A trade buyer's guide to vape spec sheets: capacity, battery, coil, resistance, charging, nicotine, puff method, packaging and the red flags to check.
Quick answer: A useful vape spec sheet answers six questions: how much liquid, what battery, what coil and resistance, how it charges, what nicotine options exist and how the puff figure was produced. If any of those are missing, the sheet is a sales page, not a specification.
Wholesale buyers compare dozens of similar devices. The difference is usually not the headline puff number; it is whether the supplier can document the hardware consistently. This guide is a checklist for reading a spec sheet before a sample or carton order.
The six fields that matter most
| Field | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| E-liquid capacity | ml per device, and whether it is combined or per chamber | Supports the puff claim and the price |
| Battery | mAh, rechargeable or not, charging port | Determines whether the device can finish its liquid |
| Coil | Mesh or wire, single or multi, resistance | Affects draw, vapour and consistency |
| Nicotine | Strength options and whether they are separate SKUs | Prevents ordering the wrong variant |
| Puff rating | Test method, draw length, calculated or measured | Makes cross-supplier comparison possible |
| Packaging | Units per box, boxes per carton, carton weight | Affects freight and cash per order |
Capacity: ml is more useful than a puff number
Two 100K devices can carry different amounts of e-liquid. Ask for the ml figure and whether it is a single reservoir or several chambers. A multi-chamber device may list a total capacity, but each chamber may be smaller. That changes how the flavour switch works and how the device should be described.
Battery and charging: the hidden specification
A device with a large reservoir but a small battery may need several charges to finish the liquid. Check the mAh, the charging port and whether the device can be used while charging. If the supplier does not state the port type, ask; Type-C, micro-USB and proprietary docks are not interchangeable.
Coil and resistance: look for a number
“Mesh coil” is a category, not a specification. A useful sheet says single, dual or quad mesh and gives the resistance, such as 0.8Ω or 1.2Ω. For multi-flavour devices, the coil may be shared across chambers or separate per chamber; that affects the flavour transition.
Nicotine: check whether it is a variant or a claim
List the actual strengths and confirm whether each strength is a separate SKU or a selectable option within one carton. A sheet that says “2% / 5%” without saying how the carton is split is incomplete for ordering.
Puff rating: the method is part of the spec
Ask whether the puff number is calculated from liquid volume, measured on a machine, or carried over from a previous model. A 600K label on a device with the same hardware as a 120K model may be a packaging change rather than a hardware change. That is not automatically a problem, but the buyer should know.
Packaging and carton data
- Units per inner box
- Inner boxes per carton
- Carton dimensions and gross weight
- Whether the carton can be mixed across flavours
- Whether a display box is included
These numbers decide the landed cost per unit and the cash tied up in a first order. A cheap unit price with a large carton can be more expensive than a higher unit price with a smaller carton.
Red flags on a supplier sheet
| Red flag | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Puff number with no capacity or coil | Marketing sheet, not a spec sheet |
| Battery mAh missing | Hardware may vary by batch |
| “Mesh coil” with no resistance | Insufficient detail for comparison |
| Nicotine strengths without carton split | Order may arrive in an unexpected mix |
| No carton weight or dimensions | Freight cost cannot be calculated |
A simple supplier scorecard
Score each supplier from 0 to 2 on the six core fields, then add a point for carton data and a point for a named contact. A supplier with 12/14 is easier to onboard than one with a glossy PDF and no battery number. Keep the scorecard with the sample notes so the next order starts from evidence.
Verify the sheet against the sample
When the sample arrives, check the printed box and the device against the sheet. Confirm the capacity, battery, coil resistance and nicotine strength. If the sample and the sheet disagree, stop and ask which version will ship. A spec sheet is only useful if it matches the carton.
FAQ
What is the most important field on a vape spec sheet?
E-liquid capacity in ml, because it supports the puff claim and the price. Battery and coil come next.
Is a higher puff number always better?
No. A higher number can mean a larger device, a different test method or simply a new label. Compare capacity, battery and coil before deciding.
Should I accept a spec sheet without a carton weight?
Ask for it before ordering. Without carton dimensions and weight, the freight and landed cost cannot be checked properly.
Next step: use the current catalogue to shortlist products, then ask the trade desk for a spec and carton sheet.
Related reading: How to read a vape wholesale price list and Vape carton economics: unit price and MOQ.
Scope and sourcing: Commercial buying guide for trade buyers, not medical or legal advice. Specifications are supplier-provided and should be confirmed against the current batch and packaging. See our editorial policy.
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