What Is The Best VG/PG Ratio For your E-Liquid?
Since it arrived in the UK circa 2007, vaping has become one of the most popular alternatives to smoking cigarettes. This is thanks to the fact that e-cigarettes share many properties with traditional cigarettes, including satisfying nicotine cravings and oral fixation through hand-to-mouth action (no jokes please 😉).
The success of your vaping journey will depend upon you choosing the right e-liquid for your taste and lifestyle. If you are a newer arrival in the world of vaping however you have no doubt scratched your head over all the talk of 50-50 this, and 70-30 that - what does it all mean?
These seemingly arbitrary numbers actually decribe an e-liquid's PG/VG ratio - in this blog we delve into the science behind e-liquid ratios, explaining what they mean and how you can choose the best PG/VG ratio to deliver the most pleasurable vaping experience for your needs.
Table of Contents
What Is An E-Liquid? - What Is The Difference Between PG & VG In E-Liquid?
- What Is The Best PG/VG Ratio For Your E-Liquid?
- What Are The Most Popular PG/VG Ratios For E-Liquid?
- The Best PG/VG Ratios For Different Vape Kits & Vape Coils
What Is E-Liquid?
E-liquid, also called vape liquid or vape juice, is the substance we vaporise in e-cigarettes to deliver the nicotine containing vapour we then inhale to satisfy our cravings. They come in a variety of different formats, with varying properties suited to different vaping styles. If you have chosen vaping as an alternative to smoking as part of a quit attempt, pairing the right e-liquid with the right vape device is a key step in ensuring you are starting your journey properly.
Different types of e-liquid are created by carefully blending specific amounts of 4 key ingredients to deliver differing experiences, intended to suit different user preferences. Ultimately however e-liquid is intended as a less harmful method of nicotine consumption, whether it is used as a permanent alternative to cigarettes, or as part of a longer quitting journey culminating in a nicotine free lifestyle.
What Is The Difference Between PG & VG In E-Liquid?
E-liquid typically contains four primary ingredients: PG, VG, nicotine & flavouring. PG stands for Propylene Glycol, VG stands for Vegetable Glycerol - both are flavourless and mostly tasteless clear liquids that are common bases used to make a huge variety of products from medicines to foods!
Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerol (VG), have very different properties. The amount of either ingredient used in an e-liquid recipe can determine the type of e-liquid produced, and even influence the maximum nicotine level available and the type of device you need to vape it properly.
Most e-liquids use a balanced combination of VG and PG, as VG is not an effective carrier agent for flavouring and nicotine by itself, menaing a mix that has too much VG can be unstable.
What Is PG In E-Liquid?
- Propylene glycol is a clear, tasteless and colourless base material used in many common products, including inhalers. It’s a popular choice for e-liquids because it is a very effective carrier for flavourings and nicotine - that means it helps things mix together properly when we blend our e-liquids. PG is thinner in consistency than VG and produces far less vapour when heated.
Is PG Safe To Consume?
- PG is completely safe for human consumption. Several international standards agencies have attested to the safety of PG, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Food Standards Agency (FSA) of the United Kingdom has also approved the use of PG, and it is commonly found as a food additive. Propylene glycol has been recognised as safe for oral, dermal, and inhalation administration by the European CLP.
- There have been no documented health problems associated with breathing PG vapour. However, due to its hygroscopic (moisture absorbing) nature, new vapers may feel throat and mouth dryness. It should also be noted that certain people are extremely sensitive to propylene glycol, with research indicating that prolonged contact can cause respiratory discomfort.
If you are sensitive to PG, the best VG/PG ratio for you will tend towards higher percentages of VG. In fact, you may find 100% VG a better vaping experience in such cases. In conclusion, PG is safe for human consumption unless you are allergic to it, in which case it will typically present with identifiable symptoms.
What Is VG In E-Liquid?
- Vegetable glycerol is a clear, slightly sweet and colourless base material that is used in a massive range of products, from food to hand sanitiser. VG is perfect for e-liquids as it helps to create bigger and bolder flavours. It is very thick in consistency and can produce huge vape clouds.
- Almost every e-liquid will contain both PG and VG, with differing amounts used by different products depending on their individual recipes. Finding the best VG/PG ratio will depend on various factors, including the availability of products and the vaping experience you want to enjoy.
- When choosing your desired e-liquid, you’ll most likely be deciding between two typical camps – those with a balanced or higher volume of propylene glycol (PG) or those with a higher volume of vegetable glycerine (VG).
Is VG Safe To Consume?
