How Many Calories in a Vape?

Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking, with millions of users worldwide. While many people focus on the nicotine content and potential health effects of vaping, a lesser-known question arises: Does vaping have calories? If you’re someone who watches their diet or simply wants to understand more about the contents of e-liquid, it’s natural to wonder whether vaping contributes to your daily calorie intake.

To clear up any misconceptions, we’ll break down the caloric content of vape juice, whether those calories are absorbed by the body, and if vaping can influence weight gain. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a well-rounded understanding of how vaping fits into your dietary considerations.

Does Vaping Contain Calories?

Yes, vape juice does contain calories, but the amount is minimal and unlikely to affect your diet. The primary components of e-liquid are vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), nicotine, and flavorings. Among these ingredients, VG and flavorings contribute to the caloric content, while PG and nicotine do not.

Vegetable glycerin is a sugar alcohol derived from plant oils, commonly used in food products, cosmetics, and medications. It contains approximately 4 calories per gram, similar to regular sugar. Flavorings, depending on their composition, may also contain small traces of calories. However, since vape juice is vaporized rather than ingested, these calories do not function in the same way as those from food or drinks.

How Many Calories Are in a Typical Vape?

The number of calories in a vape depends on the VG content and the overall composition of the e-liquid. A standard 60mL bottle of e-liquid with a VG-heavy base may contain 100 to 150 calories in total. However, these calories are spread throughout the entire bottle, which is typically consumed over multiple days or even weeks, making the per-puff calorie count extremely low.

Breaking it down further, a single 1mL of vape juice may contain around 1.5 to 2.5 calories, depending on the VG ratio and added flavorings. This means that an average vaping session contributes an insignificant amount of calories compared to even a sip of soda or juice. The key factor to remember is that these calories are not absorbed in the same way as food-based calories, making their impact on diet and metabolism nearly nonexistent.

Do You Absorb Calories from Vaping?

While vape juice does contain calories, you do not absorb them in a meaningful way. When food or drink is consumed, it goes through the digestive system, where calories are broken down and stored as energy. In contrast, when vaping, e-liquid is heated and turned into vapor, which is inhaled into the lungs and then exhaled. This process does not involve digestion, meaning the calories from vape juice do not enter your bloodstream or contribute to weight gain.

Furthermore, the human body does not metabolize VG in the same way when inhaled as it does when consumed through food. While glycerin in food may be converted into glucose and used for energy, inhaled VG simply passes through the respiratory system. This means that even though VG has calories on paper, they are not processed in a way that affects your body’s caloric intake.

Will Vaping Affect Weight Gain?

Since the calories from vaping are not absorbed like those from food, vaping does not contribute to weight gain in any direct way. Unlike eating a high-calorie meal or drinking sugary beverages, vaping does not add to your caloric intake, making it irrelevant to weight management. However, there is another factor to consider—nicotine.

Nicotine is known to act as an appetite suppressant, which is why some smokers and vapers experience decreased hunger levels. On the flip side, individuals who quit nicotine use sometimes experience an increase in appetite, leading to potential weight gain. If weight control is a concern, it’s more relevant to consider nicotine’s effects on metabolism and cravings rather than the minimal calorie content of e-liquids.

Does Vape Flavoring Add Calories?

Flavorings in vape juice can contain a small number of calories, but their impact is negligible. Many e-liquid flavorings are similar to those used in food production, and they may contain trace amounts of sugars, alcohols, or artificial sweeteners. However, because these substances are vaporized rather than ingested, they do not contribute to caloric intake in the same way as food or drink.

For example, a flavored coffee drink with syrups and cream can easily contain 100–300 calories per serving, while a flavored e-liquid only contains a fraction of a calorie per puff. This makes the caloric effect of vaping insignificant compared to dietary sources of flavorings, such as candy, soft drinks, or desserts. If you’re trying to cut back on calorie consumption, vaping flavored e-liquid is not a concern.

Conclusion

Vape juice does contain calories, primarily from vegetable glycerin and flavorings, but these calories are not absorbed by the body in a way that affects weight or diet. Unlike food or beverages, e-liquid is vaporized and inhaled, meaning it does not pass through the digestive system or contribute to caloric intake.

If you are worried about vaping’s impact on weight gain, it is more relevant to consider nicotine’s role in appetite suppression rather than the minimal calories in vape juice. Ultimately, vaping has no significant effect on your caloric intake, and you can enjoy your favorite flavors without worrying about unwanted calories.