VG/PG Ratios Explained: What They Mean and Why They Actually Matter

Here's a misconception worth clearing up: many vapers assume VG/PG ratio is just technical jargon that doesn't affect anything meaningful. It does. Getting this wrong is one of the main reasons vapers get a dry, burnt taste in a pod kit or find their clouds disappointingly thin on a sub-ohm setup. Understanding the ratio takes five minutes and makes a real difference to your experience.

What VG and PG Actually Are

Vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) are both food-grade ingredients used extensively in the food and pharmaceutical industries long before vaping existed. VG is thick, slightly sweet, and produces the dense vapour clouds associated with vaping. PG is thin, odourless, and carries flavour more effectively than VG. It also provides the throat hit sensation that makes vaping feel more like smoking.

Every e-liquid combines both in some proportion. The ratio affects cloud density, throat hit strength, flavour intensity, and how well the liquid wicks through your coil. There's no universally correct ratio — the right one depends on your device and what you want from the experience.

50/50 VG/PG: The Balanced Option

A 50/50 ratio produces a balanced vape: moderate vapour production, a reasonably prominent throat hit, and good flavour clarity. It wicks easily through the tight coils used in pod kits and vape pens. If you're using any device with coils above 1 ohm, 50/50 is the correct ratio to use. Nic salt e-liquids are typically formulated at or around 50/50 and share these characteristics.

The 50/50 ratio is also the safest choice for beginners who are unsure — it works in essentially all standard devices and performs well across a broad range of flavour profiles.

High VG (70VG and Above): The Cloud and Sub-Ohm Option

High-VG e-liquids produce significantly more vapour and a smoother, less pronounced throat hit. They're designed for sub-ohm hardware — devices with coils below 1 ohm that run at higher wattages and use wider wicking ports to handle the thicker liquid. If you put a 70VG+ e-liquid in a pod kit designed for 50/50, the thick liquid won't saturate the cotton fast enough. You'll get dry hits, premature coil burnout, and generally disappointing flavour.

High-VG e-liquids are the standard format for shortfill bottles, cloud chasers, and DTL vapers. They can be exceptional for flavour in the right hardware at the right wattage — the dense vapour produced in a well-set-up sub-ohm tank can make flavours rich and intense in a way 50/50 can't.

The Quick Reference Guide

Pod kit or vape pen with coil above 1 ohm: use 50/50 or nic salt. Sub-ohm tank or DTL device with coil below 1 ohm: use 70VG or higher shortfill. Pod mod with coil between 0.5 and 1 ohm: 50/50 to 60VG works — check the device documentation. If in doubt, go with 50/50. It's forgiving enough to work in a broad range of hardware without causing problems.

VaperzHub stocks e-liquids in every ratio across all major categories. If you're not sure which ratio suits your device, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction. Browse the range at vaperzhub.co.uk.