- According to the WHO, FSA (UK) and the FDA (USA), VG is completely safe for human consumption, even at high concentrations. The UK's FSA has authorised VG as a food ingredient, and the European CLP standard defines it as 'not hazardous or poisonous for dermal, oral, or inhalation routes of administration'.
- Research on the toxicity of inhaling aerosolised glycerol concluded in 2008 that VG has no significant health impact. People who are allergic to plant oils, on the other hand, should avoid using e-juice as VG is plant-derived, often from rapeseed.
What Is PG E-Liquid?
- Balanced or PG-heavy e-liquids, often referred to as 50-50 e-liquids (because they contain a balanced PG/VG ratio), offer the broadest range of nicotine strengths (0mg-20mg) and tend to be thinner in consistency, much like PG itself.
- While these e-liquids produce less vapour than those with a higher volume of VG, they still offer an excellent flavour experience thanks to PG’s properties as a carrier agent. Therefore, for some vapers, the best PG/VG ratio for flavour will be perfectly balanced between the two ingredients.
What Is VG E-Liquid?
- E-liquids that have a higher ratio of VG in their recipe are most commonly referred to as High-VG or simply ‘HVG’ e-liquids. The most common ratios for these products is 70% VG to 30% PG or 80%VG to 20% PG; however, our LiQuid HVG range is blended to 70% VG to deliver big clouds and a smooth hit while having enough PG to ensure they remain stable and don't split!
- Because they have a lower available % of PG in their recipes, HVG liquids tend to only be available in lower nicotine strengths like 3mg or 6mg at most. This is partly down to manufacturing restrictions and VG being a poor carrier agent, but primarily due to the massive amount of vapour produced; inhaling so much at a higher strength like 18mg would be quite unpleasant for the user!
What Is The Best PG/VG Ratio For Your E-Liquid?
When choosing the right VG/PG ratio for you, it can be helpful to experiment with different products until you find the best option. It’s all down to personal preference, but here are a few things to consider when making your choice:
The Best PG/VG Ratio For Flavour
An important factor when choosing your e-liquid preference is flavour delivery, so you should pick the best PG/VG ratio to deliver the level of flavour you want.
This can differ hugely from person to person. Both 50-50 and HVG e-liquids can offer a strong flavour if the products are high quality, but you can expect a bolder experience from 70-30s owing largely to the extra vapour they produce, which allows more flavour to pass over the tongue.
Modern vape flavours like our Bar Salt range of nic salts are an exception to the above however. Being inspired by the intense flavours of disposable vapes, they contain double-concentrated flavourings which deliver a seriously bold taste.
The Best PG/VG Ratio For Throat Hit
Every vaper is looking for a different type of throat hit, depending on the type of vaping experience they want. Those who are using their vape kit for the first time as a replacement for cigarettes will probably want that slightly harsh ‘back of the throat’ hit - similar to what you’ll get when smoking.
If this is the case, you’ll want to go for a higher nicotine strength 50-50 or PG-heavy e-liquid. Of course, you will still get a ‘hit’ from the high-VG variant, it’s just a little softer and smoother – ideal for the ‘cloud chasers’ and those vaping for fun.
A vape juice with a greater VG content results in a smoother throat hit because of the sticky and oily quality of VG, and many vapers prefer this.
Cranking up your vape kit power settings can also increase throat hit, however it is critical to remember the power level (wattage or voltage) at which your coils are built to operate so you do not destroy them by operating with too much power!
The Best PG/VG Ratio For Vapour
The best route to take if you’re a cloud chaser trying to achieve bigger vape clouds on exhalation is to make sure you aim for a high-VG e-liquid.
The higher the VG content, the bigger and better the clouds. Here at LiQuid, we also make high-VG nicotine free e-liquids in our short fill range for those looking to limit their intake but still enjoy a bold vaping experience with plenty of vapour.
You can also achieve a bigger cloud with lower VG e-liquids by tweaking your devices power and airflow settings, but this can be a little complicated for beginner vapers.
The Best PG/VG Ratio For Discretion
If you're out and about in public, high PG 50-50 e-liquids will deliver the best VG/PG ratio to keep your vaping inconspicuous. Higher PG/VG ratio vapes are ideal for low-key vapers who like to stay hidden, even when they vape at their favourite hangout! However, regardless of how much or little of an attention seeker you are, keep in mind that it is unlawful to use e-cigarettes in some public spaces or indoors without first obtaining permission from the property owner.
A high VG juice is ideal for vapers who want large, thick clouds of vapour. A VG/PG ratio of around 80:20 or 70:30 will provide massive volumes of thick clouds. However, a high concentration of VG is not suited for all types of e-cigarettes since it can easily clog the wick or coil, and cause the device to malfunction. Sub-ohm vaping is designed for high VG concentrations.
