Do Vapes Have Calories? Learn About Caloric Intake and Vaping

When it comes to health and wellness, it’s natural to wonder about everything you put in—or inhale into—your body. If you’re a regular vaper or considering trying it, you might be asking: do vapes have calories? It's a fair question, especially if you're watching your diet or tracking your intake closely. Let’s break it down.

Calories are a unit of energy. Your body uses calories from food and drinks to fuel everything from brain function to physical movement. When we talk about counting calories, we’re usually referring to what we eat and drink—not what we breathe in. But when it comes to vaping, things get a little more nuanced.

Technically, yes, vape juices (also known as e-liquids or vape oils) can contain calories. Vape liquids are generally made up of a combination of:

• Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
  
  
• Propylene Glycol (PG)
  
  
• Flavorings
  
  
• Cannabinoids (like CBD, CBG, CBN and THC)

VG is derived from plant oils and contains around 4 calories per gram, similar to sugar alcohols. PG, on the other hand, has fewer calories, but still contributes a tiny amount. Flavorings may also have trace calories depending on their ingredients. Cannabinoids do not have a significant caloric content.

Here’s the important part: just because vape liquid contains calories doesn't mean your body absorbs them the same way you would if you ate or drank them. When you vape, you’re heating the liquid to create an aerosol (vapor), which you inhale into your lungs—not your stomach. Your lungs are not designed to absorb and metabolize calories the way your digestive system is.

So, while there may be trace amounts of calories in the vapor, the body does not process them as it would with food. The vast majority of those calories are exhaled or burned off during the heating process.

The short answer: No, not in any meaningful way.

Even if vape juice contains calories from VG or flavorings, the amount absorbed by the body is negligible—if any at all. Vaping isn’t a substitute for food, and it certainly isn’t going to affect your daily caloric intake enough to influence weight gain or loss.

However, it's worth noting that some vapers may find themselves craving snacks, especially if they use sweet or dessert-flavored vapes. This isn’t due to the vape itself having calories, but rather because the flavors might trigger hunger or cravings, similar to smelling a bakery.

CBD and THC vapes, like those from CleanAF, typically use the same base ingredients (VG, PG, or other carrier oils), and the same rules apply. Even full-spectrum hemp vape products with natural flavoring may contain trace calories in the liquid, but you’re not metabolizing them through digestion, so it doesn’t count as caloric intake.

Do vapes have calories? Technically, yes. Do those calories matter to your diet or weight? No, not really.

Unless you're literally drinking the vape juice (which you absolutely should not do), the caloric impact of vaping is virtually nonexistent. That said, always pay attention to how vaping affects your cravings or snacking habits—and as always, moderation is key.

Looking for calorie-free calm?
Check out CleanAF's line of CBD vapes and THC vapes, designed to deliver smooth relaxation without the sugar, calories, or clutter. Lab-tested, USA-grown hemp, and always CleanAF.