what vapes are illegal in uk
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What Vapes Are Illegal in the UK?
Single use disposables (banned since June 2025) and any non compliant product: over 20mg/ml, pods over 2ml, or unregistered. Compliant rechargeables remain legal.
With the rules tightening, a common question is which vapes are actually illegal in the UK. The two main categories are single use disposable vapes, which have been banned from sale since 1 June 2025, and any product that breaks the UK regulations, such as exceeding the nicotine strength or tank size limits. This guide explains, alongside our guide on the legal age for vaping.
Quick answer
Two main types of vape are illegal to sell in the UK. First, single use disposable vapes, banned since 1 June 2025 (including nicotine free ones). Second, any non compliant product: e liquid stronger than 20mg per millilitre, pods or tanks over 2ml, refill bottles over 10ml, or products not registered with the MHRA. Selling vapes to under 18s is also illegal.
Single use disposables are banned
Since 1 June 2025, single use disposable vapes have been illegal to sell or supply across the UK, including nicotine free ones. A useful rule of thumb is that if a device cannot be recharged and cannot be refilled or have its pod or coil replaced, it is treated as single use and is banned. The ban targets sale and supply, not people who already own a device.
What is illegal to sell
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Single use disposables | Banned since 1 June 2025 |
| Over strength e liquid | Above 20mg per millilitre |
| Oversized pods or tanks | Over 2ml capacity |
| Oversized refill bottles | Over 10ml for nicotine e liquid |
| Unregistered products | Not notified to the MHRA |
Non compliant products are illegal too
Beyond disposables, any vape that breaks the UK product rules is illegal to sell. Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, nicotine e liquid must not exceed 20mg per millilitre, pods and tanks are capped at 2ml, and nicotine refill bottles at 10ml, with all products notified to the MHRA and properly labelled. Products that exceed these limits, or contain banned ingredients, are illegal, as are illegal THC vapes. Selling to under 18s is also against the law.
Illegal UK vapes fall into two groups: single use disposables, banned since June 2025, and non compliant products that break the rules on strength, size or registration. Selling to under 18s is also illegal.
Myths and facts
| Myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| All vapes are now illegal | No, compliant rechargeable, refillable vapes remain legal for adults. |
| Only nicotine disposables are banned | The ban covers all single use disposables, including nicotine free ones. |
| Stronger e liquid is just a premium option | E liquid above 20mg per millilitre is illegal to sell in the UK. |
| Owning a banned device is illegal | The ban targets sale and supply, not ownership of devices you already have. |
Frequently asked questions
What vapes are illegal in the UK?
Single use disposable vapes, banned since 1 June 2025, and any non compliant product, such as e liquid over 20mg per millilitre or pods over 2ml.
Are disposables really banned?
Yes, single use disposable vapes, including nicotine free ones, have been illegal to sell or supply since 1 June 2025.
What makes a vape compliant?
It must be rechargeable or refillable, no stronger than 20mg per millilitre, with pods or tanks up to 2ml, and registered with the MHRA.
Is it illegal to own a disposable I already have?
No, the ban targets sale and supply; it does not criminalise owning a device you already have.
Is selling to under 18s illegal?
Yes, it is illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under 18, and to buy them on a young persons behalf.
The bottom line
In the UK, two main types of vape are illegal to sell. First, single use disposable vapes, including nicotine free ones, which have been banned from sale and supply since 1 June 2025, the rule of thumb being that if it cannot be recharged or refilled, it is single use. Second, any non compliant product, such as e liquid above 20mg per millilitre, pods or tanks over 2ml, refill bottles over 10ml, or products not registered with the MHRA. Selling to under 18s is also illegal, while compliant rechargeable vapes remain legal for adults.
More help and related reading
If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. If you are unsure about a product or rule, our team and the official guidance are the best places to check.
- Legal age for vaping in the UK
- Are vapes being banned?
- What is a prefilled pod vape?
- Browse the full Help and Guidance library
Key things to remember
- Single use disposables banned since 1 June 2025
- Includes nicotine free disposables
- E liquid over 20mg per millilitre is illegal
- Pods or tanks over 2ml are illegal
- Compliant rechargeable vapes remain legal
How to tell if a vape is legal
A few quick checks tell you whether a vape is legal to sell in the UK. Can it be recharged and refilled, or have its pod or coil replaced? If not, it is a banned single use device. Is the nicotine strength 20mg per millilitre or less, and the pod or tank 2ml or less? If it claims a higher strength or a bigger capacity, it is non compliant.
Buying from a reputable, established retailer is the simplest safeguard, as they stock only compliant products. If you see single use disposables or oversized devices still on sale, they are illegal, and can be reported to Trading Standards.
Legal versus illegal
| Legal | Illegal |
|---|---|
| Rechargeable, refillable | Single use disposable |
| Up to 20mg per millilitre | Over 20mg per millilitre |
| Pods or tanks up to 2ml | Over 2ml |
| Bottles up to 10ml | Over 10ml |
| MHRA registered | Unregistered |
A few more questions
Are big puff count devices legal?
Only if they are rechargeable, refillable and compliant; many high puff disposables exceed the limits and are illegal.
Do and don’t
Do
- Buy compliant, rechargeable vapes from reputable sellers
- Check the strength is 20mg per millilitre or less
- Switch from any old disposables to a pod kit
- Report suspected illegal sales to Trading Standards
Try not to
- Buy single use disposables, which are banned
- Use over strength or oversized products
- Buy from unknown sources or the black market
- Assume a high puff disposable is legal
Why the rules exist
The UK rules on vaping exist to balance two aims, keeping vaping available as a much less harmful alternative for adult smokers, while limiting harm, especially to young people and the environment. The disposable ban was driven largely by environmental concerns over waste, while the strength and size limits and registration rules are about product safety and quality.
For adult vapers, the practical effect is simple, switch to compliant rechargeable devices if you have not already, and buy from reputable retailers. Vaping itself remains legal for over 18s; it is specific products and practices that are banned.
Why each rule exists
| Rule | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Disposable ban | Reduce environmental waste |
| 20mg strength cap | Product safety |
| 2ml pod or tank limit | Product standards |
| MHRA registration | Quality and safety |
| Age limit of 18 | Protect young people |
More questions answered
Is vaping itself banned in the UK?
No, vaping is legal for adults over 18; it is single use disposables and non compliant products that are banned from sale.
What should I do with an old disposable?
Do not bin it loosely; recycle it at a vape shop or recycling point, as it contains a battery; then switch to a rechargeable kit.
A couple more questions
Can I still buy a vape legally?
Yes, compliant rechargeable, refillable vapes are legal for adults over 18 from reputable sellers.
Where do I report an illegal vape sale?
You can report suspected illegal sales to your local Trading Standards, via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
A quick word on safety and the law
Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.
UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.
This guide is general information about UK rules as they currently stand and is not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the latest on GOV.UK if in doubt.
Need a hand?
Browse our full library of plain English vaping guides, or get in touch with the team if you have a question we have not answered yet.