Are you looking for an e-liquid that gives you total control over the nicotine strength and vapour potential of your vape juice? Longfills might be the one you are looking for.
This guide explains what longfills are, their main benefits, and how they compare to other e-liquid options.
Longfill Key Takeaways
- You control the nicotine strength (up to the UK’s legal 20mg/ml limit) and VG/PG ratio for a personalised vaping experience.
- Mixing takes just a few minutes and requires only nicotine shots and VG/PG base mix.
- Longfills let you steep your e-liquid for a more developed flavour profile.
What Are Longfill E-Liquids?
A longfill is an oversized bottle containing concentrated e-liquid flavouring. Unlike a shortfill bottle, longfills contain only flavouring, and no pre-mixed base emulsifier.
The bottle is deliberately underfilled, leaving space for you to add nicotine shots and a VG/PG base mix. Once mixed, you have a complete, ready-to-vape e-liquid that you’ve built yourself.
Longfills, like shortfills, emerged as a clever solution to the UK’s TPD rules, which still cap any single nicotine-containing refill container at 10ml and restrict nicotine strength to a maximum of 20mg/ml. By keeping the bottle nicotine-free until you add your own shots, manufacturers can offer you a much larger volume of flavoured base while staying within the legal limit on nicotine-containing liquid.
Since 1 October 2026, the UK’s new Vaping Products Duty (VPD) has also added a flat-rate tax of 22p per ml to all vaping liquid, whether or not it contains nicotine. This applies to longfills, shortfills, and 10ml bottles alike. Moreover, HMRC has confirmed that home-mixing with liquids that haven’t already been taxed is illegal under VPD, even for personal consumption. Mixing duty-paid longfills and duty-paid PG and VG, on the other hand, remains completely fine. Read our full breakdown of the 2026 UK vape tax and VPD for more detail.
What Are the Top 3 Benefits of Using Longfill E-Liquid
Total Nicotine Control
Create the nicotine strength that suits you, up to the UK’s legal limit of 20mg/ml. Whether you need 1.5mg, 3mg, 6mg, or something specific like 4.5mg, you simply adjust the number of nicotine shots. This flexibility helps with gradually reducing nicotine intake.
Custom VG/PG Ratio
Choose your base mix ratio to match your device and preferences. Want thick clouds? Go for 80VG/20PG. Prefer a stronger throat hit? Try 50VG/50PG. The choice is yours.
Superior Flavour Steeping
Mixing from scratch allows flavours to blend and mature properly. Many vapers report that longfills develop deeper, more complex flavour profiles after steeping for a week or two.
How to Use Longfills: A Simple 3-Step Guide
Add Nicotine
Pour your nicotine shots into the longfill bottle. For 3mg strength in a 60ml bottle, add one 18mg nicotine shot. For 6mg, add two shots. Keep in mind that the VG/PG ratio of the nic shots can affect the overall VG/PG content balance of the longfill.
Add Base Mix
Fill the bottle with your chosen VG/PG base, leaving about 5mm space at the top for shaking.
Shake and Steep
Replace the cap, shake vigorously for 60 seconds, then let it sit. Most longfills are ready immediately, but steeping for 3-7 days often improves the flavour. The more nicotine you’ve used, the longer you should leave it to steep so the flavourings can spread across the flavourless nicotine shots.
Longfill vs Shortfill E-Liquid: What’s the Key Difference?
| Feature | Longfill E-Liquid | Shortfill E-Liquid | Ready To Vape 10ml E-Liquid |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You Add | Nicotine Shots + Base Mix | Nicotine Shots Only | Nothing |
| Nicotine Control | Full control (up to 20mg/ml legal limit) | Limited (typically 3mg or 6mg) | Only what’s available for sale |
| VG/PG Customisation | Yes | No (pre-determined ratio) | Zero |
| Complexity | Easy (2 ingredients) | Easiest (1 ingredient) | No Complexity |
Is Longfill E-Liquid Right for You?
- Choose a longfill if: You want the most control over nicotine strength (within the legal 20mg/ml limit) and VG/PG ratio. The extra mixing step takes minimal effort for the flexibility it offers.
- A shortfill is better if: You prefer simpler mixing and are satisfied with standard 3mg or 6mg nicotine strengths.
- Stick to 10ml bottles if: Convenience is your top priority. They’re perfect for trying new flavours or when travelling.
Conclusion
The core benefits of longfill e-liquids boil down to two things: Customisation and Control. For any vaper looking to control every aspect of their vape session, from nicotine strength to VG/PG ratio, longfills remain one of the most flexible choices available.
The mixing process takes minutes to learn, and it puts you fully in charge of what goes into your vape. If you value control and don’t mind the extra mixing step, longfills are worth trying.
