Guide
How Much Wax Do I Need Per Candle?
The honest answer is: it depends on your vessel and fill weight. Here is how to figure it out precisely, plus a calculator that does the math for you.
The short answer
Wax is sold by weight, but jars are sold by fluid capacity — so the two rarely match. To find the wax for one candle, start from the finished fill weight you pour into the vessel, then subtract the fragrance oil. At an 8% fragrance load, the wax is the fill weight divided by 1.08.
Find your fill weight
The most reliable method is to fill an empty vessel with water up to your intended fill line and weigh it. Water weighs about 1 g per ml, so that number is a close reference for the finished candle weight. Wax is a little less dense than water, so your actual wax weight will be slightly lower — the calculator below handles this for you.
Candle Wax Calculator
Enter your desired finished fill weight per candle. Results include your waste allowance.
Variables that change the answer
- Vessel size and shape. A wide, shallow vessel needs more wax than a tall, narrow one of the same labeled capacity.
- Fill line. Filling higher uses more wax. Most makers leave headspace below the rim.
- Fragrance load. Higher loads mean slightly less wax for the same finished weight.
- Waste. Wax clings to your pouring pitcher; a 5% allowance keeps you from coming up short.