The short answer: most disposable vapes sold in the US contain 5% nicotine (50 mg/ml) in nicotine salt form. But "5%" doesn't tell you much on its own — the total nicotine in a device depends on how much e-liquid it holds. A 16 ml device at 5% contains 800 mg of nicotine. A 25 ml device at the same concentration contains 1,250 mg. Below is a complete breakdown across every major brand and device type, with the math laid out so you know exactly what you're working with.
The Formula: How to Calculate Total Nicotine
Nicotine Strength (mg/ml) × E-Liquid Volume (ml) = Total Nicotine (mg)
Example: 50 mg/ml × 16 ml = 800 mg total nicotine
Every device label shows nicotine concentration as either a percentage (5%) or in mg/ml (50 mg/ml). These mean the same thing: 5% = 50 mg per milliliter of e-liquid. What varies between devices is the e-liquid capacity, which determines total nicotine content.
Nicotine Content by Brand and Device
Here's how the numbers break down across the disposable vapes we carry. All devices below use nicotine salt at 5% (50 mg/ml) unless noted otherwise.
| Brand / Device | E-Liquid | Nicotine Strength | Total Nicotine | Puffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geek Bar Pulse 15K | 16 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 800 mg | 15,000 |
| Geek Bar Pulse X 25K | 25 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 1,250 mg | 25,000 |
| Geek Bar CLR 50K | 16 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 800 mg | 50,000 |
| RAZ DC25000 | 16 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 800 mg | 25,000 |
| RAZ TN9000 | 12 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 600 mg | 9,000 |
| Lost Mary MO20000 Pro | 18 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 900 mg | 20,000 |
| Foger Switch Pro 30K | 10 ml/pod | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 500 mg/pod | 10,000/pod |
| Lost Angel Mate 50K | 18 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 900 mg | 50,000 |
| NEXA Ultra 50K | 20 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 1,000 mg | 50,000 |
| Off Stamp SW16000 | 13 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 650 mg | 16,000 |
| Flum Float | 8 ml | 5% (50 mg/ml) | 400 mg | 3,000 |
The range across devices is significant: from 400 mg (Flum Float) to 1,250 mg (Geek Bar Pulse X 25K). That's a 3× difference in total nicotine between the smallest and largest devices on the market — same 5% concentration, different e-liquid volume.
What Does 5% Nicotine Actually Mean?
5% nicotine means 50 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter of e-liquid. In the US market, this is the standard strength for disposable vapes. Nearly every brand — Geek Bar, RAZ, Foger, Lost Mary, and others — sells their primary lineup at 5%.
For context:
| Nicotine Strength | mg/ml | Typical Use | Available From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0 mg/ml | No nicotine — flavor only | Select Geek Bar, RAZ, Lost Mary models |
| 2% | 20 mg/ml | EU legal maximum. Not common in US market. | Some EU-market devices |
| 3% | 30 mg/ml | Lower-strength option for lighter users | Some RAZ, Lost Mary models |
| 5% | 50 mg/ml | US standard. Closest to cigarette satisfaction. | All major US brands |
All devices at 5% use nicotine salts (not freebase nicotine). Nicotine salt has a lower pH, which means it delivers high concentrations without the harsh throat hit you'd get from freebase nicotine at the same strength. This is why 50 mg/ml feels smooth in a disposable vape but would be unbearable in a sub-ohm mod using freebase liquid.
How Much Nicotine Per Puff?
This is where the numbers get less precise. Each puff delivers roughly 0.05 to 0.15 mg of nicotine, depending on puff duration, device power, and coil type. A rough calculation:
Rough Per-Puff Estimate:
Total Nicotine ÷ Puff Count = Approximate Nicotine Per Puff
800 mg ÷ 15,000 puffs = ~0.053 mg/puff (Geek Bar Pulse 15K)
1,250 mg ÷ 25,000 puffs = ~0.050 mg/puff (Geek Bar Pulse X 25K)
In practice, nicotine delivery per puff varies more than these averages suggest. Longer draws, higher-power modes (like Pulse Mode on Geek Bar devices), and dual mesh coils all increase the nicotine delivered per puff. The puff count on packaging assumes short, consistent draws — real-world usage tends to deliver more nicotine per puff but fewer total puffs.
