Overview

Two cans can show the same number and hit completely differently. One brand prints nicotine per pouch, another prints concentration per gram, and pouch weights range from roughly 0.3 g to over 1 g. This guide explains both numbers, gives you the conversion in either direction, and shows how nicotine pouch strength maps onto the four bands we sort our range into.

Table of contents

• The two numbers on the can
• The conversion, both directions
• Proof: one brand, one concentration, two different bands
• Why the number on the can isn't the nicotine you get
• Pouch formats and what they weigh
• The four strength bands
• What the strengths in our range actually mean
• Picking your number
• FAQ
• Glossary

Key takeaways

• mg/pouch is the total nicotine in one portion. mg/g is the concentration of the material inside it. They are not interchangeable.
• Pouch weight is the missing variable. mg/pouch = mg/g × pouch weight in grams.
• Same concentration, different format = different strength. One brand can sell four products at a single concentration ranging from 16 mg to 35 mg per pouch.
• Neither number tells you what you absorb. Moisture, pH and how long you keep the pouch in decide how much nicotine is actually released.
• We sort by mg per pouch, not concentration. Low is 1–11 mg, Medium 12–20 mg, Strong 21–40 mg, Extra Strong over 40 mg.
• Format matters as much as the number. A slim and a large pouch at the same mg per pouch feel different because release rate differs.

The two numbers on the can

Nicotine per pouch (mg/pouch or mg/portion) is the absolute amount of nicotine in a single portion. This is the number most Swedish and international brands lead with, and it's the number shown on every product page across our nicotine pouch range. When ZYN Cool Mint Slim says 9 mg, that's 9 mg of nicotine in the pouch you put under your lip.

Nicotine per gram (mg/g) is a concentration — how much nicotine there is in each gram of pouch material. It says nothing about how big the pouch is. A can printed 33 mg/g could be a tiny mini portion or a long portion weighing three times as much.

Brands and retailers mix these two freely, which is why a shelf full of "extra strong" labels is close to meaningless until you convert.

The conversion, both directions

You need one extra piece of information: the weight of a single pouch. That's usually on the can as net weight divided by number of portions.

mg/g to mg per pouch
mg/g × pouch weight (g) = mg per pouch
Example: 33 mg/g × 0.5 g = 16.5 mg per pouch

mg per pouch to mg/g
mg per pouch ÷ pouch weight (g) = mg/g
Example: 16.8 mg ÷ 0.7 g = 24 mg/g

Finding pouch weight
net weight of can (g) ÷ number of portions = pouch weight (g)
Example: 11 g ÷ 22 portions = 0.5 g

That's the whole method. Everything below is what happens when you apply it.

Proof: one brand, one concentration, two different bands

Siberia's All White range is the clearest demonstration of why concentration alone is useless. Every product below is the same material at the same concentration — only the format changes.

The Ultra Slim contains 33 mg/g and 16.5 mg per pouch at 0.5 g per portion, with 22 portions in an 11 g can, while the Long portion, at the identical 33 mg/g, carries 35.4 mg per pouch across 14 portions weighing around 1.07 g each. Same concentration on every label. More than double the nicotine in one of them, and two different bands on our shelf.

Now flip it. A can of ZYN Menthol Ice Slim also lists 16.5 mg per pouch — matching the Siberia Ultra Slim almost exactly on paper, despite the two brands sitting at opposite ends of most "strongest nicotine pouches" lists. The per-pouch number is where the honest comparison happens. Browse the full Siberia range and ZYN range and check the figures yourself.

Why the number on the can isn't the nicotine you get

Labelled content is what's in the pouch. It is not what crosses into your system. Three things sit in between:

1. Moisture. A moist pouch starts releasing within seconds. A dry pouch releases slowly and steadily over a much longer period. Two pouches with identical mg can feel like different products because of this alone.
2. pH. Higher pH means more of the nicotine is in free-base form, which absorbs faster through the gum. This is why some brands feel sharper than their mg would suggest.
3. Time under the lip. Nicotine keeps releasing for as long as the pouch is in. Take it out at five minutes and most of what you paid for goes in the bin.

So the mg figure is a ceiling, not a dose. Treat it as a way to rank products against each other — not as a measurement of what you'll feel.

Pouch formats and what they weigh

Use these as a sanity check, then confirm against the can. If a product is listed as a slim but the maths gives you 1.1 g per pouch, one of the numbers is wrong.

The four strength bands

Once everything is converted to mg per pouch, our whole catalogue sorts into four bands. This is the scale we use across the site, so you can shop straight to the level you want.

Notice what this does to the Siberia example above. Every one of those products is 33 mg/g, but the Ultra Slim lands in Medium while the Super Slim, Slim and Long all land in Strong. One concentration, two bands. That's the whole argument for converting before you compare.

What the strengths in our range actually mean

Everything we stock is listed by nicotine per pouch, so no conversion is needed to compare across brands here:

Note how tight that spread is, and how differently it reads once you know a Low pouch and a Medium pouch can sit barely 1 mg apart. The band tells you roughly where you are; the number tells you exactly. You can filter the catalogue either way on our strength page, or browse by taste on the flavour page.

Picking your number

If you're moving between products, work from what you're already using rather than from the marketing label:

1. Convert your current can to mg per pouch.
2. Find which band that figure falls into: Low, Medium, Strong or Extra Strong.
3. Stay in that band for your first comparison, and look for something within roughly 2 mg of your current figure.
4. Keep the format the same too — changing strength and format at once tells you nothing.
5. Adjust only after a full can. One pouch on one day isn't a fair test.

Moving up a band is a bigger jump than the numbers suggest, because format and moisture usually change alongside the mg. If you're stepping up, step one band at a time.

For a fuller walkthrough of where to start, see how to choose your nicotine strength. If you're comparing the big three brands specifically, ZYN vs VELO vs LOOP covers how pouch size and delivery differ between them.

Once you've settled on a strength, buying more cans at once brings the per-can price down — see why buying in bulk saves you up to 16%. We ship from Sweden with tracked delivery, and orders over €110 ship free — details on our shipping page.

Frequently asked questions

Is mg/g or mg per pouch the better measure of nicotine pouch strength?
Nicotine per pouch, for comparing products. Concentration per gram only becomes meaningful once you also know the pouch weight.

How do I convert mg/g to mg per pouch?
Multiply the concentration by the pouch weight in grams. 33 mg/g × 0.5 g = 16.5 mg per pouch.

Where do I find the pouch weight?
Divide the can's net weight by the number of portions. Both figures are printed on the can.

What counts as a strong nicotine pouch?
There's no official industry scale, so every shop draws the line somewhere different. We sort by nicotine per pouch: 1–11 mg is Low, 12–20 mg is Medium, 21–40 mg is Strong, and anything above 40 mg is Extra Strong.

Which strength band should I start in?
Most people land in Medium. If you're converting from another pouch, match your current mg per pouch rather than picking by the band name — an 11 mg Low and a 12 mg Medium are practically the same pouch.

Does a higher mg number always mean a stronger experience?
No. Moisture, pH and how long you keep the pouch in affect how quickly nicotine is released, so two pouches at the same mg can feel very different.

Why do different shops list different strengths for the same product?
Usually because one is quoting mg/g and the other mg per pouch for the same can. Convert both before assuming one is wrong.

Glossary

Related reading

• How to choose your nicotine strength
• ZYN vs VELO vs LOOP — what's the difference?
• Why buying in bulk saves you up to 16%
• Shop nicotine pouches by strength

Nicotine is an addictive substance. These products are intended for adults aged 18 and over only.