What are the running costs of an e-cigarette? The factors at a glance

Anyone considering an e-cigarette often looks at the device itself first. In everyday use, however, it is mainly the parts that are replaced regularly that matter: liquid, pods, coils and other wear parts. In our shop in Freiburg, adult switchers therefore often ask what they need to expect after the initial purchase. In this guide we explain which cost factors there are, how they differ by device type and what they depend on. We deliberately do not name specific prices, as they change constantly and vary widely between brands, models and pack sizes.

What cost factors does an e-cigarette have?

The device once, liquid and wear parts such as pods or coils regularly, and occasionally accessories such as battery cells or replacement glass. Which of these items apply to you depends mainly on the device type. Electricity for charging hardly matters in everyday use.

Which items apply to each device type?

The following overview shows which parts are one-off, regular or only occasional for each device type:

Device type	One-off	Regular	Occasional
Disposable e-cigarette	–	a complete new device including battery each time	–
Prefilled pod system	Battery	prefilled cartridges	Charging cable
Refillable pod system	Battery with pod	Liquid, replacement pods or coils	Charging cable
Pod mod	Device with pod	Liquid, coils	Replacement pod
Box mod with tank	Box mod and tank	Liquid, coils	Battery cells, replacement glass, seals

We explain which device types exist and how they differ technically in the guide What types of e-cigarettes are there?.

What role does the device itself play?

The device is a one-off item. Battery size, display, power control and housing determine how elaborately it is built. For running costs, however, what matters most is which spare parts belong to the device.

What distinguishes simple and more elaborate devices?

More elaborate devices usually have a larger battery, a display, adjustable power and a more robust housing. The Vaporesso XROS Pro 2, for example, has 2,000 mAh and can be set from 15 to 30 watts, while the GeekVape Wenax M2 has 1,200 mAh and draw activation without settings. For everyday use, a simple device is enough for many people. Box mods such as the Aegis Legend 5 also use replaceable battery cells, which age over time and need to be replaced.

Does the equipment say anything about follow-up costs?

Only to a limited extent. More features bring more comfort but say little about the running items. What matters is which pods or coils belong to the device, how long they last with your vaping style and how easy they are to get. If in doubt, ask beforehand which spare parts fit a device.

What role does the liquid play?

With liquid, what counts most is your consumption, the power of your device and the tobacco tax that applies to every liquid. Anyone vaping at high power with lots of vapour usually uses considerably more liquid than someone with an MTL pod.

In Germany, nicotine-containing liquids are only available in bottles of no more than 10 ml. The available nicotine strengths and mixing ratios are shown in the overview of 10 ml liquids. How long an opened liquid lasts and how to store it correctly will soon be explained in the guide How long do liquids last?.

What role does tobacco tax play?

Since July 2022 there has been a tobacco tax on liquids in Germany. According to German Customs, the tax rate has been raised in stages since then. Tax is based on the quantity in millilitres, not on nicotine content. The tax is therefore a fixed component of every liquid, plus VAT. German Customs publishes the current tax rate.

Does the tax also apply to nicotine-free liquids and bases?

Yes. The German Tobacco Tax Act covers as “substitutes for tobacco products” all products suitable for consuming vapour generated by a device. This is why nicotine-free liquids as well as bases, flavour concentrates and nicotine shots are also affected.

What applies to DIY mixing?

Some vapers mix their liquid themselves from base, flavour concentrate and nicotine shots. These components are taxed too, and depending on the desired nicotine strength you need a different number of shots. We show how to calculate base and shots correctly in the guide Dosing nicotine shots & bases correctly. Information on the individual components can be found in the overviews bases and nicotine shots and flavour concentrates for DIY mixing. Important: the BfR generally advises against making liquids yourself, especially without sufficient experience. If you mix, use only bases, shots and flavour concentrates intended for this purpose and keep everything safely out of reach of children.

Which wear parts do you need to replace regularly?

Pods and coils are the most important wear parts; depending on the device, battery cells, glass and seals are added. How often you replace them depends heavily on your device and your vaping habits.

How often do you need new pods or coils?

