How many cigarettes are in a vape?

There is no single answer to this question because the specific specifications of an "electronic cigarette" (such as the volume of e-liquid and the nicotine concentration) vary greatly. However, we can estimate it by using two methods: the total amount of nicotine and the number of puffs.
Method 1: Based on total nicotine content conversion
This is the most scientific conversion method. It calculates by comparing the total nicotine content in e-cigarette oil and traditional cigarettes.
Calculate the total amount of nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Formula: Total nicotine content (mg) = Oil volume (ml) × Nicotine concentration (mg/ml)
Example: For a standard 2ml smoke cartridge, if the nicotine concentration is 20mg/ml, then the total nicotine content of it would be 40mg.
Calculate the nicotine content of a cigarette
According to the data from the China National Tobacco Quality Supervision Bureau in 2025, the nicotine content of a domestic cigarette is usually between 0.8mg and 1.8mg. For ease of calculation, the average value of 1mg is often taken as a reference.
Make the conversion
Divide the total nicotine content of the e-cigarette by the nicotine content of a single cigarette.
Example: A cartridge containing 40mg of nicotine (2ml, 20mg/ml) has a total nicotine content equivalent to approximately 20 to 40 traditional cigarettes.
The conversion results of various products on the market are approximately as follows:
Examples of electronic cigarette products Total nicotine content Approximately equal to the number of cigarettes
Standard cartridge (2ml, 20mg/ml) 40mg 20 - 40 cigarettes (about 1 - 2 packs)
JUUL cartridge (5% concentration) ~40mg One pack (20 cigarettes) (about 13 - 30 cigarettes)
Large capacity oil bottle (30ml, 6mg/ml) 180mg About 225 cigarettes (more than 11 packs)
Notes:

Nicotine actual intake: The above is the theoretical total amount. When actually using it, the absorption rate of nicotine by the human body will vary due to factors such as equipment and inhalation methods. For example, a study that measured the actual nicotine content in the blood of JUUL users concluded that the equivalent amount was approximately 18 cigarettes.
The "nontobacco" trap: Many products labeled as "zero nicotine" may actually contain nicotine. Moreover, even if they do not contain nicotine, the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes still contains other harmful chemicals.
Method 2: Estimation based on the number of suction ports
This is a more rough estimation method.
The number of puffs for a pack of cigarettes: A pack (20 cigarettes) of traditional cigarettes can be smoked approximately 240 - 400 times.
The number of puffs for a single e-cigarette cartridge: A regular e-cigarette cartridge can typically be used for about 600 - 700 puffs.
Based on this rough estimation, the "usage duration" of a regular cartridge could be equivalent to 1.5 to 3 packs of traditional cigarettes.
Conclusion
A standard e-cigarette cartridge (2ml, 20mg/ml) contains approximately the nicotine equivalent of 1 to 2 packs (20-40 cigarettes) of traditional cigarettes.
However, it is important to be vigilant that due to the convenience of e-cigarette use and the greater variety of flavors, actual usage may lead to more frequent smoking, resulting in a higher total intake of nicotine.