PG Vs. VG Ratios Explained

Your e-liquid has a PG/VG ratio—but what are PG and VG, and what do the different ratios mean? They’re carrier agents that affect cloud production, flavour, and vapour production. Let’s learn more:

Key Takeaways

• E-liquids are made of four ingredients: Nicotine, flavourings, propylene glycol (PG), and vegetable glycerin (VG).

• PG/VG are carriers for flavours and nicotine.

• Propylene glycol produces less vapour and offers a harsher throat hit.

• Vegetable glycerin produces more vapour, but is sweeter and can clog coils.

• Manufacturers use a mix of PG and VG to get the best qualities from both.

• Different devices and different vaping styles benefit from different ratios.

• Experimenting with different ratios is the best way to find the right ratio for you.

PG/VG In E-Liquids

To understand PG/VG ratios, you have to understand the composition of e-liquids. E-liquids are typically composed of four primary ingredients:

• Nicotine (though some e-liquids have no nicotine)

• Flavourings

• Propylene Glycol (PG)

• Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

The purpose of nicotine and flavourings is pretty obvious—PG and VG are where things get interesting. They both act as carrier agents; without them, the nicotine and flavouring would vaporize poorly and could damage the coil in your vape. 

Most vape juice manufacturers use a mix of both PG and VG in their products. Let’s dive deeper into what each chemical does, why they’re used in a mix, and how choosing the right PG/VG ratio enhances your vaping experience:

PG And VG Explained

PG (Propylene Glycol)

Propylene glycol, as the name implies, is a petroleum derivative—and like many petroleum derivatives, it’s used in all kinds of different products. You’ll find PG used as an anticaking agent, stabilizer and a solvent in food, as a moisturizer, and as a carrier agent in pharmaceutical vaporizers.

PG is an odourless, clear, and colourless liquid with a slightly sweet taste. It’s also quite thin; this means it’s readily absorbable by wicks, which helps keep vapes from getting clogged and wicks from getting burned. When vaped, PG produces little vapour and produces a noticeably harsher throat hit. 

VG (Vegetable Glycerin)

Vegetable glycerin is a sugar alcohol derived from vegetable oils. Manufacturers use it to add sweetness to low-fat foods and toothpaste, as an emulsifier to improve the texture of some sauces, and as a thickening agent for some medications.

VG is thick and syrupy; as a sugar alcohol, it has a noticeably sweet taste. VG is responsible for creating the thick clouds that people associate with vaping; because it’s a thicker liquid, however, it can gunk up coils faster than PG. 

PG Vs. VG In Vaping

Most vape manufacturers use a combination of PG and VG in their e-liquids. Both carriers have desirable qualities, but having too much of one or another can create problems. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of each:

Vapers tend to prefer a mix of a good throat hit, good vapour production, and good flavour; that’s why manufacturers mix PG and VG. Manufacturers will often list PG/VG ratios on their products so that vapers know what kind of experience they’re going to get. 

What The PG/VG Ratio Means

The PG/VG ratio is easy to understand: It’s the percentage of propylene glycol to vegetable glycerin in your vape juice. When an e-liquid has a PG/VG ratio of 70/30, it means that 70% of the carrier agent in your juice is PG, while 30% of the carrier agent is VG. 

Want to understand how the PG/VG ratio of your e-liquid will affect your vaping experience? Take a look at this chart:

We put the most common PG/VG ratios in bold; these are the ratios you’ll see in the vast majority of the products on the market, with 50/50 being the most popular. 50/50 offers an excellent balance of flavour, cloud production, and throat hit. 

Which PG/VG Ratio Do You Need?

The PG/VG ratio you’ll want to choose depends on a number of factors, including:

• Whether or not you want to blow thicker clouds

• The type of device that you are using

• How much of a throat hit you want

• Whether or not you’re using sub-ohm coils

• How sharp or sweet you want your flavours to be

Let’s start by taking a look at the most common PG/VG ratios for different devices and coils:

Finding Your Ideal PG/VG Ratio

Finding the right PG/VG ratio is all about trial and error. Want a more satisfying throat hit? Think about getting a higher PG e-liquid; the harsher throat hits they offer can feel more similar to traditional cigarettes, which can be a great thing for people who want to vape instead of smoking tobacco.

Want to blow thicker clouds? Consider getting a high VG juice, especially if you’ve got a sub-ohm vape that can handle denser vape juices.

There is no one perfect ratio, but if you’re looking to experiment with different e-liquids, Cold Turkey Vape Shop can help. Visit our online vape shop and take a look at the different e-liquids we offer; you’ll be bound to find one that’s right for you!