What VG/PG Ratio Should I Use? The Vape Beginner’s Guide to E-Liquid Bases

If you’ve ever bought e-liquid or a disposable vape, you’ve probably seen labels like “70/30 VG/PG” or “60/40” — that’s the ratio of the two main liquid bases inside your e-liquid. Higher VG means thicker vapor and a smoother draw; higher PG means stronger throat hit and sharper flavor. This guide pulls together the science from Vaping360’s industry explainer, the UK NHS’s vaping cessation resources, and Public Health England’s research on e-cigarettes to explain what VG and PG actually do, which ratio matches which device, and whether disposable vape users need to think about this at all (spoiler: not really).

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

Your Device	Recommended Ratio (VG/PG)
Disposable vape	50/50 or 60/40 (Vapsolo lineup uses 60/40)
Pod kit / MTL device	50/50
Sub-ohm tank	70/30
High-wattage mod / RDA	80/20 or Max VG
PG-sensitive users	70/30 or higher VG

What’s Actually in Your E-Liquid?

Vape e-liquid is made up of four ingredients: nicotine (optional), flavoring, PG (propylene glycol), and VG (vegetable glycerin). The last two are the liquid bases, and they determine the core physical experience of your vape — vapor volume, throat hit, flavor intensity, and how thick the liquid feels.

Both are classified by the US FDA as food-grade safe (GRAS), used widely in food, medicine, and cosmetics. The difference is in their physical properties — and how they perform specifically when vaporized and inhaled. It’s worth noting that FDA GRAS status applies primarily to ingestion, while Public Health England’s e-cigarette research remains one of the most authoritative public health analyses of inhalation safety.

 

PG (Propylene Glycol): The Throat Hit and Flavor Carrier

Core characteristics:

• Thinner liquid — flows easily, suits small pods and low-wattage coils
• Strong throat hit — gives a sensation closer to traditional cigarettes
• Carries flavor well — sharper, clearer taste delivery
• Wicks fast — keeps the coil saturated, less risk of dry hits
• Virtually flavorless on its own

Best for: users transitioning from cigarettes, anyone chasing a real throat hit, and flavor-focused vapers.

Worth noting: based on years of community feedback compiled at the E-Cigarette Forum, roughly 5–10% of users have some sensitivity to PG, with symptoms like dry throat, mild headache, or skin reaction. If those show up consistently after vaping, switching to a higher-VG blend (70% or more) usually solves it — or you can reach out to Vapsolo support to confirm the specific ratio of a given product before changing brands.

 

VG (Vegetable Glycerin): The Vapor and Smoothness

Core characteristics:

• Thicker liquid — syrup-like, needs more wattage to vaporize
• Big vapor clouds — denser output per puff than PG
• Smooth draw — gentler on the throat
• Slightly sweet — VG carries a faint natural sweetness that subtly affects flavor
• Plant-derived — typically from palm or soy, often labeled vegan-friendly

Best for: cloud chasers, sub-ohm direct-lung vapers, and PG-sensitive users.

VG/PG Ratio at a Glance

Ratio (VG/PG)	Vapor	Throat Hit	Flavor	Best Device Type
50/50	Medium	Strong	Strong	Pod kits, MTL devices, some disposables, refillable salt-nic juice
60/40	Medium-high	Medium	Medium-strong	Vapsolo disposable vapes (entire lineup), mid-wattage tanks, entry sub-ohm
70/30	High	Medium-low	Medium	Sub-ohm tanks
80/20	Very high	Low	Lower	High-wattage mods, cloud chasers
Max VG (90/10 or 100% VG)	Maximum	Minimal	Lower	RDAs, PG-sensitive users

How to Match the Ratio to Your Device

Disposable Vapes (the Vapsolo Range)

You don’t need to choose. Disposable vapes ship pre-blended at one of two industry-standard ratios: 50/50 or 60/40, each tuned for the device’s MTL draw and coil resistance. Vapsolo’s entire lineup ships at 60/40 — a deliberate choice by Vapsolo’s flavor team after balancing throat hit, vapor density, flavor clarity, and salt-nic load. The result: stable, consistent flavor delivery from the first puff to the last, across every model.

