There are five main types of vapes sold in the UK today: prefilled pod kits, refillable pod kits, vape pens, pod mods and box mods. Disposables used to top that list, but single-use vapes have been banned from sale since 1 June 2025. The type you want comes down to two things: how much fuss you'll put up with, and whether you like a tight, cigarette-style draw or a looser, cloudier one.
This page runs through each type in turn. Our vape kits hub pulls together all our device guides if you want to go deeper on one.
The types at a glance
| Type | Draw style | Refilling | Effort | Typical liquid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefilled pod kit | MTL | Swap a sealed pod | Lowest | 10mg or 20mg nic salt |
| Refillable pod kit | MTL, some RDL | Fill the pod from a bottle | Low | Nic salt or 50/50 freebase |
| Vape pen | Mostly MTL | Fill a small tank | Low | Nic salt or 50/50 freebase |
| Pod mod | RDL or DTL | Fill a pod, change coils | Medium | Freebase, some nic salt |
| Box mod with sub-ohm tank | DTL | Fill a tank, change coils | Highest | Low-strength, high-VG freebase |
MTL means mouth-to-lung, RDL is restricted direct-to-lung, DTL is direct-to-lung. We explain all three properly in MTL vs DTL.
Disposable vapes (banned from sale)
A disposable was a sealed, prefilled vape you threw away when the liquid or battery ran out. Under the single-use vapes ban, UK businesses can't supply them any more. A vape now has to have a rechargeable battery, a refillable or replaceable container for liquid, and a replaceable coil.
If a shop is selling something it calls a disposable, either it's being sold illegally or it's actually a prefilled pod kit with a misleading name. The full rules are in our disposable vape ban guide.
Prefilled pod kits
The closest legal thing to a disposable. A rechargeable battery takes sealed pods already filled with e-liquid. When a pod's empty you pull it out and click in another. The coil comes built into each pod, so you get a fresh one every swap.
Good for anyone who wants zero setup. The catch is that you're tied to one brand's pods and flavours. Our prefilled pod vape guide covers them in detail.
Refillable pod kits
Same small, pocketable shape, but you fill the pod yourself from a 10ml bottle. Some have the coil built into the pod, others take a separate plug-in coil, which is cheaper to replace.
This is where most people end up after a few months. You get any flavour you like and it costs less to run, in exchange for a minute of filling and the odd coil change. See the refillable pod vape guide for how they work.
Vape pens
The older shape of small vape: a round battery tube with a screw-on tank on top. They're simple, light and nearly always set up for a tight MTL draw. Some people like them because they feel more like holding a cigarette than a flat pod does.
Our vape pen guide explains the parts, filling and coil changes.
Pod mods
Pod mods sit between pod kits and box mods. They're bigger, take larger batteries and replaceable coils, and often have a screen and adjustable wattage. The draw is usually looser, anywhere from RDL to full DTL depending on the coil.
These suit people who've outgrown a basic pod kit and want more vapour or flavour without going all the way to a box mod. Expect a bit more to learn: matching coils to wattage, and using liquids that suit the coil.
Box mods and sub-ohm tanks
The largest type. A box-shaped battery unit, often taking one or two removable cells, with a separate tank screwed on top. The coils have low resistance (below one ohm, hence "sub-ohm") and run at higher power, producing a lot of vapour with an open DTL draw.
Two UK rules shape how these are sold. Under regulation 36 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, a tank for nicotine e-liquid can hold no more than 2ml, and nicotine e-liquid is capped at 20mg/ml and sold in bottles of 10ml or less. Because box mods use so much liquid, most people run them with low-strength, high-VG freebase, often mixed from a shortfill. The vape tank vs pod guide goes through when a tank makes sense.
How to pick a type
Four questions sort most people out:
- Do I want anything to do with refilling? No: prefilled pod kit. Yes: refillable pod or pen.
- Do I want a tight pull like a cigarette? Stick with MTL devices: pod kits and pens.
- Do I want big clouds? You're looking at a pod mod or box mod with DTL coils.
- Do I need it to fit in a small pocket? Pod kits and pens are the most compact.
Most people switching from disposables do best with a pod kit first. If that's you, the best vape for beginners guide picks up from here.
Pods and coils across the types
Every type except the prefilled pod kit uses replaceable coils, and every type uses some kind of pod or tank. If you want to understand those parts, our pods and coils hub covers them, from coil resistance to fixing leaks.
Whatever type you go for, it's for adults who already use nicotine. It's illegal to sell vapes or nicotine e-liquid to anyone under 18 in the UK.
Questions people ask
What are the main types of vapes?
Prefilled pod kits, refillable pod kits, vape pens, pod mods and box mods with sub-ohm tanks. Disposables used to be the biggest category but single-use vapes have been banned from sale in the UK since 1 June 2025.
Which type of vape is best for a beginner?
A small pod kit with a mouth-to-lung draw. Prefilled pods are the easiest, refillable pods are cheaper to run. Both need almost no setup.
What's the difference between MTL and DTL vapes?
MTL (mouth-to-lung) devices give a tight draw like a cigarette and suit higher-strength liquids. DTL (direct-to-lung) devices give an open, airy draw, more vapour and suit low-strength liquids.
Are box mods legal in the UK?
Yes, for adults. They're reusable, so they're not affected by the single-use vape ban. Tanks sold for nicotine e-liquid in the UK are limited to 2ml.
