How to Use a 100ml Shortfill Step by Step
How to use a
100ml shortfill
step by step
100ml shortfills are the UK sub-ohm vaper favourite because they deliver 120ml of final e-liquid for less than half the cost of the equivalent 10ml bottles. This walkthrough covers the full process from bottle anatomy through to steeping plus long-term storage.
To use a 100ml shortfill: unpack the bottle, remove the childproof cap plus nozzle, pour two 10ml nicotine shots into the bottle, reattach the nozzle plus cap, shake vigorously for 60 seconds then rest for 2-3 minutes. The total 120ml of final e-liquid sits at 3mg/ml strength with standard 18mg nic shots. Optional: steep in a dark cupboard for 24-48 hours to deepen flavour. Store sealed bottles in cool, dark conditions for shelf life of up to 12 months from mixing date.
Three numbers
frame the 100ml bottle
Bottle capacity, nic shot count plus final strength. Three numbers every UK 100ml shortfill buyer needs before opening the bottle.
Final bottle volume
A 100ml shortfill comes in a 120ml bottle. 100ml of flavoured base plus 20ml of headspace ready to take two 10ml nic shots.
Nic shots needed
Two 10ml 18mg/ml nic shots fill the 20ml headspace plus activate the nicotine. One shot alone produces 1.5mg/ml (too weak for most).
Final strength
Two 18mg shots in 100ml of base produces 3mg/ml final strength across the full 120ml. The standard UK sub-ohm target.
100ml shortfills dominate UK vaping because they deliver massive e-liquid volume at the lowest per-ml cost while staying TRPR-compliant through the split-bottle design.
Understanding how to use a 100ml shortfill starts with understanding why this format exists plus why it outsells the 50ml alternative. A 100ml shortfill is a nicotine-free flavour base sold in a 120ml bottle with 20ml of headspace pre-measured to take two 10ml nicotine shots. The format exists because the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR) restrict nicotine-containing e-liquid to a maximum 10ml per bottle. Selling the flavour base without nicotine sidesteps the 10ml rule legally plus efficiently.
The 100ml format carries a significant cost advantage over the 50ml alternative. A 100ml Dispergo shortfill costs roughly £14 at UK retail. A 50ml shortfill costs around £10. The per-ml cost works out at 14p vs 20p respectively. Over a year of daily vaping at typical UK moderate usage (20ml per week), the 100ml saves the average vaper an extra £60-90 on top of the 60 percent general shortfill saving vs 10ml bottles. The cost of the two required nic shots stays roughly the same across formats so the advantage comes from the larger base bottle.
Before you start using a 100ml shortfill it helps to understand the anatomy of the bottle itself. A typical Dispergo 100ml shortfill features a 120ml PET plastic bottle with a tamper-evident plastic seal, a childproof twist-off cap, an internal plastic nozzle (for precise pouring into your tank) plus the flavoured base e-liquid filled to the 100ml line. The 20ml of empty space above the liquid is where your two nic shots go. The bottle label will show the VG/PG ratio (usually 70/30 for sub-ohm), the flavour name plus the batch number for MHRA traceability.
What to have ready before you start
Before you open the bottle, have the following to hand: the 100ml shortfill, two 10ml nic shots, a clean flat surface plus a paper towel for catching drips. For best results pick nic shots with matching VG/PG ratio to your shortfill (usually 70/30 or 80/20 for sub-ohm shortfills). Freebase 18mg/ml nic shots produce 3mg/ml final strength. Nic salt 20mg/ml shots produce 3.33mg/ml which is effectively the same for practical purposes but smoother on the throat because of the different nicotine chemistry.
Device compatibility matters with 100ml shortfills. Most 100ml shortfills are formulated for sub-ohm tanks because the high VG ratio produces dense flavoured vapour which high-powered devices handle best. Sub-ohm tanks with coils below 1.0 ohm plus power settings between 30-80 watts suit these shortfills well. MTL pod kits designed for thinner 50/50 e-liquids may flood or produce harsh puffs with high-VG 100ml shortfills. If you use a pod kit, check whether the manufacturer offers a 50/50 version of the shortfill or stay with 10ml nic salt bottles.
- Bottle layout. 120ml bottle contains 100ml base plus 20ml headspace.
- Two nic shots. Two 10ml shots fill the bottle plus activate nicotine.
- Sub-ohm first. High-VG formulation suits sub-ohm tanks best.
- Free UK delivery. Most UK retailers ship free over £20 order value.
The 100ml shortfill
anatomy diagram
Every part of a 100ml shortfill bottle labelled plus explained. Knowing the components helps you open, pour plus store the bottle correctly. Six numbered parts covered in the legend below.
Six parts explained
Cross-section view of a typical Dispergo 100ml shortfill bottle. Labels point to each key component. Legend below details what each part does plus how you interact with it during mixing plus vaping.
How the volumes
stack up to 120ml
Visualising how the 100ml base plus two 10ml nic shots combine to make 120ml of final e-liquid at 3mg/ml strength. Each step shown as a stacking horizontal bar building up to the final mixed volume.
Stacking to 120ml at 3mg/ml
Four horizontal bars. The first three show each component before mixing. The fourth shows the final mixed e-liquid. Each bar labelled with volume plus contribution to final strength.
Steeping, storage plus
shelf life for 100ml
Four post-mix stages that extend the life of your 100ml shortfill plus protect flavour quality. Each card covers one stage with the key duration plus the conditions that matter.
Let the bottle rest upright for 2-3 minutes after shaking. Air bubbles settle out during this window. Vaping straight after shaking fills the coil wick with bubble-heavy liquid which produces harsh first puffs.
Seal the bottle plus store in a dark cool place for 24-48 hours. Nicotine integrates deeper with the flavour base. Dessert plus tobacco flavours benefit most from steeping. Fresh fruits benefit less.
Store sealed bottles at room temperature (15-25°C) away from sunlight. UV light degrades flavour compounds plus accelerates nicotine oxidation. A cool dark cupboard works perfectly for long-term storage.
A mixed 100ml shortfill stays fresh for up to 12 months from the mixing date. Label bottles with the mix date for traceability. Flavour intensity slowly reduces past 6 months but stays safe to vape throughout.
Shop Dispergo
100ml Shortfills
Full 100ml shortfill range from Dispergo. 120ml bottles across Fruza, Nixer, Jak’d plus classic Dispergo ranges. Matching nic shots at checkout. Multi-buy discounts apply automatically. Free UK delivery on orders over £20.
Browse the full Dispergo shortfill collection to find your next 100ml bottle. Every flavour available in 100ml format with the matching 20ml nic shot pair at checkout. Free UK delivery on orders over £20.
For more context on shortfills including the core mixing method, strength selection plus comparison guides, head to our complete Shortfill consumer guide hub where every practical question has its own article.
Back to the Shortfill Consumer Guide hub
This article is one chapter in our complete Shortfill knowledge base. Head back for the full index covering mixing method, strength selection, device pairing plus comparison guides.
More shortfill
mixing guides
For the core shortfill mixing method that applies to 50ml bottles too, see how to add nicotine shots to a shortfill correctly. For the strength-selection decision that happens before you pick your bottle size, how to choose the right nicotine strength for your shortfill covers the full range. Plus for the everyday-vaping benefits case for the 100ml format, the benefits of 100ml shortfills for everyday vaping covers convenience plus value.