From 1 October 2026, a new UK government tax called Vaping Products Duty will come into force.
This is not something specific to The Vape Shop. It is a UK-wide law that will apply across the whole vaping market, including vape shops, online sellers, wholesalers, manufacturers and imported products.
The new duty applies to all e-liquid, whether it contains nicotine or not.
That means 10ml bottles, 30ml bottles, 120ml shortfills and other vaping liquids will all be affected.
Why are prices going up?
The price increase is mainly due to the new HMRC vaping duty.
The duty rate is expected to be:
22p per ml of e-liquid
So the more liquid in the bottle, the more duty is added.
This duty is added before VAT, which means VAT also applies on top of the new duty amount. This is why the final price increase can feel quite large, especially on bigger bottles.
What will the new prices look like?
| Product / Strength | Current Price | HMRC Duty + VAT Increase | New Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ml Bottles — All strengths | £4.00 | + £2.64 | £6.64 |
| 30ml Bottles / Kits — 1mg to 11mg | £10.00 | + £7.92 | £17.92 |
| 30ml Bottles / Kits — 13mg, 15mg & 18mg | £10.00 | + £10.03 | £20.03 |
| 120ml Bottles / Kits — 1mg to 15mg | £25.00 | + £31.68 | £56.68 |
| 120ml Bottles / Kits — 18mg | £25.00 | + £36.96 | £61.96 |
Please note: Higher nicotine options in some bottle sizes cost more because more supplied liquid / nicotine shots are required.
This affects the whole UK market
We know price rises are never welcome, so we want to be clear: this is not a shop-only increase.
From 1 October 2026, the new rules will apply across the UK vaping industry. Any legal vaping product released for sale will need to have the correct duty paid and, where required, a duty stamp attached.
So whether you buy from us, another vape shop, an online shop, or a wholesaler, the new rules will affect pricing across the market. Read more on the Vape Products Duty/Tax here…
Can I still buy e-liquid before the tax starts?
Yes.
If you want to keep paying current prices for as long as possible, the best thing to do is stock up before 1 October 2026.
Buying your usual e-liquids before the new duty starts means you can delay the impact of the higher prices for a while.
This may be especially useful if you regularly buy:
- 10ml nicotine e-liquids
- 30ml bottles
- 120ml shortfills
- nicotine shots
- your regular favourite flavours
How long can e-liquid last if stored properly?
Unopened e-liquid can often last 1–2 years when stored correctly in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or drawer.
For longer-term storage, some customers choose to put unopened bottles in the freezer. Freezing may help preserve e-liquid for much longer, potentially up to 5 years, although quality can still change over time.
For best storage:
- keep bottles away from heat
- avoid radiators, heaters and warm appliances
- keep bottles out of direct sunlight
- make sure caps are tightly sealed
- keep all e-liquid safely away from children and pets
If you freeze e-liquid, allow it to return to room temperature before use and shake it well.
Should I stock up before October?
That depends on how much e-liquid you normally use.
But if you know your regular flavours and strengths, stocking up before 1 October 2026 could help you avoid the new higher prices for longer.
For example, if you use a lot of 120ml bottles, the new duty will make the biggest difference because the duty is charged per ml.
Our advice
If you vape regularly and already know what you like, it makes sense to plan ahead.
The new tax starts on 1 October 2026, and prices are expected to rise across the UK market from that date.
We recommend:
Stock up before 1 October 2026 if you want to keep paying current prices for as long as possible.
We’ll keep customers updated as more details become available and will continue doing everything we can to keep pricing fair, clear and easy to understand.
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