Last reviewed October 18, 2026
A dab pen is a small, battery-powered vaporizer that heats cannabis concentrates such as shatter, budder or live resin. You load the concentrate yourself into a heated chamber at the tip. Many people also call any oil vape pen a dab pen, so it helps to know which one you mean before you buy.
In short:
- A true dab pen has a refillable chamber you load with solid or semi-solid concentrate.
- A vape pen screws onto a pre-filled cartridge of oil.
- A wax pen is another name for a dab pen.
How a dab pen works
Every dab pen has three parts:
- Battery: the body you hold and charge.
- Atomizer: the chamber where the concentrate sits, lined with a coil or a heating plate.
- Mouthpiece: fits over the atomizer.
You place a small piece of concentrate in the chamber and press the button. The heat turns it to vapour, which you draw through the mouthpiece.
The atomizer’s material changes the experience:
- Quartz: heats fast.
- Ceramic: heats more evenly and tends to taste cleaner.
- Coil-less plates: keep concentrate off bare wire.
Dab pen vs vape pen
| Dab pen | Vape pen (cartridge) | |
|---|---|---|
| What goes in it | Shatter, budder, crumble, live resin, diamonds, rosin | A pre-filled 510 cartridge of oil |
| Loading | You add a small amount each session | Screw on a cart; nothing to load |
| Cleaning | The chamber needs a regular wipe | Swap the cart when it’s empty |
| Product choice | Any concentrate, any strain | Limited to what comes in carts |
| Best for | People who already buy concentrates and want them portable | Grab-and-go use with no mess |
A wax pen and a dab pen are the same device. “Wax” is slang for soft concentrates like budder and crumble.
Disposable dab pens
Some pens come pre-filled and are thrown away when they’re empty. Most of these hold concentrate oil, such as live resin or liquid diamonds, rather than solid wax. They work like a disposable vape, so the line between “dab pen” and “vape pen” blurs here.
Using a dab pen
- Charge the battery fully before the first use.
- Take a rice-grain-sized piece of concentrate with a dab tool and drop it in the centre of the chamber.
- Replace the mouthpiece, hold the button and draw slowly.
- Clean the chamber with a cotton swab while it’s still slightly warm.
Loading too much is the most common mistake. It floods the chamber and stops the pen from hitting. Start small; you can always add more.
Common questions
Are wax pens stronger than carts?
The device doesn’t decide potency; the concentrate does. Compare the THC percentage on each label. Diamonds are among the strongest concentrates, while cartridge oils range widely by type.
How do I make my dab pen hit?
Check that the battery is charged and the atomizer is screwed in firmly. Clean out old residue, then reload a smaller amount. Too much concentrate is the usual reason a pen won’t produce vapour.
What’s the difference between a wax pen and a vape pen?
A wax pen heats concentrate you load yourself. A vape pen heats oil that comes sealed in a cartridge.
Can you put shatter in a dab pen?
Yes. Break off a small piece and drop it in the chamber. Shatter melts quickly, so a little goes a long way.
