How does NiChrome wire perform when vaping?

The main advantage of NiCr80 over Kanthal is the rapid ramp-up: the coil reaches its operating temperature in a fraction of a second. This ensures a crisp, direct flavour – particularly with fruit flavours and menthol e-liquids, the notes come across more precisely. Typical applications Sub-ohm coils in RDAs/RTAs: single or dual coils between 0.2 and 0.5 ohms in the 25–80 watt range. MTL builds: fine NiCr coils with 0.28 mm or 0.3 mm wire gauge, often around 0.8–1.2 ohms. Complex builds: Clapton, Fused Clapton or Alien coils benefit from the fast response. What you shouldn’t do NiCr is not suitable for temperature control mode. For this, you need pure nickel wire (Ni200) or titanium. Anyone who accidentally uses NiCr in TC mode risks burnt-out coils and inaccurate resistance readings.

Verdampfer & Coils

NiCr wire: Understanding nickel-chromium as a resistance wire

Q: What exactly is NiCr?

NiCr stands for nickel-chromium, a metal alloy that has been used for decades in heating elements, toasters and industrial ovens. In the vaping world, you’ll know it primarily as resistance wire for building your own coils. The most common variant is NiCr80: around 80% nickel and 20% chromium. There’s also NiCr60 (60% nickel, 16% chromium, the rest iron), which is technically a nickel-chromium-iron alloy. Unlike Kanthal (FeCrAl, containing aluminium), NiCr contains no aluminium and has a lower specific resistance. This means that, for the same wire gauge and number of turns, you achieve a lower ohm value and the coil heats up faster. NiCr coils operate exclusively in Wattage Mode (VW), not in Temperature Control Mode, as the resistance varies too little across the temperature range.

NiCr (nickel-chromium) resistance wire for self-winding devices: properties, NiCr80, winding tips and what you should look out for when buying - the Swiss guide.

NiCr is a resistance wire made of nickel and chromium which, when used for building your own coils, ensures rapid, even heating and a clean flavour. If you build your own coils, sooner or later you’ll be faced with the choice between Kanthal, stainless steel, Ni80 or NiChrome wire – and the differences are noticeable. In this guide, you’ll find out exactly what NiCr is, how alloys such as NiCr80 perform, what the wire is particularly suited for, and what you should look out for when buying and winding it to ensure a clean and safe vaping experience.

NiCr stands for nickel-chromium, a metal alloy that has been used for decades in heating elements, toasters and industrial ovens. In the vaping world, you’ll know it primarily as resistance wire for building your own coils. The most common variant is NiCr80: around 80% nickel and 20% chromium. There’s also NiCr60 (60% nickel, 16% chromium, the rest iron), which is technically a nickel-chromium-iron alloy.

Unlike Kanthal (FeCrAl, containing aluminium), NiCr contains no aluminium and has a lower specific resistance. This means that, for the same wire gauge and number of turns, you achieve a lower ohm value and the coil heats up faster. NiCr coils operate exclusively in Wattage Mode (VW), not in Temperature Control Mode, as the resistance varies too little across the temperature range.

The main advantage of NiCr80 over Kanthal is the rapid ramp-up: the coil reaches its operating temperature in a fraction of a second. This ensures a crisp, direct flavour – particularly with fruit flavours and menthol e-liquids, the notes come across more precisely.

Typical applications

Sub-ohm coils in RDAs/RTAs: single or dual coils between 0.2 and 0.5 ohms in the 25–80 watt range.
MTL builds: fine NiCr coils with 0.28 mm or 0.3 mm wire gauge, often around 0.8–1.2 ohms.
Complex builds: Clapton, Fused Clapton or Alien coils benefit from the fast response.

What you shouldn’t do

NiCr is not suitable for temperature control mode. For this, you need pure nickel wire (Ni200) or titanium. Anyone who accidentally uses NiCr in TC mode risks burnt-out coils and inaccurate resistance readings.

Check the alloy: NiCr80 (80/20) is the standard for vaping. NiCr60 has a higher resistance but burns out faster.
Choose the right wire gauge: 0.25 mm (AWG 30) for MTL fine builds, 0.4 mm (AWG 26) for moderate sub-ohm setups, 0.5 mm (AWG 24) for high-power setups.
Be aware of nickel allergies: NiCr80 contains 80% nickel. If you have a known nickel allergy, it is better to opt for Kanthal or SS316L stainless steel.
Wire quality: Cleanly drawn, residue-free resistance wire heats up evenly. Cheap wire often exhibits hotspots and uneven heating patterns.
Prepare the battery mod: Only use regulated mods with ohm measurement or tested mechanical setups with an ohmmeter. Below 0.15 ohms, experience is required.
Burn-in the coil before vaping: Use short pulses from the inside out until the wire turns an even red – this eliminates hotspots.

A handy tip from everyday use: If your NiCr coil develops dark spots during annealing that cannot be brushed off, this is usually caused by cotton wool or e-liquid residue. A dry burn at low power followed by brushing with ceramic tweezers will get the wire back on track.

Is NiCr80 the same as Ni80?

Yes. ‘Ni80’ and ‘NiCr80’ refer to the same resistance wire, consisting of around 80% nickel and 20% chromium. The abbreviation Ni80 is more common in the vaping community, but NiCr80 is technically correct.

Can I use NiCr in temperature control mode?

No. NiCr alloys have too low a temperature coefficient for reliable TC control. For temperature control, you need Ni200, titanium or SS316L.

Which wire gauge for which application?

For MTL at around 1 ohm, 0.3 mm NiCr80 is suitable. For sub-ohm dual coils around 0.3 ohm, use 0.4 mm. For vapour-intensive builds, use 0.5 mm or Clapton variants.

How long does a NiCr coil last?

With clean e-liquid and regular dry-burns, hand-wound coils last 1–3 weeks. Highly sweetened e-liquids significantly shorten the lifespan because sugar residues burn into the coil.

NiCr remains one of the most reliable resistance wires for DIY coiling – provided you choose the right alloy and wire gauge for your setup. For beginners, NiCr80 in 0.4 mm is a good all-rounder; advanced vapers can experiment with Claptons and more complex builds. You’ll find suitable materials, pre-made coils and accessories in our selection of coils and atomiser heads, and if you’re completely new to building coils, it’s worth taking a look at the atomiser category to compare RDAs and RTAs.