How Long Do Vape Carts Last? (Delta 8, THC & CBD)

How many hits does a cart have? Here’s what to consider

The size of your cart

Different extracts have unique qualities and potencies

From THC to CBD, vapers can find a range of extract types, including oils extracted with butane and CO2, distillates, and more. Consistency and potency will often impact how many puffs you can get out of your cart. For instance, substances like live resins are often more potent than processed oils. The user doesn’t need to consume much to get high, when compared to butane hash oil (BHO).

On the topic of potency, this plays a strong role in how long a THC, CBD, or delta 8 cart can last. More potent oils often necessitate shorter draws (and therefore less oil consumed) in each typical puff.

Consider how often you take a hit

Half gram cart versus full gram: choosing your cart size

However, it’s not always best to pick the larger cart size, especially if your vaping habits are inconsistent. Carts that sit around untouched are far more likely to become clogged. Unused THC or CBD oil carts can even experience heat damage, bacteria growth, and a decrease in potency. Just because the cart lasts longer, doesn’t mean it’s always the best bet.

Although there’s no way to perfectly estimate how long a cart lasts based on its size, there’s a range to keep in mind.

How long does a 0.5 gram cartridge last ? What about 1 gram?

If you’re sticking to puffs under three seconds, most 0.5-gram carts will last between 80 and 160 puffs. A typical 1-gram oil cart should keep going twice as long—for 160 to 320 puffs.

Based on these numbers, a weed cart can last for as little as a week or two with frequent use.  Individuals taking several puffs a day may find 0.5-gram carts inconvenient, due to the regular need to replace them. A 1-gram alternative could be the preferable option for dedicated cannabis vapers.

Someone who casually hits their vape once a day may make a half-gram cart last for a couple of months or more. To decrease the risk of your vape leaking or losing potency, avoid larger carts if you aren’t regularly using them.

As we mentioned, this is based on draws under three seconds. It’s not recommended that you take draws that are longer than this, and doing so will deplete your liquid even faster. There’s also an increased risk of burning the oil or cart, leading to damage and lower potency.

Vaping style and your weed cart’s lifespan

How long are your draws?

How often are you using your weed vape?

What voltage setting are you using?

How long does a weed cartridge last? (Delta 9 versus delta 8 THC)

Generally speaking, when you hear someone refer to a “THC cart,” they’re referring to delta 9 carts. This is the type of cart most commonly used to get high in states with legal marijuana, due to the powerful psychoactive effects of delta 9 THC.

Delta 8 is another form of THC—made from federally legal hemp-derived CBD—that has seen increased popularity in recent years. While delta 8 also gets you high, it’s less potent and has a milder impact on the user.

Technically, whether a cart contains delta 8 or delta 9 THC doesn’t have a direct effect on how long a cart of the same size lasts. The cart user’s intentions should be accounted for, however. If the individual is looking to achieve a powerful, sustained high with delta 8, they’ll need to consume more oil than if they opt for delta 9.

So, if getting high is your goal, a delta 9 cart is going to last much longer than the same-sized delta 8 cart. The puff estimates we provided above generally apply to both of these cannabinoids.

Puff frequency and weed tolerance

Tolerance is a well-known phenomenon among weed users. Consuming THC on a regular basis can lead to increased tolerance, meaning your body needs more of the drug to achieve the same high. (There is much debate over CBD tolerance. Some research indicates a reverse tolerance, where less CBD is needed over time to achieve the same effects. But that’s not proven.)

Not only do heavy, frequent puffs lead to more oil consumption, but they can also increase the user’s threshold for becoming high. This can turn into an unfortunate cycle where more and more oil is consumed for the same effects, leading carts to empty after just a few days of use.

Pace yourself, and try not to consume more oil than needed to reach your goal. This is especially important if you’d rather not invest in a new cart every few days. That kind of use can quickly develop into an expensive habit.

Choosing the best weed cart for your use