Quick answer
A cannabis vape operates between 160°C and 230°C (320°F to 446°F). THC vaporizes at 157°C. CBD vaporizes between 160°C and 180°C. Terpenes vaporize between 107°C and 198°C. Above 230°C the coil scorches plant material and benzene forms. Most factory presets sit near 190°C.
Temperature chart in Celsius
- 120°C to 150°C: Flavor band. Caryophyllene (119°C) and humulene (107°C) release. THC and CBD stay bound in the material. Vapor output is thin.
- 150°C to 165°C: First cannabinoid band. THC boils at 157°C. Pinene (155°C) and myrcene (167°C) release. Effect is mild.
- 165°C to 185°C: Flavor and cannabinoid band. CBD boils at 160°C to 180°C. Limonene (176°C) releases. Vapor is dense and cool.
- 185°C to 205°C: Standard band for most users. CBN (185°C), terpinolene (186°C), and linalool (198°C) release. Vapor is warm.
- 205°C to 230°C: Heavy band. CBC releases near 220°C. Terpenes break down. Vapor is harsh on the throat.
- Above 230°C: Combustion band. Benzene and other irritants form. Plant material chars and tastes burnt.
Why 230°C is the ceiling
Benzene is a known carcinogen. Research published in the Journal of Cannabis Research reports benzene in cannabis vapor at 230°C and higher. The compound tracks with temperature, not with the amount of herb in the chamber. A device that tops out at 220°C keeps the session below that threshold. Devices that reach 260°C or 300°C cross it.
Celsius against Fahrenheit
US devices label temperature in Fahrenheit. Conversions: 160°C is 320°F, 180°C is 356°F, 200°C is 392°F, and 230°C is 446°F. The formula is subtract 32, multiply by 5, then divide by 9. A 400°F preset equals 204°C.
Convenience and preset temperatures
Most portable vapes use one button and three or four presets. A preset cuts the steps to load, press, and inhale. The tradeoff is control. A device with presets at 180°C, 190°C, and 210°C covers a flavor session, a standard session, and a heavy session. A device with a dial from 150°C to 230°C gives the full range in 1°C steps.
Device accuracy
Coil temperature and chamber temperature differ. A device set to 190°C may heat the herb at 170°C on the first draw and 195°C on the fifth. Battery level, draw speed, and pack density shift the number. Hard pulls pull heat into the material faster. Loose packs run hotter than tight packs.
How to test your device
- Set the device to 160°C. Take three draws. Note flavor and vapor volume.
- Raise the setting 10°C. Repeat. Stop at the point where vapor turns bitter or harsh.
- Keep grind and pack the same between sessions. Change one variable at a time.
- Record the setting that gave the best flavor and the setting that gave the best effect. Those two numbers are your range.
Safety notes
CDC linked vitamin E acetate in THC vape products to the 2019 EVALI outbreak. That additive appears in cartridges, not in dry herb chambers. Hardware standards for cannabis vapes come from state agencies. There is no federal temperature standard for these devices.