How long pods and coils last depends on your liquid, your power setting and how much you vape. There is no fixed interval; a pod often lasts from a few days to around a week. With pods with a built-in coil, such as the Vaporesso XROS COREX 3.0 Pods, you replace the whole pod. With devices with a replaceable head, such as the Vaporesso GTX Mesh Heads, you only replace the coil. Which pods and coils belong to which device is shown in the overview of pods and coils.

What other wear parts are there?

With box mods, the replaceable battery cells weaken over time and should be replaced immediately if damaged. With glass-tank atomizers, glass and seals can break or wear out. Charging cables also break over time. The available battery cells and replacement glass are listed in the overview of accessories . Disposable devices have no wear parts, but the entire device including the battery is replaced each time and must be disposed of properly.

What do running costs depend on in everyday use?

On the device type, your consumption, the power setting and how carefully you treat pods and coils. You can influence some of these factors yourself.

Which factors influence consumption?

• Device type: With a refillable device the battery is kept; with disposables the entire device is replaced each time. Technical differences between the individual models are shown in the overview of pod systems.
• Inhale style and power: Direct lung inhales with low resistance and high wattage vaporise more liquid than MTL inhales.
• Type of liquid: Very sweet liquids often gunk up the coil faster, so you have to replace pods or coils sooner.
• Pod or head: With devices with a replaceable coil head you only replace the wear part, not the whole pod.

How do you extend the life of pods and coils?

• Protect your coils: Let a freshly filled pod soak for a few minutes and don’t vape with an empty tank. More tips will soon be available in 7 tips to avoid burnt coils.
• Suitable power: Stay within the wattage range specified by the manufacturer for the pod or coil.
• Store correctly: Keep liquids cool, dark and tightly closed, always out of reach of children.

Which questions do we hear most often in the shop?

Our customers in Freiburg ask these questions about running costs particularly often.

Which parts do you need to get started?

With a refillable pod system you need the device with battery and pod plus a suitable liquid. After a while, replacement pods or coils are added. A USB-C cable is included with most devices.

Why doesn’t this guide name prices?

Prices change constantly and vary widely between brands, models and pack sizes. This guide therefore only explains which cost factors exist and what they depend on.

Why are 10 ml bottles so small?

Under the German Tobacco Products Act, nicotine-containing liquids may only be sold in refill containers of no more than 10 ml and with a maximum of 20 mg/ml nicotine.

Can the tobacco tax on liquids change?

Yes. The tax rate is set in the Tobacco Tax Act and can be adjusted by the legislator. German Customs publishes the current status.

Note: This guide is intended exclusively for adults. We sell all products only to persons aged 18 and over. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance.

About the authors – Team Dampfstelle Freiburg: We are an owner-managed specialist shop in Freiburg-Zähringen and have been advising customers in our shop every day since August 2022. Our team has been vaping for over 10 years and knows the devices, liquids and typical problems from personal experience.

Last updated: 14.10.2026 · Product data based on the shop range as of 14.10.2026

Which sources is this article based on?

1. German Customs (Zoll online): Tobacco – tax rates (§ 2 TabStG), substitutes for tobacco products (in German). https://www.zoll.de/DE/Fachthemen/Steuern/Verbrauchsteuern/Alkohol-Tabakwaren-Kaffee/Steuerhoehe-Besonderheiten-kleine-Erzeuger/Tabak/tabak_node.html
2. German Tobacco Tax Act (TabStG), § 1 Tax territory, taxable object (para. 2c substitutes for tobacco products) (in German). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tabstg_2009/__1.html
3. German Tobacco Products Act (TabakerzG), § 14 Composition of electronic cigarettes and refill containers (in German). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tabakerzg/__14.html
4. German Youth Protection Act (JuSchG), § 10 Smoking in public, tobacco products (in German). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/juschg/__10.html
5. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): E-cigarettes: anything but harmless – questions and answers, as of 08.04.2025 (in German). https://www.bfr.bund.de/fragen-und-antworten/thema/e-zigaretten-alles-andere-als-harmlos/
6. Product data: manufacturer information in the product descriptions on dampfstelle-shop.de (retrieved 14.10.2026).