If you’d rather skip the research and just have a vape that works straight out of the box, here’s where most users start:

• Entry-level: Vapsolo Super 15000
• Mainstream daily-driver: Vapsolo Super Pro 30000
• Multi-flavor explorers: Vapsolo Quads 80000 4-in-1
• Flagship: Vapsolo Sixer 180K 6-in-1

Every model is pre-blended at 60/40 — browse the Vapsolo full product range to find the one that fits your routine.

MTL Pod Kits and Refillable Pods

50/50 is the standard. These devices typically run coils between 0.8–1.5Ω and need PG’s faster wicking to keep up — high-VG juice tends to flood or starve the coil.

Sub-Ohm Tanks

70/30 is the sweet spot. Sub-ohm coils (under 1.0Ω) need more VG to produce the cloud volume the device is designed for, while keeping 30% PG for some throat hit and flavor clarity.

High-Wattage Mods and RDAs

80/20 or higher VG. Cloud-chasing setups push vapor production above all else, and PG becomes a minor part of the mix.

Why Nicotine Salts Use 50/50 or 60/40

Nicotine salts are the dominant nicotine format in international markets (including every Vapsolo disposable). Salt nic stays smooth even at high concentrations like 50 mg/ml — but it needs PG to vaporize quickly enough. That’s why salt-nic e-liquid lands in a tight range: 50/50 for refillable salt-nic juice in pod systems, and 60/40 for pre-filled disposable devices like the Vapsolo lineup.

The Scientific Consensus on Vaping

Beyond ratio choice, many readers also ask about overall vaping safety.

• Public Health England’s 2018 comprehensive review concluded that vaping is around 95% less harmful than smoking — that remains the UK public health agency’s official position
• The Cochrane 2024 systematic review evaluated e-cigarette efficacy for smoking cessation — current evidence is rated at high certainty
• The UK NHS officially lists vaping as a recommended smoking cessation tool

These findings don’t directly affect your VG/PG ratio choice, but they explain why PG and VG are widely accepted as legitimate inhalation bases by the public health community.

FAQ

Is VG or PG safer?

Both are classified by the FDA as food-grade safe (GRAS), used widely in food, medicine, and cosmetics. From a safety standpoint they’re roughly equivalent. The main variable is individual sensitivity — a small subset of users react to PG, and very few react to VG.

What if I’m sensitive to PG?

Switch to 70%+ VG e-liquid (available for refillable tanks and pod systems). If you’re using disposables and noticing irritation, confirm the specific product’s blend before deciding to switch brands or move to a sub-ohm high-VG setup.

Can I find the VG/PG ratio of my disposable vape?

Some brands print it on the product page or box, others don’t. The industry standard range for pre-filled disposables is 50/50 or 60/40 — if the manufacturer doesn’t specify, those are the safe assumptions. Vapsolo’s entire lineup uses 60/40.

Is 100% VG e-liquid healthier?

Not necessarily. “Max VG” is mainly for cloud chasers or PG-sensitive users — it’s not inherently safer. Both ingredients are food-grade.

Does changing the VG/PG ratio change the nicotine strength?

No. VG/PG ratio and nicotine strength (mg/ml) are independent. But higher-VG juice produces a softer throat hit, which can subjectively feel like “less nicotine” even though the dose is identical.

Is vaping safer than smoking traditional cigarettes?

According to Public Health England’s review and Cochrane’s systematic review, vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. That doesn’t mean “completely harmless” — non-smokers are still advised against starting.

Final Thoughts

VG/PG ratio isn’t about which is “better” — it’s about matching your device and habits:

• Want big clouds with a high-wattage device? → high VG (70/30 or more)
• Want strong throat hit with an MTL device? → 50/50
• Sensitive to PG? → go high-VG
• Using a disposable vape? → 50/50 or 60/40 is already pre-blended for you (the Vapsolo lineup uses 60/40)

If you’d rather skip the research entirely, the Vapsolo lineup ships pre-blended at 60/40 across every device — open the box and vape, no calculations required.

Sources

1. Vaping360, “VG vs PG Explained”
2. NHS, “Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking”
3. Public Health England, “E-cigarettes and vaping research”
4. Cochrane Library, “E-cigarettes for smoking cessation review”
5. FDA, “GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) classification”
6. E-Cigarette Forum community knowledge base
7. Vapsolo full product range