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Guide

Cartridge mouthpiece types and what each one changes

By the Empty Vapes trade desk. Published 2026-08-21, last updated 2026-08-21. How we write these.

The mouthpiece is the only part of a cartridge the customer touches, and it is also the last few millimetres of the airpath. Shape, material and fitting method are three separate decisions, and only one of them is visible in a product photo.

What the mouthpiece actually does

Three jobs, and they pull against each other. It closes the top of the tank, so a poor fit is a leak path. It forms the final section of the airpath, so its internal bore adds to the draw resistance. And it rests against the lip, so it carries heat, comfort and most of the impression of quality a customer forms in the first second.

Internal bore is not the same as external shape, and this is where specifications go wrong. Two mouthpieces that photograph identically can be bored differently. CCELL states for its Flex platform that the mouthpiece internal structure differs by tank size even where the body is shared. Ask for the internal dimension rather than the silhouette.

The three common types compared

One caution before the table. Flat and round describe a shape. Ceramic tip describes a material, and a ceramic tip can be flat or round. Catalogues list all three side by side as though they were points on one scale, and the table follows that convention because it is how buyers meet them.

Flat, round and ceramic tip mouthpieces compared
 Flat (duckbill)Round (bullet)Ceramic tip
What the name describesA shape: wide and flattened at the tipA shape: a narrow tapered cylinderA material, in either shape
Feel at the lipBroad contact, sits like a flat strawSmall contact patch, familiar to cigarette usersDepends on the shape chosen; the surface feels harder and denser
Draw characterUsually a wider bore, so more open unless restricted elsewhereUsually a narrower bore, so tighter at the same intakeSet by the bore, not the material
Heat at the lipHeat spreads across a wider areaConcentrated on a smaller areaCeramic holds heat differently to plastic, so the tip warms more slowly and stays warm longer
Usual materialMoulded plastic or metalMoulded plastic, metal or ceramicCeramic, sometimes with a metal collar
Condensation pathA wide bore spreads condensate over a larger surfaceA narrow bore concentrates it, so the user noticesNo material advantage; the bore geometry decides it
Branding surfaceLargest flat face, easiest to print or etchCurved and small, harder to brand cleanlyTakes a different decoration process to plastic, so often left plain
Relative costLowest in moulded plasticLow to mid, rising with metalHighest of the three, and heavier per unit for freight
Handling riskFlexible tips can deform in transitSurvives transit well, and marks show on gloss finishesChips if dropped, so reject rates on inspection tend to be higher

Material is a separate choice from shape

Catalogue ranges make this explicit. CCELL lists mouthpiece material options for its TH2-EVO cartridge as ceramic, metal, plastic, biodegradable PLA and wood, and separately lists shape options as duckbill, bullet, hourglass and barrel. Treat those as two independent columns on your order form rather than one list of styles.

  • Plastic. Food-grade grades such as PCTG are the default because they mould cheaply, survive being dropped and hold tight tolerances. They scratch, and a gloss finish shows every mark by the time it reaches a shelf. The PCTG and glass guide covers the polymer in more detail.
  • Ceramic. Inert, dense and heavier in the hand. Buyers choose it for the impression rather than for a measurable performance gain at the lip. See zirconia against standard ceramic for what the word covers.
  • Metal. Durable, easy to brand by laser, and it conducts heat, so a metal tip on a device that runs warm is a comfort decision as much as a cosmetic one.
  • Wood and PLA. Specified for sustainability positioning. Both vary more unit to unit than a moulded polymer, so agree the cosmetic defect standard before the run.

Whatever the material, ask for the food-contact declaration for the part that touches the lip. It is separate from the RoHS and REACH file, and it is the one most often missing.

Snap-fit against screw-on

The fitting method touches your filling line, and it is often settled by the hardware rather than by preference. CCELL lists its TH2-EVO with snap-fit or screw-on tops at 0.5 ml and 1 ml, and snap-fit only at 1.2 ml, so the capacity you pick can remove the choice.

Snap-fit wins on throughput. CCELL states that snap-fit mouthpieces on the Flex and TH2-EVO can be batch-capped 50 pieces at a time, and 18 at a time on its Mini Tank. A press that seats fifty caps in one stroke is a different operation from capping by hand. The cost is that a snapped cap is not meant to be removed and refitted, so a unit that fails inspection after capping is usually scrap.

Screw-on wins on serviceability and thread engagement, and it caps one unit at a time. Neither method is a child-resistant closure on its own; that is a separate certified feature covered in child-resistant certification.

What to specify when you order

  • Shape and internal bore. Name the shape, then give the bore dimension and tolerance. Without the second, the first means very little for draw. Our airflow guide sets out how the bore combines with the intake.
  • Material and grade. Not just plastic, but which polymer, with the food-contact evidence attached.
  • Fitting method. Snap-fit or screw-on, confirmed as available at your capacity and against how you intend to cap.
  • Colour and decoration. Each colour is its own setup, so variants raise the minimum. See MOQ explained.
  • Samples before the run. Lip comfort is not judgeable from a drawing. Fill a sample with your own oil and hand it to someone who has not seen the specification.

Stock 510 cartridges start from around 500 units with no container minimum, and made-to-order runs take around six weeks after sign-off, which leaves room to sample a shortlist first. CE, RoHS, REACH and EU Battery Regulation documentation is available on request and WEEE support is available; the market registrations remain with whoever places the finished product on the market. See compliance.

FAQ

Does the mouthpiece shape change the draw?
The internal bore does, the external silhouette does not. A mouthpiece is the last section of the airpath, so a narrow bore adds resistance and a wide one removes it. Two mouthpieces that look identical from outside can be bored differently, which is why the internal dimension belongs on the specification and the shape name does not.
Is a ceramic tip better than a plastic one?
It is different, not better. Ceramic is inert, feels solid and is usually specified where the brand wants a premium impression. It is also heavier, more brittle if dropped and more expensive per unit than moulded plastic. Plastic tips in food-grade grades such as PCTG are lighter, cheaper and survive handling, and they mark more easily.
Should I choose a snap-fit or a screw-on mouthpiece?
Snap-fit if you are filling at any volume, because snap-fit tops can be capped in batches rather than one at a time. Screw-on if you expect the cap to be removed and refitted, or if you want the extra thread engagement. Availability varies by tank size, so confirm which options exist for the capacity you have chosen before you design the packaging.

Sources

Trade guidance for B2B buyers, not legal advice. We sell empty hardware only; you are responsible for the fill and for finished-product compliance in your market.

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