Nicotine strength calculator
Nicotine strength calculator: mg/mL to percentage
Vape nicotine strength is written two ways, and they mean the same thing. 1% equals 10 mg/mL, so 5% is 50 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL is 2%. To convert a percentage to mg/mL, multiply by 10. To go the other way, divide by 10. Type either number below and the other updates.
Result
50 mg/mL = 5%
A percentage here is weight by volume: 1% means 1 gram of nicotine per 100 mL, which is 10 mg per mL.
Common vape strengths, both ways
| Percentage | mg/mL | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0.3% | 3 mg/mL | Light freebase, low dependence |
| 0.6% | 6 mg/mL | Common freebase step-down level |
| 1.2% | 12 mg/mL | Moderate freebase |
| 1.8% | 18 mg/mL | Higher freebase |
| 2% | 20 mg/mL | UK and EU legal maximum |
| 3.5% | 35 mg/mL | Mid nicotine-salt |
| 5% | 50 mg/mL | High nic-salt, common US disposable |
What the strength tells you when you're quitting
Strength matters for a taper. If you're stepping down gradually rather than stopping at once, knowing your exact mg/mL lets you move to the next level down in real, measured steps instead of guessing. A jump from 50 mg/mL straight to 20 mg/mL is a big drop; smaller steps are usually easier to hold. Higher strengths also tend to mean a stronger physical dependence, which shows up as more intense cravings in the first few days.
Freebase vs nicotine salt
The same mg/mL can feel different depending on the type. Nicotine salt (common in disposables and pods) is smoother at high strengths, which is why 50 mg/mL salts are usable while 50 mg/mL freebase would be harsh. The conversion math is identical; the throat feel is not.
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Launching August 15, 2026Common questions
What is 5% nicotine in mg/mL?
5% nicotine is 50 mg/mL. The percentage is a weight-by-volume measure, and 1% equals 10 mg/mL, so you multiply the percentage by 10 to get mg/mL. A 5% disposable therefore contains 50 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre of liquid.
How do you convert mg/mL to a nicotine percentage?
Divide the mg/mL figure by 10. So 20 mg/mL is 2%, 10 mg/mL is 1%, and 3 mg/mL is 0.3%. To go the other way, multiply the percentage by 10 to get mg/mL.
Is 5% nicotine a lot?
Yes, 5% (50 mg/mL) is a high strength, common in nicotine-salt disposables sold in the US. For comparison, the legal maximum in the UK and EU is 20 mg/mL (2%). Higher strength means more nicotine per puff and, generally, a stronger dependence to work through when quitting.
Related: more free quit tools · quit vaping timeline. General information, not medical advice.