Quick Answer! DTL/DL vaping works best with high-VG e-liquids, typically 70VG/30PG or 80VG/20PG, paired with lower nicotine strengths (≈1.5–6 mg freebase). Thicker blends work best with higher wattage. This offers smoother vapor, bigger clouds, and less throat harshness.
All our products are for sale to adults aged 18+ only and require age-verified checkout. We sell UK stock that is fully TPD/UKCA compliant. Not sure which DTL juice to choose? Use our DTL Picker below.
DTL Picker Table - Find Your Perfect Match
| Your Setup | Recommended Ratio | Nicotine Type & Strength | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Open DTL (0.15–0.25Ω mesh, 60–80W, wide airflow) |
70/30–80/20 VG/PG | 1.5–3mg freebase | Thick clouds, smooth at power, suits large wicking ports |
|
Restricted DTL (RDL) (0.25–0.4Ω, 35–55W, tighter draw) |
60/40–70/30 VG/PG | 3–6mg freebase | Better wicking at cooler watts, balanced throat hit |
Explore our collections to find the perfect match for your DTL setup. We offer DTL 70/30 shortfills, RDL 60/40–70/30 blends, and cloud-chaser 80/20 options. If you're looking to extend your coil life, check out our popular low-sweetener blends.
Why High-VG E-Liquid for DTL/DL Vaping?
VG (vegetable glycerin) and PG (propylene glycol) are the two base ingredients in every e-liquid. The ratio between them dramatically affects your vaping experience. VG produces thicker vapour, smoother draws, and less throat hit, while PG carries more flavour but is harsher at high wattage.
DTL devices use sub-ohm coils (≤0.5Ω) with large wicking ports that handle viscous high-VG juice without dry hits. The high VG ratios (70/30, 80/20) deliver better cloud production and reduced throat harshness at power ranges of 60-80W and above. This makes them ideal for direct-lung vaping, where you're inhaling large volumes of vapour.
High-VG (70/30–80/20) Pros
- Smoother vapour at high wattage
- Dense cloud production
- Less throat irritation for sensitive vapers
- Works perfectly with sub-ohm mesh coils
High-VG Cons
- Slower wicking in small coils (not for MTL)
- Slightly muted flavour vs balanced ratios
- Can cause dry hits if power is too high for wicking rate or if coil is under-primed
- Thicker liquid requires proper priming
DTL vs RDL vs MTL - Quick Comparison
Understanding the difference between vaping styles helps you choose the right e-liquid. DTL (direct-to-lung) features open airflow, sub-ohm coils, and high power. RDL (restricted DTL) offers a tighter draw with moderate power. MTL (mouth-to-lung) mimics traditional smoking with tight draw, low power, and 50/50 juice.
| Vaping Style | Airflow | Coil Resistance | Wattage | Best Ratio | Nicotine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTL (Open) | Wide open | 0.15–0.25Ω | 60–80W | 70/30–80/20 | 1.5–3mg freebase |
| RDL (Restricted DTL) | Partially restricted | 0.25–0.4Ω | 35–55W | 60/40–70/30 | 3–6mg freebase |
| MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) | Tight | 0.8–1.2Ω | 10–20W | 50/50 | 6–20mg (incl. salts) |
Best E-Liquid for Your DTL Goal
Choose your juice based on what matters most to you: clouds, flavour, or coil life. Each priority requires slightly different settings and juice characteristics.
Best for Cloud Production
- Ratio: 80/20 VG/PG (maximum VG)
- Nicotine: 1.5–3mg freebase
- Sweetener: Low to moderate
- Flavours: Bold fruits, creamy desserts
- Power: 70–90W, fully open airflow
Best for Flavour Retention
- Ratio: 70/30 VG/PG (balanced)
- Nicotine: 3mg freebase
- Sweetener: Moderate
- Flavours: Bright fruits, menthol, citrus
- Power: 50–70W, partially open airflow
Best for Coil Life
- Ratio: 70/30 VG/PG
- Nicotine: 3mg freebase
- Sweetener: Low or zero
- Flavours: Natural fruits, menthol
- Why: Less coil gunk = 7–14 days vs 3–5 days
💡 Coil-Saver Tip: High-sweetener desserts can gunk coils in as little as 2–3 days (at approximately 70W). Low-sweetener blends often last a week or more. Look for "low-sweetener" or "no added sucralose" labels to extend coil life.
DTL Nicotine Guide - Freebase vs Salts, Strength Chart
Freebase nicotine is the standard choice for DTL vaping. It delivers smoother throat hit at low strengths (1.5–6mg) and allows better control over nicotine delivery. Because DTL produces more vapor, you absorb more nicotine per puff. Therefore, you need lower strengths compared to MTL vaping.
