VG/PG Ratios Explained

If you’re just starting out with DIY e-liquids or vaping in general, one of the first things you’ll notice on vape bottles, e-liquid recipes and product pages is the VG/PG ratio. At first, it might look like a bunch of numbers (50/50, 70/30, 80/20), but this simple ratio plays a huge role in how your vape tastes, feels and even how long your coils will last.

What Is VG and PG?

Before we dive into the ratios, let’s get to know the two main ingredients that make up the base of every e-liquid: VG (Vegetable Glycerin) and PG (Propylene Glycol).

VG (Vegetable Glycerin)

VG is thick, slightly sweet and known for producing big vapour clouds. It gives you a soft, smooth inhale and is a favourite among cloud chasers and vapours who enjoy vaping high wattage devices and low resistance coils also known as Sub Ohm Vaping.

PG (Propylene Glycol)

PG is much thinner and doesn’t have much of a taste. What it does do brilliantly is carry flavour. It also gives a more noticeable throat hit similar to that familiar feeling of smoking. High PG levels are fantatic for Mouth-to-lung vaping and delivering a strong flavour profile.

So, What’s with the Ratios?

When you combine VG and PG, you’re deciding how your e-liquid performs. This can be from vapour production, to how intense the flavour is, even how your device wicks and how long your coils survive. Not forgetting which vaping device is best suited for you.

Let’s go through the most common ratios and what they mean for your vape.

50VG / 50PG – The Balanced All-Rounder

A 50/50 blend is exactly that, half VG, half PG. It’s the perfect middle ground and a popular choice for Mouth-To-Lung (MTL) vapers who prefer a draw similar to smoking.

Because it’s thinner than High VG blends, it works beautifully with higher resistance coils and smaller pod systems or MTL tanks.

Manufacturers sometimes tweak the balance slightly to suit certain flavours, offering ratios like 60VG/40PG or 40VG/60PG to fine-tune the vaping experience.

• Throat Hit: Present, but not overpowering — can vary with nicotine strength.

• Vapour: Modest, but satisfying.

• Best For: Beginners, pod kits, MTL vapes.

• Coil Friendly? Absolutely. Thinner liquid means easier wicking and less chance of gunking up coils.

70VG / 30PG – The Cloud Chaser’s Favourite

This blend leans more towards VG, so it’s all about smooth inhales and thick clouds. Flavours still shine, especially dessert and cream-based ones, but you’ll need a device that can handle it. We recommend using sub-ohm tanks, powerful mods and lower-ohm coils.

Because you’re using more power, you’ll go through your e-liquid faster, so most High VG juices come in 50ml or 100ml shortfill bottles to give you more for your money!

• Throat Hit: Softer than 50/50.

• Clouds: Dense and impressive.

• Best For: Direct-to-lung (DTL) vapers and sub-ohm kits.

• Coil Friendly? It depends — VG is thicker, so you’ll need coils with big wicking holes. Sweeter flavours can also wear coils out faster.

Max VG – When Clouds Are Life

If you’re into huge, potential competition-level clouds, Max VG is your jam. This usually means 80% VG or more or rarely sometimes with no PG at all. The result? Super smooth hits and room-filling vapour, but at the cost of throat hit and, sometimes, flavour clarity.

• Throat Hit: Extremely smooth, almost none.

• Clouds: Massive.

• Best For: Advanced vapers using high-wattage setups or building their own coils.

• Coil Friendly? Only if your setup is built for it. Max VG needs serious wicking capability to avoid dry hits.

How VG/PG Ratios Affect Flavour and Coil Life

VG/PG choice can seriously impact flavour delivery and how long your coils stay happy.

Higher PG = Stronger Flavour + Sharper Throat Hit

PG is excellent at carrying flavour. If you’re into fruits, mints, or stronger nicotine levels, you’ll notice that PG-based liquids bring out a sharper, more intense taste.
Bonus: PG is thin, so it wicks quickly and is generally easier on coils.

Higher VG = Smooth Inhale + Richer, Warmer Flavours

High VG gives a warmer, fuller flavour, especially when used at higher wattages. But be warned — it’s thicker, which means slower wicking. If your coil can’t keep up, dry hits can happen.

From experience, coils tend to last a bit longer with higher PG e-liquids but it also depends on the sweetness of your flavour. Dessert vapes, even in PG-heavy mixes, can still gunk up a coil if they’re super sweet.

If you are looking VG PG options for your DIY mixing, click here