Highlights
UK disposable vape ban takes effect on June 1, 2025.
Big puff vapes with rechargeable batteries and replaceable pods will remain legal.
Single-use disposable big puff vapes, including most nicotine-free variants, will be banned.
To continue using big puff vapes, switch to reusable pod-based systems.
There are so many different types of vapes out there you can be forgiven for wondering which ones will still be available after the disposables are banned. It's confusing, some are traditional 600 puff bars while others are rechargeable and seemingly reusable up to a point, even more so for big puff vapes which provide much longer use and seem more environmentally friendly. If you want to know which ones you’ll still be able to buy after the disposable ban then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog we’ll show you exactly which vapes are getting banned and which ones you’ll still be able to use. Spoiler alert, some big puff vapes will still be legal. So stick with us and we’ll show you which ones you can use after the disposable ban.
When is the disposable vapes ban?
All single use or disposable vapes will be banned for sale in the UK on 1st June 2025. If you’ve still got disposables after that date, you can use them, you just won’t be able to buy any online or in stores. Retailers have to sell through all their stock and dispose of any remaining. Anyone that still sells disposables after the ban is breaking the law and risks hefty fines.
What does the disposable vape ban cover?
All single-use vape devices that need to be thrown away when either the battery runs out or the e-liquid is finished will no longer be available for sale after 1st June 2025. The UK disposable vaping ban is not to be confused with the UK vaping tax, which increases the cost of all e-liquids.
What are big puff vapes?
In early 2024 manufacturers used a clever work around to design vapes that could deliver more puffs without breaking the TPD guidelines. The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) guidelines put limits on the volumes of vapes and e-liquid bottles, specifically the size of the vape tank/pod which limits the amount of vape juice a device can hold.
A quick recap on TPD
Became law in 2016.
Vape pods and tanks restricted to 2ml max capacity.
Nicotine containing vape juice bottles 10ml max volume.
That's TPD as it applies to this conversation. In all vape kits, the section of it that holds and heats the liquid - called the pod or tank - is restricted to a 2ml capacity and any vape juice bottles that have premixed nicotine can be no bigger than 10ml. For years vape devices used refillable pods and tanks and separate vape juice bottles that were used to refill. This would limit you to roughly 600 puffs per refill, you’d either have to insert a new pod or squeeze in more e-liquid.
The big puff eureka moment came when manufacturers realised that there was no law stopping them from placing the 10ml bottle inside their vapes. This would allow vapers to constantly top up the 2ml pod and get more puffs. Alternatively they could also place more than one prefilled 2ml pod inside the kit and still be technically within TPD limits. These clever work arounds left you with two big puff concepts:
Container Big Puff
10ml bottle + 2ml pod in one kit.
4 in 1 Pod Big Puff
Multiple prefilled pods in one kit.
Because these vapes can be used for longer, the battery sizes were either increased or made rechargeable. This ushered in a new Big Puff Vape revolution of devices that could be used for much longer and that didn’t break volume regulations. Many are unfortunately still disposable and will be banned on 1st June 2025 - but thankfully not all big puff vapes are single use.
There are reusable big puff vapes
You may have figured out that many of these devices are only single use because the manufacturers purposefully lock the kits, preventing you from swapping out the pods or containers. Even if the device has a rechargeable battery, you’ve got to throw it away because they don’t sell any refills. If a big puff vape has a rechargeable battery, all the manufacturer has to do is provide you with pod refills and voila, you’ve got a reusable big puff vape kit. This is something many of the top vape brands have started to do as the disposable ban looms closer. In fact, the industry is churning out reusable big puff vapes to fill the void when disposables make their exit, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
The Elf Bar 4 in 1 is a great example of a big puff vape kit that you can still use after the disposable vape ban:
Elf Bar 4 in 1 Pod Kit Bundle
3200 Puffs
4 x 2ml pods
16 Popular Elf Bar Flavours
1500mAh Rechargeable Battery
Simple Setup
Easy Pod Rotation
Vape Four Different Flavours
Save over 20% With Bundle Deal
Which big puff vapes can I use after the disposable ban?
Any big puff vapes that can be recharged and refilled will still be legal after the uk disposable ban. Here’s what to look out for:
Big Puff Disposable VS Reusable Big Puff Alternatives
We’ve made a list of the most popular disposable big puff vapes and offer alternatives that you can use once they’re banned. These reusable options will either be from the same brand or one of equal or better quality, with many providing even more puffs than their disposable counterparts.
Will nicotine-free big puff vapes get banned?
If the device is disposable in nature then yes, nicotine-free big puff vapes will get banned. The disposable ban is not about nicotine content, it's about ensuring that only devices that are reusable are sold and any that cannot be refilled and recharged are no longer available. That being said, there are very few zero nicotine disposable devices available anyway. Most contain 20mg or 10mg strengths of nicotine and reusable big puff vapes will most likely only be available in those options as well. The best way to vape nicotine free is to use a refillable vape kit and purchase a 0mg bottle of vape juice. Read our blog The Best Nicotine Free Vapes to explore the options available.
Are rechargeable disposables still legal?
No, according to the UK government, a vape is not considered reusable if it is rechargeable but not refillable. After 1st June 2025 all vape devices must have coils that can be replaced, pods that can be refilled or swapped out and batteries that can be recharged. All three of these factors make a vape device reusable and therefore legal to sell.
Summary
After the UK disposable vape ban on June 1, 2025, only big puff vapes with rechargeable batteries and replaceable pods will remain legal. Any single-use disposable big puff vapes, including most nicotine-free variants, will be banned. To continue using big puff vapes legally, switch to reusable pod-based systems that comply with the new regulations. We’ve got the best selection of the latest reusable big puff vape kits, choose yours today and get ahead of the ban.
FAQs
What are the best alternatives to disposable vapes?
Look out for any kits that are reusable and rechargeable, such as ones that use multiple prefilled pods like the Avomi Fliq 4 in 1, or vapes that use 5ml or 10ml e-liquid containers like the Uwell Viscore 8000. Both these options allow you to replace the e-liquid when it runs out. This, coupled with the rechargeable battery makes them ideal reusable big puff vape solutions.
Will I still be able to buy disposable vapes online?
After the 1st June 2025 you will no longer be able to buy disposable vapes online in the UK. Retailers still selling disposable vapes after the ban can face a £200 fixed penalty notice from Trading Standards enforcement.
How do I switch from disposables to pod systems?
Choose prefilled pod vapes, they are most similar to disposables and require the least amount of setup and maintenance, and work in much the same way. Most disposable brands will have a reusable prefilled pod version of their popular disposable vapes. For example the popular Elf Bar 600 disposable comes in a reusable version, the Elf Bar 600 Prefilled Pod Kit, and they are practically identical. Or you can read our blog which will help you decide on the best alternatives to disposable vapes.
What vapes aren’t getting banned?
Vapes that are reusable will not get banned. They need to be refillable and rechargeable, with replaceable coils to class as a reusable vape kit. This includes all refillable pod vapes and vapes with tanks and all pre-filled pod systems that provide replacement pods.
Drop your thoughts below!
Prefilled vapes or refilllables? Tell us which reusable vapes you'll be switching to once disposable vapes are banned.