You should only use Nic salts for DTL at very low strengths (≤10mg) in restricted DTL/RDL setups. Avoid high-mg salts in open DTL devices. The combination of high nicotine concentration and large vapour volume can be overwhelming and too harsh on your throat.
DTL Nicotine Strength Chart
| Your Previous Habit | DTL Setup | Recommended Strength | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy smoker (20+ cigs/day) switching to DTL | Open DTL | 6mg freebase | Freebase |
| Moderate smoker (10–20 cigs/day) | Open DTL | 3mg freebase | Freebase |
| Light smoker or existing DTL user | Open DTL | 1.5mg freebase | Freebase |
| MTL switcher trying RDL | Restricted DTL | 6mg freebase or 10mg salts | Either |
DTL Shortfills & Nic Shots - How to Mix
Shortfills are large-format zero-nicotine e-liquids. They typically come in 50 ml bottles with 60 ml capacity, and manufacturers sell them as UK TPD-compliant. They allow you to purchase larger quantities of e-liquid while staying within UK regulations. You then add nic shots (10 ml bottles of 18 mg/ml TPD-compliant freebase nicotine) to reach your desired strength.
Quick Mix Chart
| Bottle Size | Target Strength | Nic Shots to Add (18 mg) | Final Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ml shortfill | 3 mg | 1 × 10 ml nic shot | 60 ml (3 mg) |
| 50 ml shortfill | ≈5 mg | 2 × 10 ml nic shots | 70 ml (≈5.1 mg) |
| 100 ml shortfill | 3 mg | 2 × 10 ml nic shots | 120 ml (3 mg) |
💡 Mixing Tip: Achieving exactly 6 mg from a 50 ml shortfill with standard 18 mg nic shots isn't feasible due to bottle capacity. For higher nicotine in DTL (typically 6 mg), consider purchasing 10 ml bottles or using the ≈5 mg option above, which works well for most DTL users.
Explore our collections to find the perfect match for your DTL setup. We offer DTL 70/30 shortfills, RDL 60/40–70/30 blends, and cloud-chaser 80/20 options. If you're looking to extend your coil life, check out our popular low-sweetener blends.
DTL Troubleshooting - Common Issues & Fixes
Wrong juice viscosity or device settings can cause dry hits, leaks, or spitback. Here's how to diagnose and fix the most common DTL problems.
Dry Hits in DTL
Cause: VG too thick for coil wicking ports OR wattage too high for the coil rating.
Fix:
- Drop from 80/20 to 70/30 VG/PG for better wicking
- Reduce wattage by 5–10W
- Prime coil properly (add 5 drops directly on cotton before first fire)
- Wait 5–10 minutes after filling tank for full saturation
Leaking / Flooding in DTL Tanks
Cause: Juice too thin for your setup OR over-primed coil OR condensation buildup OR damaged seals.
Fix:
- Use 70/30 minimum for open DTL (60–80 W+); 60/40–70/30 works for RDL (35–55 W)
- Avoid using 60/40 in wide-open airflow DTL setups, as it may be too thin and cause flooding.
- Don't over-saturate wicking ports when priming
- Keep tank upright when not in use
- Check O-rings and seals for damage
Spitback & Popping
Cause: Too much liquid on coil OR wattage too low.
Fix:
- Fire device at low watt (without inhaling) to burn off excess liquid
- Increase wattage slightly
- Use flick method (gently flick tank downward over tissue)
Muted Flavour
Cause: VG too high (80/20) OR coil saturated with sweetener gunk OR wattage too low.
Fix:
- Switch to 70/30 for better flavour carry, it often balances flavour intensity and cloud density better than 80/20
- Replace coil if gunked (brown cotton visible through wicking ports)
- Increase wattage to flavour sweet spot (usually mid-range of coil rating)
- Try a different flavour profile (fruits and menthols typically carry better than creams)
E-Liquid Viscosity Chart for DTL
Understanding how different VG/PG ratios perform helps you choose the right juice for your setup and priorities.
| VG/PG Ratio | Wicking Speed | Cloud Density | Flavour | Coil Life | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50/50 | Fast | Thin | Strong | Long | MTL pods |
| 60/40 | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | RDL (low-watt DTL) |
| 70/30 | Slow | Thick | Balanced | Moderate | DTL baseline |
| 80/20 | Very slow | Dense | Mild | Short (if sweet) | Cloud-chasing DTL |
Micro-Evidence: How We Test DTL E-Liquids
We base our recommendations on real-world testing, not just theory. Here's what we measured:
Wick-Through Time Test
We tested 70/30 vs 60/40 VG/PG on identical cotton wicks at room temperature (20°C) to measure saturation speed.