Vape Nicotine vs. Cigarettes: The Comparison
The most common question. Here's the data — but with an important caveat first.
| Metric | One Cigarette | Geek Bar Pulse 15K | RAZ DC25000 | Geek Bar Pulse X 25K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nicotine (content) | ~12 mg | 800 mg | 800 mg | 1,250 mg |
| Nicotine delivered to bloodstream | ~1–1.8 mg | Varies by puff | Varies by puff | Varies by puff |
| Puffs per unit | 10–15 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Rough cigarette equivalence (by content) | 1 | ~65 | ~65 | ~100 |
| Rough cigarette equivalence (by puffs) | 1 | ~1,000–1,500 | ~1,600–2,500 | ~1,600–2,500 |
The cigarette-by-content number (dividing total nicotine by ~12 mg per cigarette) suggests one Pulse 15K equals about 65 cigarettes. The cigarette-by-puffs number (dividing puff count by 10–15 puffs per cigarette) suggests closer to 1,000+. The real equivalence falls somewhere between these two extremes, because vapes deliver nicotine less efficiently per individual puff than cigarettes but are used over a much longer period.
The bottom line: a single high-capacity disposable vape contains significantly more total nicotine than a pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes ≈ 240 mg content, 20–36 mg delivered). But the nicotine is consumed gradually over days or weeks, not in a single sitting.
Nicotine-Free (0%) Options
Several brands now offer 0% nicotine versions of their popular devices. These contain the same e-liquid formulation (VG/PG, flavorings) but with zero nicotine.
| Brand | 0% Models Available? | Flavor Selection | Price Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geek Bar | Yes — Pulse 15K, select models | ~5 flavors | $1–2 more |
| RAZ | Yes — select models | Limited | Similar |
| Lost Mary | Yes — select models | Limited | Similar |
| Foger | Not currently | — | — |
0% devices still contain VG, PG, and flavorings — they're not "empty." They deliver the same vapor and flavor experience without nicotine. There's no throat hit (which is caused by nicotine), so draws feel smoother and lighter.
Nicotine Salts vs. Freebase: Why It Matters
Every disposable vape on the US market uses nicotine salts, not freebase nicotine. The difference matters for two reasons:
| Property | Nicotine Salt | Freebase Nicotine |
|---|---|---|
| pH level | Lower (~5.5–6.5) — closer to body's natural pH | Higher (~7.5–8.5) |
| Throat hit at high strength | Smooth — enables 50 mg/ml without harshness | Very harsh — 50 mg/ml would be painful |
| Absorption speed | Fast — mimics cigarette nicotine delivery | Slower |
| Typical strength range | 20–50 mg/ml | 3–18 mg/ml |
| Used in | All disposable vapes, pod systems | Sub-ohm mods, tank systems |
Nicotine salt was the technological shift that made disposable vapes viable. Before salt-based formulations (patented by JUUL Labs around 2015), high-nicotine e-liquids were too harsh for most users. Salts solved the smoothness problem, enabling the compact, high-satisfaction devices that dominate the market today.
How to Manage Your Nicotine Intake
If you're tracking intake, the math is straightforward. A person who takes about 200 puffs per day from a 5% device is consuming roughly 10–30 mg of nicotine daily (absorbed). That's comparable to 10–20 cigarettes depending on puff length and individual absorption.
To reduce intake without stopping entirely:
- Switch from 5% to 3% if your brand offers it — same device, 40% less nicotine.
- Try 0% options for social or idle vaping — keep 5% for when you actually want nicotine.
- Track puffs using your device's counter (most high-capacity disposables display puff count on the LED screen).