VELO Strengths Explained: Dots to mg

Key takeaways

  • VELO prints strength as dots, and the dots map to milligrams per pouch: 1 dot = 4 mg, 2 = 6 mg, 3 = 8–10 mg, 4 = 11 mg (10.9 mg exactly), 5 = 14 mg, 6 = 17 mg.
  • Three dots covers two different strengths, 8 mg and 10 mg, depending on the product. Read the milligram figure, not just the dots.
  • VELO groups its range into Mellow, Original and Intense. "Extra strong" is retailer shorthand, not a VELO level.
  • Slim cans hold 20 pouches, Mini cans hold 15. Our VELO range runs 4 mg to 17 mg at £4.49 a can.
  • Nicotine is highly addictive. For adults 18 and over who already use nicotine — not for under-18s, non-users, or anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.

What the dots on a VELO can mean

The row of dots on the lid is VELO's own strength scale, running from one to six. Each step corresponds to a nicotine figure per pouch, not per gram — which makes VELO easier to read than brands that print milligrams per gram. The figure is printed on the can alongside the dots.

Dots Nicotine per pouch VELO level Our strength band
1 4 mg Mellow Low
2 6 mg Mellow / Original Low
3 8 mg or 10 mg Original Medium
4 11 mg (10.9 mg) Original Medium
5 14 mg Intense Strong
6 17 mg Intense Strong

The three-dot row is the one that catches people out. VELO uses it for both 8 mg and 10 mg pouches, so two cans with an identical dot count can differ by a quarter in nicotine content. Products such as Lime Flame, Blueberry Ice and Smooth Papaya sit at the lower end of that band, while several mint and fruit lines sit at 10 mg. Check the milligram figure on the can.

The four-dot level is quoted as 11 mg but is 10.9 mg precisely. That is the figure on VELO's own labelling, and it is the reason you will see both numbers used interchangeably by retailers.

VELO's three strength families

Underneath the dots, VELO organises its UK range into three named levels. The names describe intended audience rather than a hard milligram boundary, and the bands overlap at the edges, so the dots remain the more precise guide.

  • Mellow — 4 mg and 6 mg. VELO describes this as suited to new VELO users or those who prefer milder nicotine delivery. One and two dots.
  • Original — 6 mg, 8 mg, 10 mg and 11 mg. The middle of the range, covering two, three and four dots.
  • Intense — 8 mg through to 17 mg, with the highest strengths marked by VELO as for experienced users only. Five and six dots, plus the upper part of three.

You will also see "X-Intense" on some cans. It appears on certain six-dot products and signals the top of the range rather than a separate seventh level.

Slim and Mini: format changes how a strength feels

VELO sells two pouch formats in the UK and they are not interchangeable. Slim is the standard: a longer, thinner pouch, and the format that carries the full 4 mg to 17 mg span. Mini is shorter and sits less noticeably under the lip, and is offered only at the lower strengths — 4 mg and 6 mg.

Can counts differ too. A Slim can holds 20 pouches; a Mini can holds 15. At £4.49 a can across our VELO range, that is about 22p a pouch for a Slim and about 30p for a Mini. Because a Mini pouch is physically smaller, a 6 mg Mini tends to feel lighter in use than a 6 mg Slim even though the nicotine figure is identical.

VELO changed its UK flavour names in 2024

If you are searching for a VELO flavour you remember and cannot find it, this is usually why. In 2024 VELO renamed most of its UK line-up and moved from plain white cans to colour-coded packaging. The pouches themselves did not change; the names did, and a lot of older articles still use the retired ones.

Old UK name Current name
Ice Cool Crispy Peppermint
Freeze Freezing Peppermint
Polar Mint Bright Spearmint
Cooling Storm Peppermint Storm
Tropic Breeze Tropical Mango
Royal Violet Purple Grape
Watermelon Mint Wintry Watermelon

Other names in the current range — Ruby Berry, Icy Berries, Tropical Ice, Strawberry Ice, Cherry Ice, Mango Ice, Mango Flame, Orange Spark, Peach Ice, Spicy Papaya and Tangy Lime — were either unaffected or introduced after the change. The full range is on our VELO collection.

What "VELO extra strong" means

VELO does not sell a level called "extra strong". The phrase is retailer and search shorthand, and unfortunately it is used for two different things. Some sites apply it to the four-dot 10.9 mg pouches; others use it for the five and six-dot Intense pouches at 14 mg and 17 mg.

Because of that ambiguity, treat "extra strong" as a signal to check the actual figure rather than a strength in its own right. If what you want is the strongest VELO sold in the UK, that is the six-dot 17 mg pouch — Freezing Peppermint, Peppermint Storm, Ruby Berry, Tropical Mango and Wintry Watermelon all appear at that level. You may also see older names such as "VELO Max" or "VELO Ultra" in circulation; those belong to the pre-2024 labelling and are not on current UK cans.

Choosing a strength

The sensible approach is to match the band you already use and adjust from there, not to aim for a number. Going up a step multiplies the nicotine you take, and taking more than you are used to commonly brings on nausea, hiccups, dizziness, sweating, headache or a racing heart. Those effects are unpleasant rather than impressive.

Nicotine is highly addictive, and these pouches exist to deliver it. They are for adults aged 18 and over who already use nicotine. If you do not use nicotine, do not start; if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use them. We are a retailer and cannot give health advice — a pharmacist, your GP or NHS Better Health can. For how to use a pouch once you have chosen one, see how to use VELO nicotine pouches.

Frequently asked questions

How many mg is 4 dot VELO?

Four dots is 11 mg per pouch, or 10.9 mg to be exact — both figures refer to the same product. It sits in VELO's Original level and in our medium strength band. It is the strongest of the Original pouches, one step below the five-dot 14 mg Intense.

How many mg is 3 dot VELO?

Either 8 mg or 10 mg, depending on which product you have. VELO uses the same three-dot marking across both, so the dots alone will not tell you. The milligram figure is printed on the can — read that rather than counting dots.

What is the strongest VELO?

Six dots at 17 mg per pouch, which is the top of VELO's UK range. Freezing Peppermint, Peppermint Storm, Ruby Berry, Tropical Mango and Wintry Watermelon are all sold at that level. Nothing in VELO's UK line-up goes above 17 mg.

What does VELO extra strong mean?

It is not an official VELO level. Retailers use it for either the four-dot 10.9 mg pouches or the five and six-dot 14 mg and 17 mg pouches, so the phrase is unreliable. Check the dots and the milligram figure on the can instead of relying on the description.

Is VELO 6 mg strong?

No. Two dots at 6 mg sits at the lower end of VELO's range and in our low strength band. VELO places it in the Mellow and Original levels. For context, the range goes to 17 mg, so 6 mg is roughly a third of the strongest pouch VELO sells in the UK.

How much nicotine is in a VELO Mini?

VELO Minis in the UK are 4 mg or 6 mg per pouch — one or two dots. Mini cans hold 15 pouches rather than the Slim's 20. The smaller pouch also feels lighter in the mouth than a Slim of the same milligram figure.

How many pouches are in a VELO can?

Twenty in a Slim can, fifteen in a Mini. At our price of £4.49 a can that works out at roughly 22p per Slim pouch and 30p per Mini pouch. The count is printed on the can if you want to confirm it.

Sources

This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. For adults aged 18 and over only.

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