How many packs of cigarettes are in a vape?

The art of vaping is fast becoming a popular culture among tobacco and non-tobacco users, but how many smokers know the difference between the number of puffs in a pack of cigarettes and a vape? Cigarettes and vaping have something in common. Vape devices produce vapor, the same as tobacco cigarettes. So, what is the difference in puff level? Do both products have the same puff level? How many packs of cigarettes would you have to consume to get the equivalent of one vape? Keep reading to find out.

How much nicotine is in a cigarette?

There are different types of cigarette brands in the world. Aside from having other branding concepts and designs, cigarette companies also have dissimilarities in the level of nicotine content in their products. If you are new to smoking or you have been smoking for a while, you should know the nicotine quantity of the cigarette you are smoking. On average, most cigarette brands contain 11.9 to 14mg of nicotine.

The nicotine level seems high, but the beauty is that in the process of smoking, the bulk of the nicotine in a cigarette doesn't get into the lungs of the smoker. The highest level of nicotine a smoker can inhale is usually between 1.15mg and 2mg from a single stick of cigarette. Of course, this depends a lot on several factors including how each individual’s body absorbs the chemical and how the tobacco burns.

So, let’s break down the maths. If you smoke as much as 20 cigarettes a day, that means you’ll be absorbing about 40mg of nicotine. Comparing this to vape, you may not be ingesting this much nicotine. Therefore, this gives you a fairly decent idea of how much nicotine goes into your body. However, it’s easier to tell how much nicotine you’re getting with each vape as it has a set amount in its content. It can vary significantly for cigarettes.

What are the factors that affect nicotine intake in a cigarette?

The content of nicotine used by the cigarette manufacturer

It’s no secret that some brands include more nicotine in their cigarettes than others. Of course, this doesn’t seem healthy despite the fact that we know users won’t inhale all. Still, it’s best to check how much nicotine is in your cigarette before purchasing.

The user pattern and the level of puffs taken by the smoker

A smoker that takes more puffs on each stick of cigarette is going to inhale more nicotine than a smoker that puffs less. It’s not rocket science. The more puffs you take, the more your chances of taking in nicotine.

How much nicotine is in a vape?

Some vape products contain nicotine, while some don't. However, the popular brands among vape products contain nicotine. A 2015 survey on vape usage shows that 99% of vape products sold contained nicotine. There is no standard on the level of nicotine in each vape product. As stated earlier, some vape products don't contain nicotine at all. The nicotine content in vapes usually varies from 0-87.2 milligrams per millimeter.

Aside from their differences in nicotine levels, another distinctive factor between vapes and tobacco power cigarettes is that lithium batteries power vapes. It also has a cartridge where its e-liquid is stored and an atomizer that heats the liquid to create an aerosol. The level of nicotine intake varies based on the vape design and also on the technique and experience of the vape user.

What is the vape puff level compared to a traditional cigarette?

A standard vape e-liquid bottle holds 1 ml of juice, which is equivalent to 100 puffs. Comparing this to traditional cigarettes, 100 puffs from 1 ml of e-juice is equivalent to 10 cigarette sticks. If we extend this to vaping and smoking comparison, then the puff quantity of 2ml of vape juice is equal to the puff numbers from smoking one pack of cigarettes.

What is the equivalence between a pack of cigarettes and a vape?

There are different brands of tobacco-powered cigarettes across various markets around the globe. Products A and B can be classified as cigarettes, but they may not have the same price or the same number of cigarettes sticks per pack. In the U.S., a standard pack of cigarettes always has 20 cigarette sticks, while in Ireland, you may get a pack of cigarettes with thirty sticks. This same lack of universal standards also applies to vape devices. Some vapes are designed to have 200 puffs, while some have higher numbers. Depending on the brand, some vapes have a nicotine strength of 0, 20, or 40 mg of nicotine.

The common standard on liquid quantity and nicotine strength is usually between 2ml containing 0, 20, or 40mg nicotine, and at this level, the vape usually has between 600 and 800 puffs. In a typical situation, a 20mg/ml vape with a nicotine strength of 40mg is equivalent to smoking one or two packs of cigarettes. To put this simply:

25mg/ml and 3.5ml of vape juice = 87.5mg of nicotine. This equals three packs of cigarettes.
50mg/ml and 3.5ml of vape juice = 175mg of nicotine. This is equivalent to six packs of cigarettes.

Therefore, if you puff a cigarette stick about ten times, a disposable vape that delivers 800 puffs will be equivalent to four packs of cigarettes.

Vape puff level compared to a traditional cigarette

Factors affecting the comparison between packs of cigarettes and vapes

Beyond the standard comparison between packs of cigarette and vape products, other factors also influence the outcomes:

Vaping habits

There are millions of people in the world that are into vaping. Despite being the latest trend in the world of smoking, it is important to note vaping behavior varies among vapers. The time spent during vaping sessions and the amount of nicotine intake among people who are vaping are not the same. Since users of vape products and cigarettes may not have the same smoking behavior, then it is certain that their attitudinal differences will affect the comparison between vapes and traditional cigarettes.

Smoking history of users

Vaping is believed to be the perfect escape route for those who want to quit smoking. If you’re addicted to smoking, vaping can help you get through this phase smoother. Those who have been smoking for a long period have a history of high intake of nicotine. So, when they transition into using vape products, their history with tobacco-powered nicotine is not going be the same as smokers with no experience with using traditional cigarettes.

Device design

Other than the product makeup itself, another crucial factor is the mechanism and the delivery system. The delivery system for traditional cigarettes is different from that of vape products, and that is a major factor. The nicotine intake and vapor outcome are largely influenced by the device design. Before drawing a parallel comparison between the nicotine level of a vape and a traditional cigarette, the first task is knowing the vape device type. Each device, especially vape devices, has its unique settings and coil resistance, and these two factors play a vital role in the nicotine absorption rate and vapor production.

Tips for a good nicotine hit

There are so many variables when it comes to getting the right nicotine hit especially for those making the initial switch to vaping. Most disposables with nicotine sales offer 20mg and there are those with lower strengths for lighter smokers. However, the key to ensuring a great nicotine hit while vaping is to take long and slaw drags on your disposable vape. This will be soothing to the body.

Of course, there’s always a higher chance that you will vape more than you used to smoke as the nicotine absorption is slower. If you’re still not feeling satisfied, what you may need is a disposable vape with higher strength, preferably one with a refillable tank kit. Yes, it’s tough to quit smoking but with vaping, you have a much safer alternative to get you through it.

Conclusion

Traditional cigarettes and vapes have something in common in the area of producing vapor. However, unlike traditional cigarettes, not all vape products have nicotine content. It is possible to measure puff level and nicotine content between both products. Beyond both product's traditional standards and measurements, other factors may influence the measurement. Factors include health condition, device type, and smoking attitude of users of the products. So, your journey to a great nicotine hit starts with your choice of vape.

You can check out some high-quality vape products on UPENDS, including the one-of-a-kind Switch Mini, which is designed to meet the needs of vapers worldwide. The Switch Mini comes in tons of flavors, including the Cool Grape, which is both soothing and doesn’t compromise the maximum throat hit you need. Through this disposable vape, you can replicate the satisfaction of smoking a cigarette, and it feels way better. Of course, you don’t have to worry about detachable pods, as this vape has an in-built pod with e-liquid that delivers at least 500 puffs.