How Many Calories in a Vape?

Losing weight and gaining weight are sour subjects for many and calories play a major part in this subject. Where vaping is concerned, to answer the question, there are roughly four calories per 1ml of e-liquid.

These are super low numbers in terms of calorie intake recommended per day – 2,500 as guidance for a man and 2,000 for a woman. And because vape juice is not food or drink that you consume, it isn’t very important anyway!

While that’s a summary for those who want a quick answer to the question of how many calories are in a vape, there is more of a deep dive required to understand what you are vaping and why it should not concern your calorie count.

How are Vape E-Liquids Linked to Calories?

An e-liquid, or vape juice as it’s also known, contains a few key ingredients. This includes the likes of nicotine (a very small portion of any e-liquid), flavourings, sweeteners or sometimes even sugar, and the most important components – Vegetable Glycerine (VG) and Propylene Glycol (PG).

These two chemicals make up the majority of any e-liquid.

PG equates to roughly four calories per 1ml and VG slightly more at 4.2 per 1ml, according to studies done on the effects of VG and PG. Because both chemicals are heavily used in food and chemical production, rest assured they’re safely tested and added to thousands of products.

With a 2ml 600 puff disposable vape such as an Elf Bar device containing 8 calories (used by a high proportion of vapers), this is a very tiny percentage of a 2,500 or 2,000 calorie intake for a man or woman respectively.

Can You Absorb Calories When Vaping?

Because the number of calories found in any e-liquid key ingredients such as VG and PG is four grams per millilitre and negligible because they cannot be absorbed, as you exhale rather than swallow vapour, naturally it doesn’t make a large difference to calorie intake.

Instead, calories from vaping may only be absorbed in small quantities through the throat and mouth lining. There is still very limited research into this subject, as scientists debate whether calories can even be truly measured via vaping.

Even when PG for example is added to food products for consumption, they’re metabolised quickly with 45% excreted and the remaining amount stored in the liver.

Vape Calories vs Other Food and Drinks

The measured calories of e-liquids are so low because the chemicals used are very thin, lightweight and synthetic.

Each vape hit contains such a small number of calories which are negligible anyway that the calories will be burned off almost instantly by simply walking around a room in the house. We even burn off 50 calories an hour while sleeping to put it into context!

In comparison, food and drinks have a much higher calorie count as they store a higher level of energy - essentially the definition of a calorie! Fats in our foods make up the highest proportion of calories per gram, with proteins and carbohydrates also roughly 4 calories per gram like e-liquids. Fats are more than double that at 9 calories per gram.

With higher levels of natural sugar in food and drinks than vape e-liquids, a high level of consumption throughout the day means a buildup of calories. You need to eat fewer calories than your recommended daily intake to start losing weight.

FAQs About the Link Between Vaping and Calories

If the calories in vaping are so low, will you gain weight after quitting smoking?

An important link needs to be addressed between calories and nicotine. Nicotine acts as an appetite suppressant, burning calories faster.

As the NHS states, “Some people do put on weight after they stop [smoking]. This is down to nicotine suppressing your body's natural appetite and making it burn calories faster".

Therefore, it’s likely you may still put on a few pounds as you turn to other cravings. And it won’t be the negligibility of vaping, which remember can not be absorbed, that will be the sole cause of any weight gain. Changing nicotine levels with your vape may however contribute to an increase in appetite.

Does Vaping Break a Fast?

It depends on your reason for fasting. For instance, if you fast for religious reasons such as Muslims during Ramadan, you are not allowed to inhale any substances during this period. Alternatively, if you’re intermittent fasting to shed a few pounds before a much-needed beach break, the very low level of calories when vaping and the fact you are not consuming the calories through food or drink means it’s unlikely to break the fast.

Is Vaping a Calorie Burner?

No, it is not a way to ‘burn calories’ and this is not the intention of vaping. Inhaling e-liquids containing nicotine to vapourise is purely a product creation to help adults quit smoking. It's intended as an alternative where you can drop the nicotine levels and remove tobacco while maintaining a degree of habit and routine.

The best way to burn calories is through good exercise, keeping hydrated, and a balanced diet, as any doctor or medical website would advise.