What Is Shortfill E-Liquid? A UK Vaper's Complete Guide

A shortfill (also written short fill) is a large-format, nicotine-free e-liquid sold in a bottle that is intentionally underfilled — leaving empty space at the top for you to add your own nicotine shot (nic shot) to reach your desired strength.

They exist because of UK TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) regulations, which cap nicotine-containing e-liquid at 10ml per bottle and 20mg/ml maximum strength. Shortfills contain 0mg nicotine and are therefore not subject to this cap, allowing manufacturers to sell larger quantities — typically 50ml or 100ml — legally.

Common Shortfill Bottle Formats

The most common format is a 60ml bottle containing 50ml of liquid, with 10ml of space left for a single nicotine shot. Adding one standard 18mg nic shot gives you approximately 3mg final strength.

Adding a 10ml nicotine shot to a 50ml shortfill creates 60ml of e-liquid.

How to Use a Shortfill E-Liquid

1. Remove the nib (the small plastic nozzle) from the top of the shortfill bottle.
2. Pour your nicotine shot(s) directly into the bottle.
3. Snap the nib back on firmly.
4. Place your thumb over the nib and shake vigorously for at least 60 seconds.
5. Leave the bottle to steep for 10–30 minutes before use (optional but recommended — it lets the VG/PG fully combine).

What VG/PG Ratio Do Shortfills Use?

Most shortfills are formulated at 70VG/30PG or 80VG/20PG. This thick, High VG base is designed for sub-ohm tanks, mesh coils and high-powered mod kits — not for small MTL pod kits or starter devices. Putting a High VG shortfill into a tight-draw pod kit will cause flooding, gurgling and fast coil burnout.

If you use an MTL device, a 50/50 standard 10ml e-liquid or nicotine salt is almost certainly the better choice. See our guide on VG vs PG ratios explained for full compatibility guidance.

What Is a Nicotine Shot?

A nicotine shot (nic shot) is a small 10ml bottle of pure, unflavoured liquid containing a concentrated dose of freebase nicotine — typically 18mg/ml or 20mg/ml. It has no colour and no flavour. When added to a shortfill, it dilutes to give your desired final nicotine concentration without affecting the flavour profile meaningfully.

Are Shortfills Legal in the UK?

Yes. Nicotine-free shortfills are fully legal in the UK and do not require MHRA notification because they contain no nicotine. The nicotine shots you add separately are individually regulated as standard 10ml nicotine-containing products. The MHRA oversees UK TPD compliance for nicotine-containing products; their guidance is available at gov.uk.

Who Are Shortfills Best For?

• Sub-ohm vapers who go through large volumes of liquid and want better value per ml.
• Vapers who prefer lower nicotine strengths (3mg or below) — exactly where shortfill + nic shot math lands most naturally.
• Vapers who enjoy flavour variety — shortfills come in a far wider range of complex, multi-note flavour profiles than standard 10ml bottles.

If you are on nicotine salts at 10mg–20mg, shortfills are not suitable. The math does not produce high enough strengths, and the High VG ratio is wrong for your device.