Vape Coil Wire

Building Coils With Resistance Wire

Building your own coils gives you control over resistance, vapour and flavour, and it can cost less over time than pre-made heads. All you need is resistance wire, vape wicking cotton and something to build on, such as one of our RDA vape atomisers. The two choices that matter most in the wire itself are the material and the gauge.

Ni80 or Kanthal?

Nichrome, sold as Ni80, is 80% nickel and 20% chromium. It heats up quickly, which makes it popular for builds that need a fast response. Kanthal A1 heats more slowly and is a common starting point for simple round-wire coils. Both are for power (wattage) mode rather than temperature control, so set your mod accordingly. The UD Ni80 24ga Wire gives you 30ft, just over 9m, which is plenty for many builds.

What Gauge Means

Gauge is the wire’s thickness, and a higher number means thinner wire. Thinner wire has more resistance per length, so the same coil wrapped in 24ga reads higher than it would in 20ga. Thicker wire takes longer to heat up but suits higher-power builds. 24ga is a sensible place to start, since it’s easy to handle and wraps neatly.

Build Safely

Always read a new coil’s resistance on your mod before firing it properly, and check it against what your battery can supply. Low-resistance builds draw more current, so a suitable cell from our vape batteries range matters as much as the wire. Our vape tools cover the jigs, cutters and ceramic tweezers that make wrapping and shaping cleaner and easier.

Building on a dripper? The Vandy Vape and Innokin brand pages show the hardware we carry for coil builders.

Prefer Ready-Made?

Building isn’t for everyone, and many vapers are happier with pre-made vape coils, which only need swapping when the flavour fades. If you’re curious about building but haven’t tried it, ask at our Totton vape shop, Hythe vape shop and Holbury vape shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vape coil wire should a beginner use?

24ga is a sensible starting gauge because it’s easy to handle and wraps neatly. Ni80 heats quickly, while Kanthal A1 heats more slowly and is a common choice for simple round-wire coils.

Can I use Ni80 wire in temperature control mode?

No. Ni80 and Kanthal A1 are for power (wattage) mode, so set your mod accordingly.

What does the gauge of coil wire mean?

Gauge is the wire’s thickness, and a higher number means thinner wire. Thinner wire has more resistance per length.