Shop
Support
Portable vapes are great for use on the go, but nothing beats the power of a desktop vape. Also called table vapes, these machines sit on a flat surface and produce rich vapor that’s inhaled through a balloon or whip. Most table vapes plug into a wall outlet, but some have rechargeable batteries.
Desktop vaporizers use convection or induction heat to move warm air over cannabis flower and create vapor. Since the weed isn’t being combusted, you can save your AVB (already vaped bud) and use it again in edibles – no decarboxylation necessary.
While these pieces are a bigger investment than their smaller counterparts, you’re rewarded with a high-performance machine capable of creating lots of rich vapor from relatively small amounts of weed.
Vaping provides a similar experience to smoking, without the harmful chemicals created in combustion making it perfect for recreational and medicinal consumers alike.
Best home vaporizer
-
The original and gold standard table vape
-
Handmade in Germany
-
Comes in 3 colors
Best value
-
Quiet fan
-
Remote controlled
-
Digital temperature display
Best for medical patients
-
3 temperature categories
-
Steamroller for vapor bong hits
-
Auto shut off and tilt sensor
Best multipurpose vape
-
Use as vaporizer or dab rig
-
Battery-powered
-
25 heat settings ranging from big and small hits to thick vapor
Best small vape
-
Small size makes it easy to store
-
Stainless steel tube for cool vapor
-
Pulls as hard as the Volcano Classic
Best home vaporizer: Volcano Classic Vaporizer
- Size: 7.9in x 7.1n x 7.9in
- Weight: 6.7 lbs
- Heat up time: 3 minutes
- Power: 100W, corded
- Temperature: 266°F – 446°F (130°C – 230°C)
- Design: pyramid-shaped
- Special feature: so durable some machines last over 15 years
- Price: $479
What’s in the box?
- Volcano Classic (the base)
- 4 balloons with mouthpieces
- Balloon adapter
- Filling chamber
- 3 filling chamber clips
- Cap ring
- 30 mm screen set
- Air filter set
- Herb mill
- Cleaning brush
The Volcano Classic vaporizer is the gold standard for desktop vaporizers. Designed back in 1996, every vaporizer on the market is compared to this one. The Volcano uses convection heat over weed to create an incredible smoking experience with smooth, flavorful vapor that delivers a powerful high. The machine is easy to use, with a knob for temperature control, labeled buttons to change from heating to airflow, and no glass, so it’s incredibly durable. The price tag can raise eyebrows, but when you consider that it’s made by hand in Germany and has been the industry standard for over 25 years, you truly get what you pay for.
Best value vape: Arizer Extreme Q Vaporizer
- Size: 6 in x 6 in x 7.5 in
- Weight: 13 oz
- Heat up time: 2 minutes
- Power: 100 – 240 V, corded
- Temperature: 266°F – 440°F (130°C – 230°C)
- Design: tower
- Special feature: operated by remote control
- Price: $154.99
What’s in the box?
- Extreme Q Heater (base)
- Power adapter
- Remote control
- 2 Glass cyclone bowls
- Aromatherapy dish
- 2 glass mouthpieces
- Stirring tool
- 3-foot silicone whip
- All-glass mini whip
- 2 balloons with glass mouthpieces
- Spare flat screen
- Spare dome screen
This fan-favorite vape is a cost-effective alternative to the Volcano Classic. The Q stands for quiet because unlike other noisy machines, the Arizer has a quiet fan. It also has a digital temperature display, auto shut-off feature, and most notably, a remote so you can control your vape from the couch. The vapor pathway is made from handblown borosilicate glass, which keeps the vapor pure and smooth. The Arizer is also dual-purpose and can be used with various dry herbs for aromatherapy.
Best for medical patients: Herbalizer Desktop Vaporizer
- Size: 7in x 10.5n x 11.25 in.
- Weight: 4.45 lb
- Heat up time: less than 1 minute
- Power: 110v, corded
- Temperature: 290F – 445F
- Design: egg
- Special feature: steamroller attachment
- Price: $599
What’s in the box?
