Understanding PG/VG Ratios and What They Mean for You

If you've ever picked up a bottle of e-liquid and noticed a number like 50/50 or 70/30 on the label, that's the PG/VG ratio. It's one of the most important things on the bottle, and one of the least explained. Get it right and everything works as it should. Get it wrong and you could end up with a burnt coil, a leaking tank, or a vape that feels nothing like what you expected. This guide explains what PG and VG are, how the ratio affects your experience, and which one you should be using.

What is PG in vaping?

PG stands for Propylene Glycol; a thin, odourless, colourless synthetic liquid that's been used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics for decades. You'll find it in everything from asthma inhalers to food colouring. In e-liquid it does two main jobs: carrying flavour and producing throat hit. Because it's thin and largely tasteless, it suspends flavour concentrates effectively, which is why high-PG liquids tend to taste sharper and more defined. It also produces the scratchy sensation at the back of the throat that closely mimics smoking, which for many switchers is the difference between finding vaping satisfying or not.

PG wicks quickly into a coil, making it well suited to lower-powered devices, and it produces relatively little visible vapour. A small number of vapers are sensitive to it, which can show up as mild throat irritation or dry mouth. If that sounds familiar, a higher-VG liquid is worth trying before writing vaping off entirely.

What is VG in vape juice?

VG stands for Vegetable Glycerin, a naturally derived compound from plant-based oils, most commonly palm or coconut. Understanding what is VG in vape terms is straightforward: it's the thick, mildly sweet base that produces vapour. It's non-toxic and widely used in food and cosmetics. In e-liquid, it's primarily responsible for vapour production. Because it's significantly thicker than PG, it produces much denser clouds when heated, making it the base of choice for sub-ohm vaping and anyone chasing bigger clouds. The trade-off is a weaker flavour carry and a smoother, softer throat hit.

That thickness also matters when it comes to device compatibility. High-VG liquids are too viscous to wick effectively in low-powered pod kits and MTL devices. Put one in a device designed for 50/50 and you'll get dry hits, clogged coils, and a coil that gives up long before it should.

PG vs VG: a quick comparison

What does the PG/VG ratio mean?

The ratio tells you the proportion of each base liquid in the bottle. A 50/50 e-liquid is half PG and half VG. A 70 VG 30 PG liquid is 70% VG and 30% PG. The PG/VG ratio (or VG/PG ratio, depending on the label) is often the most overlooked detail on the bottle, and one of the most useful.

More PG means sharper flavour, stronger throat hit, less vapour, and wider device compatibility. More VG means smoother hit, denser clouds, softer flavour, and a need for a device powerful enough to wick it properly. Everything else follows from that.

Common PG/VG ratios and what they mean

50/50 (50% VG, 50% PG)

The most versatile ratio and the right choice for most pod kits, MTL starter kits, and low-powered refillable systems. It balances flavour, throat hit, and vapour production, without demanding a powerful device. Nicotine salts are almost universally formulated at 50/50. If you're new to vaping, start here.

70/30 (70% VG, 30% PG)

Where things shift toward sub-ohm territory. More vapour, softer throat hit, flavour still reasonably well defined. Works well in mid-powered devices running above 20W. Not suitable for pod kits; the thicker liquid won't wick reliably and dry hits will follow.

80/20 and higher

Designed for sub-ohm vaping and cloud production. The throat hit is very smooth, vapour is dense, and flavour leans sweeter. These liquids need a powerful device with wide-bore, low-resistance coils to function properly. Most shortfills are formulated here, which is why they don't work in pod kits.

100% VG

The smoothest possible inhale with maximum cloud production, but so thick that most devices struggle to wick it. Flavour suffers at this end of the spectrum and there's no throat hit at all. Unless you have a specific reason for it, 100% VG is rarely the most practical choice.

How PG/VG affects flavour

PG suspends flavour concentrates without interfering with them, which is why high-PG liquids taste crisper and more accurate. VG has a natural mild sweetness that can make fruity or dessert flavours taste richer, but it blunts sharper profiles like menthol or citrus. A 70/30 VG-heavy liquid of the same flavour will typically taste softer and sweeter than its 50/50 version.

For vapers who care most about flavour accuracy, staying closer to 50/50 will almost always give the most defined result.

How PG/VG affects nicotine delivery

PG delivers nicotine faster and with more of a physical hit, which is why higher-PG liquids feel more immediate and closer to a cigarette. It's part of why nicotine salts at 50/50 work so well for switchers: efficient delivery without the harshness of high-strength freebase. Higher-VG liquids deliver nicotine more slowly and smoothly, which suits vapers who've already made the switch and are focused on the experience, rather than the cravings.

Which PG/VG ratio should I use?

It comes down to your device and what you want from the vape. Here's a quick reference:

Browse the nic salt e-liquid and shortfill e-liquid ranges at Vapourcore.

Can you use high VG e-liquid in a pod kit?

Short answer: no. Most pod kits and MTL devices are built for 50/50, and a high-VG shortfill or sub-ohm liquid won't wick fast enough through the coil. The result is dry hits, a burnt taste, and a coil that dies early.

The easiest check is coil resistance. Below 1.0 ohm means a sub-ohm device that'll handle high-VG liquids fine. At 1.0 ohm or above, stick to 50/50 or nic salts.

Does the PG/VG ratio affect coil life?

More than most people realise. VG is thicker than PG, and thicker liquids put more strain on coils in low-powered devices. Use a high-VG liquid in an MTL device and the liquid sits on the coil surface rather than absorbing evenly, leading to hot spots and premature burning. Go too far the other way, very high-PG in a sub-ohm device, and you risk flooding the coil, causing leaking and gurgling.

Is PG or VG safer?

Both are food-grade compounds considered safe for inhalation, and neither is an oil, so neither can cause lipoid pneumonia. The long-term effects of inhaling either are still being studied, as vaping is relatively new, but the existing evidence doesn't suggest a significant risk at the concentrations used in e-liquid.

PG sensitivity is the one thing worth knowing about. A small number of vapers experience throat irritation or dryness from high-PG liquids, which typically clears up when switching to higher-VG options. If you're finding vaping persistently irritating, the PG content is worth looking at before assuming it's vaping in general.