VG |
| Suits | Pod system, MTL, nicotine salt | All devices, depending on the base | Sub-ohm, DL |
Ready-made e-liquid: unscrew and fill
Ready-made e-liquid can be vaped straight away. In Germany, e-liquid containing nicotine may only be sold in bottles of up to 10 ml and may contain no more than 20 mg/ml. For pod systems and the mouth-to-lung puff (MTL), nicotine salt is standard, usually at 10 or 20 mg/ml. The SC nicotine salt e-liquid is available in both strengths, Pod Salt Core at 11 and 20 mg/ml. More on nicotine salt in small pods is in the article Elfliq nicotine salt.
Longfill: flavouring that you top up yourself
A longfill is highly concentrated flavouring in a large bottle. You never vape it neat; base is always added and, if you want nicotine, nicotine shots. How much flavouring is in it is printed on the label. With the SC Red Line Longfill it is 10 ml in a 60 ml bottle, with the 5EL Longfill 10 ml in 120 ml, with the Dr. Frost Longfill 14 ml in 60 ml. The full selection is under Longfills.
Mixing a longfill: how it works
For a longfill you need just three things: the longfill bottle, a nicotine-free base and, if you want nicotine, nicotine shots with 20 mg/ml. Shots and base should have the same VG/PG ratio. For pod systems and MTL you use 50/50, for sub-ohm and DL 70/30 VG.
- Read the label: how much flavouring is in it, how big is the bottle?
- Pour in the shots first, then top up with base to the shoulder of the bottle.
- Close the cap and shake vigorously for one to two minutes.
- Write the date and nicotine strength on the bottle.
- Store it in the dark and let it steep before you fill the tank.
| Longfill | Shots | Base | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ml flavouring in 60 ml | 1 shot (10 ml) | 40 ml | about 3.3 mg/ml |
| 10 ml flavouring in 60 ml | 2 shots (20 ml) | 30 ml | about 6.7 mg/ml |
| 10 ml flavouring in 60 ml | 3 shots (30 ml) | 20 ml | 10 mg/ml |
| 10 ml flavouring in 120 ml | 2 shots (20 ml) | 90 ml | about 3.3 mg/ml |
| 10 ml flavouring in 120 ml | 4 shots (40 ml) | 70 ml | about 6.7 mg/ml |
The calculation behind it: number of shots times 200 mg of nicotine, divided by the millilitres in the full bottle. You cannot get much above 16 mg/ml in the 60 ml bottle, even without base. The e-liquid calculator works out other bottles and strengths for you. The Overvape base is available in 50/50 and 30/70, the Overvape nicotine shots from 3 to 20 mg/ml.
Steeping time: when does the longfill taste right?
Freshly mixed, a longfill often tastes flat; the flavouring needs time. Fruit and ice flavours are ready after one to three days, drinks after two to five days. Dessert, cream and tobacco need longer, often a week or more. If a steeping time is printed on the bottle, that applies: Dr. Frost, for example, states two to three days. To steep, you store the bottle in the dark.
Shortfill: ready mixed, just without nicotine
A shortfill is a complete, nicotine-free e-liquid in a bottle that is not quite full, for example 50 ml in 60 ml. A nicotine shot fits into the free gap: with a 20 mg/ml shot you reach about 3.3 mg/ml. Shot in, shake, vape – the scene calls this shake & vape. Shortfills usually have 70 per cent VG or more and are intended for sub-ohm tanks and the direct-to-lung puff (DL). In small MTL pods, such a thick e-liquid can wick poorly and burn.
What does a millilitre cost?
In Germany, tobacco tax is charged on e-liquid, and since 2026 it has been 0.32 euros per millilitre. The law does not tie this to nicotine. With a longfill you add up flavouring, base and shots. Per finished millilitre this is usually somewhat cheaper than the 10 ml bottle, but the gap is smaller than often thought, because base and shots cost money too. The real advantage: you mix 60 or 120 ml in one go, set the nicotine strength yourself and have fewer empty little bottles.
Which e-liquid suits you?
If you vape a pod system with nicotine salt, for example after switching from the disposable vape, stay with ready-made e-liquid. You cannot reach 20 mg/ml with shots, and you change flavour without mixing. If you vape a lot, have fixed favourite flavours and manage with 3 to 10 mg/ml, a longfill is worthwhile. With a 50/50 base this also works in a pod. For big clouds on a sub-ohm tank you use a longfill with a 70/30 base, or a shortfill.
Which type of puff you vape is covered in the article MTL, RDL or DL. If you would rather plug in ready-made pods than use bottles, Prefilled or refillable helps. You can find all bottles under E-liquids.
Ready-made e-liquid
Pod Salt Core Mango Ice: 10 ml of nicotine salt, ready to vape straight away.
Longfill 10 in 60
10 ml of flavouring in the 60 ml bottle, topped up with base and shots.
Overdosed
High-dose flavouring: 10 ml in a 60 ml bottle.
Base 30/70
Lots of VG for dense vapour on a sub-ohm tank.
If you are still looking for a device to go with your e-liquid, the vape advisor for refillable devices helps you choose by budget. You check whether your e-liquid suits the pod or atomiser in question on the product page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I vape a longfill neat?
No. The flavouring is highly concentrated and is always topped up with base, with or without nicotine shots.
How many nicotine shots go into a 60 ml longfill?
With 10 ml of flavouring, one shot with 20 mg/ml plus 40 ml of base gives about 3.3 mg/ml, and two shots plus 30 ml of base about 6.7 mg/ml.
How long does a longfill need to steep?
Fruit and ice flavours one to three days, dessert and tobacco often a week or more. If a steeping time is printed on the bottle, that applies.
What is the difference between longfill and shortfill?
A longfill contains only flavouring, and you top it up with base and shots. A shortfill is already finished, nicotine-free e-liquid, and you just add shots.
Why is e-liquid with nicotine only available in 10 ml bottles?
The law allows no more than 10 ml per bottle and no more than 20 mg/ml for e-liquid containing nicotine. Larger bottles are therefore nicotine-free.
Which base should I use for a pod system?
50/50. E-liquid with a lot of VG wicks poorly in small pods and can burn.
About the author
Philip
Vape veteran
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