What Are The Most Popular PG/VG Ratios For E-Liquid?
When it comes to e-liquids, the PG/VG ratio may make or break the product. E-liquid contains a variety of substances, including flavourings, nicotine, and PG and VG in variable amounts. Nicotine typically combines best when it is dissolved in a mixture of one or both fluids.
Flavours also play a key part in making your vaping experience pleasurable; PG delivers more of the flavour through the vapour clouds. Different brands have different approaches to finding the answer to the question, “What’s the best PG/VG ratio?”.
The best ratio always depends on the end result they wish to create for users.While there may be many possible combinations, the most common ratios you are likely to encounter are:
50-50 E-Liquid
This is the most common ratio used, ideal for beginner and intermediate vape kits with atomiser resistance levels between 1.0 ohms and 2.0 ohms.
It supports the widest range of nicotine strengths including both freebase and nic salt variants.
70-30 E-Liquid
Designed for use with atomisers rated below 1.0 ohms. This is a common HVG blend formed to produce more vapour when sub-ohm vaping.
Due to the increased VG content, there is less room in the mix for nicotine in PG, meaning they are only available in 0mg, 3mg and 6mg.
80-20 E-Liquid
Funcitons in the same way as 70-30 e-liquids, ideal for sub-ohm vaping using advanced vape kits rated below 0.8ohms.
While a little thicker and producing more vapour than 70-30 HVG, 80-20 can suffer from instability due to VG being a poor carrier of flavour - leading to splitting.
The Best PG/VG Ratios For Different Vape Kits & Vape Coils
Different vape kits are better suited to different e-liquids and when first starting out it is important to pair them well to improve your satisfaction. There is a lot of crossover, with some kits offering multiple coil options that mean they can cater to multiple types of vape juice, but the below is a good baseline to work from as a new user.
The type of vaping device you own will have a significant impact on the best PG/VG ratio to use. Because PG vaporises at low temperatures, e-liquids with high PG concentrations perform best with low wattage devices.
VG, on the other hand, is a viscous liquid that absorbs into the wick slowly. It is also prone to generating blockages or jams in 50-50 coils. As a result, high VG concentrations work best with high wattage or sub-ohm vapes.
PG vaporises faster than VG and also absorbs more quickly into the wick. This is why you're less likely to get a nasty-tasting "dry puff" while using PG e-liquid, although it can still happen if your vape coil isn't fully primed with liquid before vaping or for other reasons.
If you can't wait a few seconds between puffs, high VG isn't for you. Because it has a higher viscosity, it takes longer to reach and absorb into the wick than PG.
To address the issue of VG soaking into a wick slowly, high-VG atomisers and sub-ohm tanks include wider portholes for quicker absorption. This delivers a nice vaping experience without the dry hits that certain VG fluids may provide in more basic kits.
You can learn even more about vape kits in our full guide here.
Why Buy Your E-Liquids From LiQuid's Online Vape Shop?
Quality, Safety, Price - these are the three best reasons to choose the LiQuid brand as our trusted vape supplier, whether you are looking for vape juice or indeed any vaping product.
We have been proudly serving hundreds of thousands of customers every month for ten years, selling millions of bottles of e-liquid and constantly evolving our ranges through extensive testing, R&D and customer feedback. When you buy a bottle of e-liquid from LiQuid, you get the benefit of a decade of industry expertise, dedication to quality, and a commitment to low prices. You simply won't find a higher quality e-liquid for less in the UK.
We have developed an end-to-end manufacturing process that gives us unmatched control over the quality of our raw ingredients and e-liquid blending. This is combined with our full scope of laboratory testing that allows us to ensure the strictest standards are upheld at every stage of production to guarantee your satisfaction.
Beyond our promise of quality and value, becoming a member of the LiQuid community gives you acces to unique benefits as a vaper, including our subscription service and LiQuid loyalty point scheme to help you get even more from your vaping journey.
Written By Oliver Norman
Our resident vaping expert with 9 years of industry experience. Ollie has worked in a massive range of roles over the years; from bottling on the shop floor to mixing e-liquid in the cleanroom, heading up Tech Ops and flavour development in the lab and beyond; Ollie has been with LiQuid for nearly a decade and now heads up our content marketing team making sure our customers get the best quality information to make informed choices on their vaping journeys.
He is a one-stop-shop of vaping knowledge from scientific technical info to current vaping trends, vape juice to vape kits and all points in-between - he's keen to share it all with you, from one vaper to another! As an avid user of nic salt e-liquids for several years, Ollie has compiled this guide to help other vapers learn everything they need to know to get the most from a nic salt vaping experience!
