Coil compatibility: how to find the right coil for your tank or pod

A coil head has to do three jobs at once: seal against the tank so liquid does not leak, line up its wicking holes with the liquid, and make electrical contact with the base. Every tank family is designed around a particular coil shape, diameter, height and thread or push-fit.

Brands build coil families so that one coil series fits several of their own tanks and kits. That is handy, because it means your coil spares often fit a newer tank from the same maker.

But coils from different families, even from the same brand, are rarely interchangeable. Two coils can look nearly identical yet differ by a fraction of a millimetre, which is enough to cause leaks or a "no atomiser" error.

Finding the right coil takes less than a minute if you know where to look. Start with the easiest source and work down the list.

The old coil itself is often the best clue. Most coils have the series name and resistance printed or engraved on the side, for example "GTX 0.6 ohm" or "PnP-VM5 0.2 ohm".

If you have lost the box and the coil is unreadable, search for your tank or kit name on our site. The coil product pages list compatible devices, so you can match from either direction.

Here is a quick reference for some of the coil families in our coils range. Each one fits the tanks or kits named in its listing. Always double-check the product page for your exact model, as kit generations sometimes change coil series.

The Innokin Prism S coils fit the Endura T20-S tank and kit, while the Caliburn G and G2 coils slot into the Caliburn G and G2 pods.

Notice that most families offer several resistances. That means you can change the feel of your vape without changing the tank.

Once you know the series, the next choice is resistance. Most families come in several, and the number decides how the coil feels.

As a rule, higher resistance gives a tighter draw at lower power, ideal for 50/50 and nic salts. Lower resistance gives a looser draw, more vapour and suits thicker 70/30 liquids at lower nicotine. Our guide to coil ohms explains this in depth.

Also check your device can deliver the power. A 0.15 ohm coil may fit a tank perfectly, but if your mod tops out at 40W, it will never perform as intended. Pick your situation below.

The most common compatibility mistake is buying by appearance. Coils from different families can look almost identical, especially in product photos. Always go by the series name, not the look.

Another is mixing generations. Some kits have a version two that uses a different coil or pod. The Vaporesso Xros Corex pods are a good example: the 0.4 ohm version only works in certain series, even though it fits physically.

Run through this checklist before ordering spares. It takes ten seconds and saves you a return. If you do get it wrong, our returns page explains what to do with unopened coils.

Coil compatibility feels confusing at first, but it boils down to one habit: find the series name and buy by that, never by appearance. Everything else, from resistance to pack size, is personal preference.

If your tank uses a coil series that has become hard to find, it might be time for a new tank. Choosing one that uses a widely stocked family means spares will be easy for years.

Keep the box your tank came in, or snap a photo of the coil information on it. It is the fastest way to answer the question next time. When the new coils arrive, prime them properly before use. Our coil changing guide takes you through the swap.