How to Make 3 mg, 6 mg or 12 mg Using Shortfills
One of the biggest advantages of shortfills is the ability to customise your nicotine strength. Instead of being limited to pre-mixed options, you decide how strong your vape is by adding nicotine shots (nic shots).
But how many shots do you actually need to hit popular strengths like 3 mg, 6 mg, or even 12 mg? This guide explains the maths, provides clear tables, and highlights when shortfills are the right choice—and when 10 ml bottles make more sense.
What Are Nic Shots?
Nicotine shots are 10 ml bottles of flavourless nicotine e-liquid, usually available in the below formats.
They’re designed to mix seamlessly into shortfills, giving you the freedom to choose your strength.
18 mg (Freebase, 50/50 ratio)
– strong throat hit, steady nicotine delivery.
20 mg (Nic Salt, 50/50 ratio)
– smoother inhale, faster nicotine delivery.
18 mg (High VG, 80/20 ratio)
– low/mild throat hit, best for thick 70/30 HVG shortfills.
Nicotine Shot Mixing Chart
Here’s a quick reference chart for the most common nic shot types:
| Shortfill Size | Nic Shot Strength | Shots Added | Final Volume | Final Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ml | 20 mg nic salt | 1 | 110 ml | ~1.8 mg |
| 100 ml | 20 mg nic salt | 2 | 120 ml | ~3.6 mg |
| 100 ml | 18 mg freebase | 1 | 110 ml | ~1.5 mg |
| 100 ml | 18 mg freebase | 2 | 120 ml | ~3 mg |
Worked Examples
How to Make 3 mg
- 100 ml shortfill + 2 nic shots (18 mg) → 120 ml at ~3 mg.
How to Make 6 mg
- Note: 100 ml shortfills don’t have space for enough nic shots to reach 6 mg.
- Some brands offer 50ml shortfills in 75ml bottles, which can be mixed to 6mg by adding 2 x 18mg shots, however, we do not offer this bottle size from our store.
Why 12 mg Is Not Practical in Shortfills
To achieve 12 mg in a 100 ml shortfill, you would need 6 nic shots—but bottles only have room for 1–2. For this strength, 10 ml bottles are the best choice, especially in freebase or nic salts.
Do You Need Multiple Shots for Higher Strengths?
Yes—but only within the capacity the bottle allows:
- 100 ml bottles: Up to 2 freebase shots = 3 mg max.
- 100 ml bottles: Up to 2 nic salt shots = 3.6 mg max.
If you vape at 6 mg or higher, you’ll need 10 ml e-liquids instead.
Commercial Benefits of Shortfill Mixing
Value:
100 ml shortfill + 2 nic shots = ~120 ml at ~3 mg for ~£10
Control:
Tailor your strength to your preference, instead of being locked into pre-mixed strengths.
Flexibility:
Perfect for cutting down nicotine gradually over time
Conclusion
Making 3 mg or even 3.6 mg using shortfills is simple and cost-effective, while 6 - 12 mg are better suited to 10 ml e-liquids. By matching the right nic shots to your shortfill type and device, you’ll get the perfect balance of strength, flavour, and vapour and throat hit.
Ready to mix your own? Explore our Shortfill Collection and pair it with Nic Shots to create your perfect vape strength today.
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