- Herbalizer (base)
- 4 balloons
- 3-foot whip
- Magnetic bowl
- Stash box
- Herb grinder card
- 2 aroma pads
- 2 spare bowl screens
- 2 ml essential oil
- Quick start guide
- Aromatherapy blend
- Cleaning brush
- Power cord
Popular among medical cannabis patients, the Herbalizer offers an LCD screen for precise temperature control but goes a step beyond, categorizing the temperatures into three categories: uplifting, balanced, and relaxed. An auto shut-off feature and built-in tilt sensor keep the vape from running for hours on end. The Herbalizer also comes with a steamroller attachment that allows you to turn the vape into a bong-like experience. This vape can also be used for aromatherapy purposes.
Important note: The parent company of the Herbalizer, 1Ready LLC, is no longer in business. You can still find this popular vape on third-party sites, but this vape is no longer being manufactured.
Best multipurpose vape: Dr. Dabber Switch Vaporizer
- Size: 13in × 6in × 11in
- Weight: 6 lbs
- Heat up time: under 1 minute
- Power: 120v, battery-powered
- Temperature: 300° F – 800° F (150° C to 425° C)
- Design: hourglass
- Special feature: can use concentrates
- Price: $399
What’s in the box?
- Dr. Dabber Switch (base)
- Battery pack
- Glass percolator
- Ceramic induction cup for oil
- Ceramic flower filter
- Dab tool/ carb cap
- Reverse action tweezers
- Silicone wax container
- charging cable and adapter
If you want to vape but also love concentrates, the Dr. Dabber Switch has you covered. Unlike most vapes, you can use both flower and concentrate in this machine. It uses induction heating to quickly convert flower to vapor with 25 heat settings that let you create a custom experience based on your needs. The Dr. Dabber has a rechargeable battery that’s ready to go in an hour and can be used for over 100 sessions in between charges. It also has a self-cleaning mode to burn away any leftover concentrate residue.
Best small vape: PLENTY Vaporizer
- Size: 6.1in x 8.9in x 2″
- Weight: 1.5 lb
- Heat up time: 3 minutes
- Power: 110W, corded
- Temperature: 266 – 395 °F (130 to 202°C)
- Design: it looks like a power tool
- Special feature: stainless steel tube keeps vapor cool
- Price: $249
What’s in the box?
- PLENTY (base)
- Vaporization unit
- Tubing section, long
- Tubing section, short
- 3 normal screens (30mm)
- 59mm herb mill
- Cleaning brush
The Plenty is the smallest table vape on this list, though it’s still larger than any handheld vaporizer. It may look odd compared to the other vapes, but this design has a purpose: the stainless steel tube cools the vapor as it rises for gentle yet flavorful hits. And this vaporizer can hit. The extra-wide design allows for more vapor production and stronger vapor draws, comparable to the Volcano (which makes sense as the same company makes both vapes.) A thermometer gauge makes it easy to track the temperature, and an auto shut-off feature ensures you don’t waste any weed.
Useful desktop vape terms
- Balloon: a vaporizer balloon is a sealed plastic bag with a mouthpiece. The bag is placed over the chamber and inflates as it’s filled. Vapor lasts around 10 minutes in the bag.
- Whip: a vaporizer whip is a long plastic tube with a chamber connection on one side and an opening on the other. Whips can come in various lengths.
- Steamroller: a steamroller is a cylindrical glass tube placed over the vaporizer chamber. Vapor rises and users can hit it like a bong. Less common than balloons and whips.
How to use a desktop vaporizer
Getting the hang of a tabletop vaporizer can take some trial and error for new users, but once you know what you’re doing, they’re an excellent option for cannabis consumption.
- Pack the bowl before turning the vape on.
- Turn the vaporizer on and allow it to heat to your preferred temperature.
- Balloons: switching from heating mode to airflow mode and allow your bag to fill entirely. Once fully inflated, turn the vaporizer fan off or switch the machine off entirely. Pull from the bag, sealing the opening with your finger in between hits.
- Whips: switch from heating mode to airflow mode and pull the vapor from the whip. You can seal the opening with your finger in between hits, but don’t allow the vapor to build up for too long.
Is a desktop vaporizer worth it?
The upfront expense of buying a table vape makes them cost-prohibitive for some people. But if you’re looking for a quick, reliable way to get high that gives a similar experience to smoking without the adverse effects, table vapes are a great option. These products produce large amounts of potent vapor using a relatively small amount of weed.
Sign up for bi-weekly updates, packed full of cannabis education, recipes, and tips. Your inbox will love it.