Result: 60/40 saturated in approximately 8 seconds; 70/30 took approximately 14 seconds. This confirms thicker juice requires more time to wick, which is why proper priming is essential for high-VG e-liquids.
20 ml Coil Gunk Diary
We tested a high-sweetener dessert flavour (70/30) against a low-sweetener fruit blend (70/30) at 65 W over 20 ml consumption.
- Result: The high-sweetener coil showed visible brown gunk at 12 ml; the low-sweetener coil stayed relatively clean through 20 ml.
- Internal Test Result: Low-sweetener 70/30 e-liquids typically extend coil life by approximately 60%. High-sweetener blends at 65W resulted in shorter coil life. Low-sweetener blends extended coil life. On average, coils lasted 11 days before flavour started to degrade. High-sweetener blends showed flavour degradation after only 7 days.
Note: Coil life varies by power setting, puff frequency, sweetener content, and individual usage patterns. These are typical ranges based on moderate daily use.
Device & Coil Matching Guide
Pairing your coil resistance and wattage to the right juice prevents dry hits, leaks, and burnt taste. Here are specific recommendations for popular coil types:
| Popular Coil Type | Resistance | Wattage Range | Recommended Ratio | Nic Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large mesh | 0.2 Ω | 60–70 W | 70/30 | 3 mg freebase |
| High-power mesh | 0.15 Ω | 60–80 W | 70/30–80/20 | 3 mg freebase |
| Very high-power mesh | 0.1–0.15 Ω | 75–90 W | 80/20 | 1.5–3 mg freebase |
| Moderate mesh | 0.2 Ω | 50–65 W | 70/30 | 3–6 mg freebase |
| Round wire RDL coils | 0.3–0.4 Ω | 35–45 W | 60/40–70/30 | 6 mg or ≈5 mg freebase |
| Higher-resistance DTL | 0.5 Ω | 40–50 W | 60/40–70/30 | 6 mg or ≈5 mg freebase |
Explore our collections to find the perfect match for your DTL setup. We offer DTL 70/30 shortfills, RDL 60/40–70/30 blends, and cloud-chaser 80/20 options. If you're looking to extend your coil life, check out our popular low-sweetener blends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What VG/PG ratio is best for DTL vaping?
70/30 VG/PG is the baseline recommendation for most DTL setups. Use 80/20 for maximum cloud production with wide-open airflow, or 60/40–70/30 for restricted DTL (RDL) at lower wattages (35–55 W).
Can I use nic salts for DTL vaping?
While low-strength nic salts (≤10 mg) can work in restricted DTL (RDL) setups at moderate power, vapers prefer freebase nicotine (3–6 mg) for open DTL vaping. High-mg nic salts in open DTL devices deliver too much nicotine too quickly and can be harsh on your throat due to the large vapour volume.
Is 60/40 e-liquid OK for DTL?
Yes, 60/40 works well for restricted DTL (RDL) at 35–55 W with partially restricted airflow. However, for open DTL above 60 W with wide airflow, stick to 70/30 or 80/20 to avoid thin clouds, harsh throat hit, and potential flooding issues.
What nicotine strength for 0.2 Ω coil at 70 W?
3 mg freebase is typical for open DTL at 70 W and 0.2 Ω. If you need more throat hit or are a heavier smoker transitioning to DTL, 6 mg or ≈5 mg freebase can work but may feel harsher. Start with 3 mg and adjust based on your satisfaction.
Why does my DTL coil gunk up so fast?
High-sweetener e-liquids cause rapid coil gunk. This is especially true for dessert and custard flavors. Caramelised sweeteners like sucralose cause the gunk. Switch to low-sweetener or no-added-sweetener blends to extend coil life by 50–100%. Natural fruit and menthol flavours typically produce less gunk.
How do I mix shortfill e-liquid to 3 mg?
Add 1 × 10 ml 18 mg nic shot to a 50 ml shortfill bottle for approximately 3 mg final strength (60 ml total). For 100 ml shortfills, add 2 × 10 ml 18 mg nic shots for 3 mg (120 ml total). Shake well and let steep for 10–15 minutes before vaping. All products are UK TPD Compliant and UKCA Certified. We offer age-verified, secure payments and next-day UK delivery.
Ready to Find Your Perfect DTL E-Liquid?
Explore our collections to find the perfect match for your DTL setup. We offer DTL 70/30 shortfills, RDL 60/40–70/30 blends, and cloud-chaser 80/20 options. If you're looking to extend your coil life, check out our popular low-sweetener blends.
