How to Make Your Own Vape Juice: A Simple DIY E-Liquid Guide (UK 2026)
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Making your own vape juice sounds technical, but it's really just measuring and mixing. You need three things: a flavour concentrate, a PG/VG base and, if you want nicotine, a nic shot. Get the amounts right and you can make a big batch of your favourite flavour for a lot less than buying ready-made bottles.
Here's everything you need to know, with the maths done for you.
What you need
- A flavour concentrate. This is the flavouring. It's strong, unsweetened and nicotine-free, and you never vape it on its own. Our DIY flavour concentrates come in 160 flavours and sizes from 30ml to 5 litres.
- A PG/VG base. This makes up most of your juice. VG gives thicker clouds, PG carries flavour and throat hit. See our VG/PG base mix.
- Nic shots (optional). 10ml shots, usually 18mg. Skip them for 0mg juice.
- Empty bottles. Bottles with ml markings make measuring easy. Try our empty DIY bottles.
- Gloves and a clean surface. Concentrate and nicotine shouldn't touch your skin.
How much flavour concentrate to use
Most one shot concentrates are made to be mixed at 15 to 20% of your final bottle. Strong flavours like menthol, ice and some sweets work better at 8 to 12%, or they can overpower the mix.
| Batch size | Concentrate at 15% | Concentrate at 20% |
|---|---|---|
| 60ml | 9ml | 12ml |
| 100ml | 15ml | 20ml |
| 250ml | 37.5ml | 50ml |
| 1 litre | 150ml | 200ml |
A simple recipe: 100ml at 3mg
This is the most popular DIY mix for sub-ohm vaping.
- Add 20ml of flavour concentrate to an empty 120ml bottle.
- Add 17ml of 18mg nic shot (just under two 10ml shots). Leave this out for 0mg.
- Top up with 63ml of PG/VG base so you have 100ml in total.
- Put the lid on and shake hard for a minute.
- Leave it to steep for a few days, shaking once a day. Fruit and menthol flavours are often ready in 1 to 3 days. Custards and desserts get better after about a week.
Want a different size or strength? Our free DIY e-liquid calculator works out the exact ml for any batch.
Which concentrate size should you buy?
| Size | Price | Makes roughly | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30ml | £5.99 | 150 to 200ml | Trying a new flavour |
| 60ml | £7.99 | 300 to 400ml | Your first proper batch |
| 250ml | £11.99 | 1.25 to 1.7 litres | Regular mixers |
| 500ml | £19.99 | 2.5 to 3.3 litres | Big batches |
| 1 litre | £34.99 | 5 to 6.7 litres | Lowest cost per ml |
At 20%, a litre of concentrate works out at about 70p of flavouring per 100ml of finished juice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Vaping the concentrate neat. Never do this. It must be diluted in a base first.
- Too much flavour. More isn't always better. Above 20% many flavours taste harsh or soapy.
- Skipping the shake. Nicotine and flavour need a proper mix, or your first tank will be harsh and the last will be weak.
- The wrong ratio for your kit. High-VG mixes can flood small MTL pods. For pod kits, 50/50 is safer.
FAQs
Is making your own vape juice cheaper?
Usually, yes. Once you have a base and a large bottle of concentrate, each 100ml costs much less than a ready-made shortfill, especially with the 500ml and 1 litre sizes.
How long does DIY e-liquid need to steep?
Most fruit and menthol mixes are good after 1 to 3 days. Creamy and dessert flavours improve for up to a week.
Can I make 0mg vape juice?
Yes. Just leave out the nic shots and replace them with the same amount of base.
What PG/VG ratio should I use?
70VG/30PG suits sub-ohm tanks and big clouds. 50/50 suits most pod kits and mouth-to-lung devices.
Ready to start? Browse all 160 DIY flavour concentrates and use the calculator to plan your first batch.