From 1 October 2026, vaping in the UK costs more. Here is what the numbers actually look like, by format, and how they compare to the alternatives.
We sell an air inhaler, so we have a stake in this. The figures below are the published duty rates and typical retail prices — check them against what you personally pay rather than taking our arithmetic on trust.
The duty
Vaping Products Duty is £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid, with VAT charged on top, taking the real increase to roughly £2.64 per 10ml. It is a flat rate, so it applies identically to 0mg and 20mg liquid.
What each format costs
10ml bottles
A bottle that costs around £3 today rises to roughly £5.20 — an increase of about 73%. If you get through one every two days, that is roughly £33 a month in additional cost.
Prefilled pods
The least affected format. Pods hold small volumes, so the duty per pack is small — around 7% more. A pod-a-day habit adds a few pounds a month.
Shortfills
The steepest increase, and the one catching people out. A 100ml shortfill carries £22 in duty before VAT. A setup costing around £16 today can pass £40 — an increase of up to 147%.
The irony is that shortfills are the format most used by settled adult vapers and least appealing to young people. The duty taxes volume, not risk, so the format that looks most like harm reduction takes the biggest hit.
Heavy use
At 10ml a day, the duty alone adds close to £80 a month.
Against the alternatives
Rough monthly running costs after October, for comparison:
- Smoking, 20 a day — comfortably the most expensive option, and tobacco duty rose alongside the vape duty specifically to keep it that way
- Vaping, shortfills — heavily affected; often the largest proportional increase
- Vaping, pods — modest increase
- Nicotine replacement therapy — varies; free through many NHS stop smoking services
- Air inhaler — device is a one-off; refills are the ongoing cost and carry no duty
A Flair inhaler is a single purchase with a lifetime warranty on the device. Refills last roughly two to three days each. Because there is no liquid involved, none of that changes on 1 October.
Before you switch on cost alone
Two honest caveats.
An air inhaler does nothing for nicotine. If you are still dependent, moving to a nicotine-free device to save money means going through withdrawal without support, which is a poor plan. Deal with the nicotine first — NRT, or an NHS stop smoking service, which is free and roughly triples your chances. Cost is a bad reason to quit badly.
The cheapest option is not always the one you will stick with. A device that saves you £40 a month and sits in a drawer after a fortnight has saved you nothing. What matters is whether the replacement covers the moments you would otherwise have reached for something.
The bit that is genuinely worth doing
Regardless of what you switch to, October is a good prompt to work out what you actually spend. Most people underestimate it, because vaping costs arrive in small frequent amounts rather than one visible bill.
Add up a month of liquid, coils and pods. Then add the duty. That number is the real comparison point — not the headline price of whatever you are considering instead.
The full vape tax breakdown, why 0mg is taxed too, or what works as a vape replacement.
Frequently asked questions
How much more will vaping cost in the UK from October 2026?
£2.20 per 10ml plus VAT, so around £2.64 per 10ml at the till. The impact depends entirely on format — roughly 7% for pods, up to 147% for shortfills.
Which vape format is hit hardest by the tax?
Shortfills, because the duty is charged per millilitre and shortfills involve large volumes.
Do air inhaler refills carry the duty?
The duty is charged on vaping liquid. Refills for non-electronic air inhalers contain no liquid and are not vaporised.
Is it cheaper to quit than to keep vaping?
Almost always, but cost is rarely what makes quitting stick. Handle the nicotine properly first — the money follows.
Prices are indicative and based on published duty rates and typical retail prices at the time of writing. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. Flair is a lifestyle wellness product, not a medical device, medicine or smoking cessation aid, and contains no nicotine. Not suitable for under-18s.
