How Much the Vape Tax Could Increase Prices
A clear UK guide to how much the new vape tax will add by format, with worked examples for 2026.
The short answer
Per 10ml. The duty adds about 2.64 pounds per 10ml once VAT is included.
Pods
Least affected, roughly 44 pence per 2ml pod.
Shortfills
Hit hardest, since they hold the most liquid.
How much will the vape tax increase prices?
The new vape tax adds a fixed amount per millilitre, so the price rise depends on how much liquid you buy. The duty is 2.20 pounds per 10ml before VAT, which is about 2.64 pounds with VAT, so a 10ml bottle roughly doubles in price while a 100ml shortfill sees the steepest rise. The format matters most.
It helps to think in terms of volume, since the tax follows millilitres rather than strength. A small pod picks up a little duty, while a large shortfill picks up a lot. This page works through the cost by format, shows some monthly examples and explains how to keep costs down, so you can plan ahead for October 2026.
Let us look at the rate, the cost by format, monthly spend and saving money.
The headline number is easy to remember, since it is the same for every liquid. What varies is the bottle, so two vapers can see very different increases depending purely on the format they prefer.
The cost by format
The same rate applies to everything, so size is what changes. A 2ml pod takes about 44 pence of duty, a 10ml bottle takes 2.20 pounds, a 50ml shortfill takes 11 pounds and a 100ml shortfill takes 22 pounds, all before VAT is added, which is why bigger bottles rise the most.
- 2ml pod: about 44 pence of duty, the smallest increase.
- 10ml bottle: 2.20 pounds of duty, roughly doubling the price.
- 50ml shortfill: 11 pounds of duty before VAT.
- 100ml shortfill: 22 pounds of duty before VAT.
The percentage rise tells the same story. A 10ml nic salt that costs around 4 pounds could rise by roughly two thirds, while a 100ml shortfill can rise by well over a hundred percent once the duty is added, so the bigger the bottle the bigger the jump.
This is the part that catches shortfill fans by surprise, since those large bottles were popular precisely because they offered great value per millilitre. The duty narrows that advantage considerably.
Duty by format at a glance
Duty only, before VAT.
What it means for your monthly spend
The monthly impact depends on how you vape. A nic salt user getting through a few 10ml bottles a week could pay roughly 25 to 30 pounds more a month, while a regular shortfill user could see well over 40 pounds added, before VAT is factored in.
To put it in everyday terms, someone using three 10ml bottles a week, around twelve a month, faces about 26 pounds extra in duty alone, rising to closer to 32 pounds with VAT if the full amount is passed on. A vaper using four 100ml shortfills a month could see about 44 pounds in duty, rising to nearer 53 pounds with VAT. Pod users come off lightest, since a couple of 2ml pods carry only pennies each, so a weekly habit adds up to a few pounds rather than tens. The exact figure depends on how much some brands choose to absorb, though the pattern is clear, which is that liquid volume drives the cost. Even so, vaping is expected to stay cheaper than smoking.
Want to keep costs down?
A refillable pod kit with efficient coils helps your liquid go further. Browse our starter kits or ask the team for advice.
How to save money
There are practical ways to soften the increase. Because the duty is charged per millilitre, using liquid efficiently helps, so a refillable kit with higher-resistance coils stretches each bottle further, while hardware stays untaxed.
The biggest lever is efficiency, since higher-resistance coils tend to use less liquid than high-power sub-ohm setups, which makes a taxed bottle last longer. Choosing a refillable device over prefilled options also helps, since you only pay for the liquid you use rather than a new pod each time. Hardware is not taxed, so a good device is a sensible one-off investment that pays back over time. Some vapers will switch formats, perhaps to smaller bottles or different setups, to manage the change. Whatever you choose, vaping is expected to remain cheaper than smoking, since tobacco duty rose alongside the vape tax to keep that gap. Always check the latest official guidance as the start date approaches.
It is also worth watching how brands respond, since some are developing concentrated formats to soften the shortfill jump. The exact shelf prices will settle once the duty is live and the market adjusts.
- Use efficient coils: higher resistance uses less liquid.
- Go refillable: pay for liquid used, not a new pod each time.
- Hardware untaxed: a good device pays back over time.
- Still cheaper: vaping stays cheaper than smoking.
If you want to dig deeper, see our explainer on the vape tax complete guide. It pairs well with our guide on whether the vape tax applies to nicotine-free products and our look at what the vape tax means for retailers.
For the full set of guides, the UK vaping law hub brings everything together in one place.
The bottom line: the vape tax adds 2.20 pounds per 10ml before VAT, around 2.64 pounds with VAT, so the increase depends on bottle size. A 2ml pod takes about 44 pence, a 10ml bottle takes 2.20 pounds and roughly doubles in price, while a 100ml shortfill takes 22 pounds and rises the most. Monthly costs can climb by tens of pounds for heavy shortfill users. Using a refillable kit efficiently helps, plus vaping is still expected to be cheaper than smoking.
Planning around the duty?
A refillable pod kit with efficient coils helps each bottle of liquid go further once the tax arrives. Our vape starter kits are a simple place to begin, plus the Vape Chaos team are happy to help you pick a cost-effective setup.
Frequently asked questions
How much will the vape tax increase prices?
The duty is 2.20 pounds per 10ml before VAT, around 2.64 pounds with VAT, so the increase depends on bottle size. A 2ml pod takes about 44 pence, a 10ml bottle takes 2.20 pounds and roughly doubles in price, while a 100ml shortfill takes 22 pounds and rises the most. Pod users come off lightest, while heavy shortfill users see the biggest increases by far.
How much will a 10ml bottle cost after the vape tax?
A 10ml bottle takes the full 2.20 pounds of duty, plus VAT, so a bottle currently around 4 pounds could rise to roughly 5 to 6 pounds. That is an increase of around two thirds. The 10ml format remains one of the more predictable and manageable for budgeting, since the duty per bottle is fixed, unlike larger shortfills where the duty scales up with volume.
Why are shortfills hit hardest by the vape tax?
Because the duty is charged per millilitre, so larger bottles carry more of it. A 50ml shortfill takes 11 pounds of duty and a 100ml shortfill takes 22 pounds, both before VAT, so a 100ml bottle that costs around 15 pounds could rise to roughly 37 to 40 pounds. That works out as well over a hundred percent on the liquid cost, which is why shortfill users feel it most.
How much more will vaping cost per month after the tax?
It depends on how you vape. Someone using three 10ml bottles a week, around twelve a month, faces about 26 pounds extra in duty alone, rising to closer to 32 pounds with VAT. A vaper using four 100ml shortfills a month could see about 44 pounds in duty, rising to nearer 53 pounds with VAT. Pod users come off lightest, with only a few pounds added over a month.
How can you reduce the cost of the vape tax?
Use your liquid efficiently, since the duty is charged per millilitre. Higher-resistance coils tend to use less liquid than high-power setups, which makes a taxed bottle last longer, plus a refillable device means you only pay for the liquid you use. Hardware is not taxed, so a good device is a sensible one-off investment. Even with the duty, vaping is expected to stay cheaper than smoking.
