Disposable vs Refillable Vapes: Cost, Flavour and Convenience

Disposable vapes: the pros and cons

Disposables come pre-filled and pre-charged. There is nothing to set up, which is why they are so popular. Many newer models are rechargeable, so you can use every drop of e-liquid.

The downside is cost and waste. You buy a new device each time, and every one contains a battery that should be recycled at a B-cycle drop-off point, not thrown in the bin. Flavour choice is also limited to what is on the shelf. Browse our disposable vapes, including IGET and ALIBARBAR.

Refillable vapes: the pros and cons

A refillable kit uses bottled e-liquid and replaceable coils or pods. It costs more on the first day, but the running cost is usually much lower.

You can choose any flavour and strength, and you throw away far less. The trade-off is a little maintenance: refilling and changing a coil every week or two. Start with our pod vape kits or the wider vape kits range.

Side-by-side comparison

• •Setup: disposables need none; refillable kits take a minute.
• •Running cost: disposables cost more over time; refillable kits cost less.
• •Flavour choice: limited with disposables; almost unlimited with e-liquids.
• •Waste: disposables create more; refillable kits create far less.
• •Best for: disposables suit occasional use; refillable kits suit daily vapers.

Disposable vs refillable vapes: a monthly cost example

Here is a simple example using typical prices in our store. Your own numbers will depend on how much you vape and what you buy.

Say you get through two disposables a week at about $35 each. That is around $280 a month. A pod kit costs about $40 once. After that, a 10ml nic salt at about $20 and a pack of pods or coils at about $15 each week adds up to roughly $140 a month.

In this example the pod kit pays for itself in the first week, then costs about half as much to run.

What about rechargeable disposable vapes?

Many new disposables have a USB-C port. This means the battery no longer runs out before the e-liquid, so you get every puff you paid for. They are still single-use, though: when the e-liquid is gone, you replace the whole device.

Getting started with a refillable vape

• •Choose a simple pod kit such as one from our best pod vape kits list.
• •Pick a nic salt e-liquid in a flavour you already like.
• •Buy a spare pack of pods or coils so you are never caught short.
• •Prime each new coil for five minutes before your first puff.

Which should you choose?

If you vape now and then, or want something simple for travel, a disposable is hard to beat. If you vape every day, a pod kit with nic salts will usually save you money within a few weeks.

Not sure which pod kit to start with? Read our guide to the best pod vape kits.

Frequently asked questions