MTL and DTL are common vapes. It is important to choose the right vaping style for different people. By purchasing two types of vapes and consulting experienced users, the IGET vape disposable team has summarised the seven main differences between mouth-to-lung vapes vs direct-to-lung vapes.
- Nicotine Concentration
- E-liquid
- Coil Type
- Method Of Use
- Safety
- Suitable For People
- Cost
Here’s all the information you need to know to help you determine which is better for you.
What Are MTL Vapes

MTL vapes are a vapour inhaled into the mouth and held there for 2-3 seconds, then completely inhaled into the lungs and exhaled out. It’s very similar to how traditional cigarettes are smoked.
Pros:
- Best choice for quitting vaping
- Less consumption of vape juice
- Better taste
- Higher nicotine content
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Vapour is weaker than DTL
- Can’t accommodate big hits
- Chance you can whinge that it feels “outdated”
What Are DTL Vapes
DTL vapes (I GET vape bar plus) inhale vapour directly into the lungs without holding it in the mouth. It requires a slow and smooth inhale (2.8 seconds on average) with almost no throat hit at all, but has a larger vapour than MTL vapes.
Pros:
- Way more satisfying
- Way bigger clouds
- Simple inhalation
Cons:
- Strong tingling sensation in the throat
- PG and nicotine restrictions
- Cotton burn risk
Mouth-to-lung Vapes Vs Direct-to-lung Vapes:
Nicotine Concentration
Mouth-to-lung | Direct-to-lung |
Depends on your needs | Lower nicotine concentration |
Higher nicotine concentration for heavy vapers | 0%、0.3%、0.6% |
MTL vapes typically require a higher concentration of nicotine due to the smaller inhalation volume.
DTL vapes rely on high-powered devices to produce large amounts of vapour and inhale more total nicotine.
Therefore, DTL vapes are better suited to be paired with a lower concentration of nicotine liquid, such as 0% or 0.3%.
E-liquid
Mouth-to-lung | Direct-to-lung | |
VG/PG Ratio | 50/50 or higher PG | Thinner, high flowability |
E-liquid Consistency | 70/30 or higher VG | Thicker, high VG content |
Consumption Rate | Slow | Fast |
MTL vapes use e-liquids with a high percentage of PG for a smoother flavour and richer vapour that won’t harm your throat.
Alternatively, you can use nicotine salts, which provide a stronger, faster nicotine hit.
DTL vapes generally use liquids with a higher VG ratio. Common VG/PG ratios are 70/30 and 80/20.
Another advantage of MTL is the slower consumption of vape liquid compared to DTL, reducing costs.

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Coil Type
The biggest difference between MTL and DTL coils is the amount of resistance. MTL requires less vapour and uses higher resistance coils, with resistance higher than 1Ω. However, there are now low-resistance coils made specifically for MTL.
In contrast, DTL has higher vapour and lower resistance (less than 1Ω) coils. 0.5Ω is ideal.
In addition, many DTL vapes are designed with a mesh or 3d grid to increase the contact area with the vape liquid and increase the vapour.
Method Of Use
The biggest difference between MTL and DTL usage is whether or not the vapour needs to stay in the mouth.
The former inhales the vapour into the mouth, then into the lungs, and then exhales the vapour. Similar to how a cigarette box cigar is smoked.
The latter inhales vapour directly and deeply into the lungs and then exhales.
Safety
There is no absolute that is safer in terms of safety between MTL and DTL.
DTL inhales more vapour, which means that larger amounts of chemicals (including glycerin, propylene glycol, flavours, etc.) enter the lungs, and long-term high-frequency use may increase the burden on the lungs.
MTL is easier to control nicotine intake, but long-term high-frequency use still carries the risk of addiction.
Both modalities should be monitored for long-term frequent use, especially for signs of lung discomfort, dry cough or shortness of breath.
Suitable For People
MTL vapes provide a feeling similar to traditional cigarettes, which is more suitable for beginners and quitters compared to DTL vapes.
While DTL vapes need a large vapour and open airflow crowd, it is more suitable for veteran players who pursue large vapour and flavour.
Cost
MTL vapes cost less and are suitable for daily frugal use due to their low power, slow oil consumption and long device life.
DTL vapes usually have high power, fast e liquids NZ consumption, and high battery requirements, making them more costly to use overall, especially for those who are looking for a big vapour experience.
MTL VS DTL: How to Choose?
MTL | DTL | |
Vaping Style | Suck in one’s mouth | Pulmonary aspiration |
Vapour | Few | Many |
Nicotine Concentration | High | Low |
Throat Hit | Strong | Weak or moderate |
Operating Power | Low | High |
E-liquid Consumption | Slow | Fast |
If you’re looking for a realistic smoking experience (as a cigarette replacement), we recommend using MTL (mouth-to-lung).
If you prefer bigger clouds and deeper lung inhales, DTL (direct-to-lung) is the better choice.
Learn More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2HIFHoxOWs&pp=ygUGI3JkdGx0
Instruction
MTL and DTL are different in the way they are used, the nicotine concentration used, the speed of e-juice consumption, the vapour, and the coil type, and they are suitable for different people.
MTL focuses on restoring the traditional vaping sensation and is suitable for people who want to quit vaping. DTL focuses on creating a strong throat hit, which is more challenging for the more experienced.
Whether you choose MTL or DTL, both can bring you different feelings. To learn more about MTL or DTL, you can visit the IGET Vape Store for more surprises.