Best Shortfill E-Liquids UK 2026 — The Ultimate Buying Guide
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Shortfill e-liquids are the most cost-effective way to vape in the UK — and with the UK vape excise duty landing in October 2026, more vapers than ever are switching to shortfills to stretch their budget further. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.
What is a shortfill e-liquid?
A shortfill is a bottle of 0mg (nicotine-free) e-liquid sold "short" of its full capacity — for example, 50ml of e-liquid in a 60ml bottle, or 80-90ml in a 100ml bottle. The empty space is there so you can add a 10ml nicotine shot yourself, mixing it to your preferred strength. Because the base liquid contains no nicotine, shortfills aren't subject to the 10ml TPD bottle limit that applies to nic salts — which is exactly why they come in much larger, better-value bottles.
Prefer a side-by-side comparison instead? See our Shortfill vs Nic Salt guide.
60ml vs 100ml shortfills — which size should you buy?
- 60ml shortfills (roughly 50ml fill, room for one 10ml nic shot) — a good mid-size option if you vape moderately or like to rotate flavours often without committing to a huge bottle. Shop 60ml shortfills.
- 100ml shortfills (fill for one or two nic shots depending on brand) — the best value per ml, ideal for daily vapers who get through e-liquid quickly or want to stock up before the October 2026 duty rise. Shop 100ml shortfills.
How to add a nicotine shot
- Choose your nicotine shot strength — usually 18mg per 10ml shot.
- Remove some e-liquid from the shortfill bottle if needed to make room (most shortfills are already filled with the right amount of headspace).
- Pour in one or two nic shots depending on the strength you want.
- Shake well and leave to steep for a few minutes before vaping.
As a rough guide: one 18mg nic shot in a 60ml bottle (50ml fill + 10ml shot) gives roughly 3mg strength; two shots in a 100ml bottle gives roughly 3-4.5mg. If you want a stronger hit than a shortfill can comfortably give you, a nic salt in the 10-20mg range will get you there faster with fewer puffs.
Best shortfill flavour categories to try
- Fruity & iced fruit — the most popular shortfill category, from mixed berries to iced mango and watermelon blends.
- Menthol & ice — cooling, all-day-vapeable flavours that pair well with sub-ohm tanks.
- Dessert & drinks — custards, milkshakes and coffee-inspired shortfills for something sweeter.
- Tobacco — a smaller but loyal category for vapers who want a familiar, classic taste.
Browse the full range across both sizes in our 100ml shortfill collection and 60ml shortfill collection.
Why stock up on shortfills before October 2026
From October 2026, a new UK vape excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml takes effect on e-liquid. Because shortfills are sold in bulk (60ml and 100ml bottles), buying now rather than after the duty lands locks in today's lower prices across a much larger volume of e-liquid than a single 10ml nic salt bottle would. If you vape regularly, this is the single best time this year to stock up.
Shortfill FAQ
Do shortfills expire? E-liquid doesn't spoil dangerously, but flavour can fade over 12-18 months, especially once opened. Buy what you'll realistically get through in that window.
Can I vape a shortfill without adding nicotine? Yes — plenty of vapers use shortfills at 0mg for flavour-only vaping, particularly when winding down nicotine intake.
Are shortfills TPD compliant? Yes — all shortfills sold by Absolute Vape are UK TPD compliant and intended strictly for adult use (18+).
What PG/VG ratio should I choose? Most shortfills are 70VG/30PG, optimised for sub-ohm tanks and bigger vapour production. If you're using a low-powered pod kit instead, a nic salt will usually suit the device better than a shortfill.
Ready to buy? Shop the full range: 100ml Shortfill E-Liquids · 60ml Shortfill E-Liquids. New to vaping altogether? Start with our beginner's guide.
