What does mg per pouch mean?
Mg per pouch is the amount of nicotine in each pouch, in milligrams, as stated by the maker. It is the one strength number that means the same thing on every brand's can.
FDA's own list of authorized nicotine pouch products names each product by its mg. For example, it lists ZYN at 3 mg and 6 mg and ZYN ULTRA at 9 mg and 11 mg, and on! at 2 mg and 4 mg with on! PLUS at 6 mg and 9 mg.
What do PouchSelect's strength dots mean?
PouchSelect rates every can on one 6-dot strength scale, and each number of dots stands for one nicotine figure:
| Strength dots | mg per pouch |
|---|---|
| 2 of 6 | 6 mg |
| 3 of 6 | 8 mg |
| 4 of 6 | 10 mg |
| 5 of 6 | 17 mg |
| 6 of 6 | 20 mg |
Because the scale is the same for every brand, 4 dots on a ZYN can and 4 dots on a VELO can mean the same strength.
Why might the lid show different dots?
Makers print their own dots on the lid, and each brand sets its own scale and steps. Those printed dots don't line up across brands, so a can's lid and its PouchSelect rating can show a different number of dots.
When you compare on PouchSelect, use mg per pouch or our 6-dot rating. Here is what the shelf showed at the time of writing (October 2026); the live numbers are on each product page and in the strength guide.
| Brand | mg per pouch on our shelf | Strength dots (of 6) |
|---|---|---|
| ZYN | 6, 8 or 10 mg | 2 to 4 |
| Pablo | Gold Edition: 17 mg | 5 |
| VELO | 6 or 8 mg where rated | 2 or 3 where rated |
How does PouchSelect group strengths?
To make the shelf easy to browse, PouchSelect puts every can into one of four tiers by its mg per pouch, which matches its strength dots.
| Tier | mg per pouch | Strength dots |
|---|---|---|
| Light | up to 4 mg | — |
| Regular | 6 or 8 mg | 2–3 of 6 dots |
| Strong | 10 mg | 4 of 6 dots |
| Extra strong | 17 or 20 mg | 5–6 of 6 dots |
For example, Pablo Gold Edition at 17 mg per pouch (5 of 6 dots) falls in Extra strong.
How do you choose a strength?
If you are new to a brand, start at the strength you already use. Then:
- compare by mg per pouch or by PouchSelect's strength dots; both use one scale for every brand
- check the format too, since the same flavor can come in more than one format at a different strength
- every can on PouchSelect holds 20 pouches
Browse the strength guide to see every can in each tier.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.