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Everyone Asks: How Much Wax Per Candle Do I Need?

Figuring out how much wax per candle do I need is easy and quick with our candle wax calculator and printable container candle size charts! 

How much wax per candle do I need, is usually the first question everyone asks themselves when learning how to make candles. In fact, the most asked question I receive about candle making, next to how much fragrance, is how much candle wax will I need to fill my jars? 

And it’s not just a question from beginner candle makers. Experienced candle makers alike must ask themselves the same each time they want to know how to make candles in different containers. 

Getting this right helps to avoid many common candle problems and ultimately saves you time and money, not to mention frustration. 

The good news is there is a simple solution to how much wax per candle you’ll need. This candle making guide will –

  1. Take you through the basic principle of calculating candle wax
  2. Present you with an easy-to-follow formula 
  3. Provide you with a printable candle wax weight-to-volume chart

Let’s get started!

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How do you measure candle wax?

The Basic Principle of Calculating Candle Wax

Many candle making beginners make the assumption that if they are using an 8-ounce container, they’ll need 8 ounces of wax. So, they are assuming that if a container holds 8 ounces of water, then it must also hold 8 ounces of wax. Well, that could only hold true if candle wax had the same density of water.

What does density mean? Density describes how much space something takes up compared to its weight.

Wax takes up more space than water because water is far more dense than wax. To get even more “sciency” on ya, the molecules that make up water are packed more tightly than the molecules that make up candle wax. 

Picture this: if you fill a mason jar with gumballs, it will hold a lot, and the jar will be fairly heavy. If you fill the same mason jar with cotton balls, it will hold far fewer cotton balls, but the jar will be much lighter. Wax is just like cotton balls when compared to water – it takes up more space but weighs less. 

And it doesn’t matter what type of candle wax you are using either – wax is always less dense than water.  

Related To: How to Color Candle Wax

How Do You Measure Wax For Candles?

So, if a jar won’t hold the same wax as it does water, then how do you measure wax for candle making? Measure it by weight, not volume. Because if you fill a container that holds 8 ounces of water with 8 ounces of wax – you’ll have way too much wax! 

You may have not noticed, but wax specifications for fragrance load are always based on weight. And fragrance is always measured by weight. Plus, it’s much easier to get an accurate measurement of weight than it is for volume. All it takes is a digital kitchen scale and a little math. 

There is a simple solution to how much wax per candle you’ll need.

How Much Wax Per Candle Do I Need? 

Now, you know candle wax needs to be measured by weight and not volume. The next step to knowing how much wax per candle you need is a formula. It’s an easy-to-follow formula anyone can do with a little math or the calculator on your phone. 

As we examined above, candle wax is less dense than water. Therefore, it takes more wax to equal the same amount of weight in water. This equates to the fact that by volume, wax weighs 20% less than water. 

1 pound (16 ounces) of candle wax equals 20 ounces of volume. So weird, right?

(Is this making your head hurt? Skip the math and use our Candle Wax Calculator below instead!) 

Now, the trick is to put it into a formula…

Candle Wax Calculator Formula: 

The number of candles you want to make (multiplied by) the volume of your container (divided by) 16 (equals) how much wax per candle you need in pounds.

So, if you want to make 12 candles in 4-ounce jars, the formula will look like this:

12 x 4 = 48 /16 = 3 pounds of wax 

Now, if you’re in the candle making business, you may need to know how much candle wax per candle you’ll need to price each candle correctly. Using the example, we’ll divide the answer (3 lbs) by the total amount of candles (12) = .25 pounds of wax

Related To: Beginner Guide to Scented Candles

But, there’s something BIG others leave out of this formula…

That is additive weight! If you’re making scented candles, then you’ll need to account for the weight of the fragrance being added. 

Therefore the correct formula to make scented candles is as follows:

The number of candles you want to make (multiplied by) the volume of your container (minus) the total weight of fragrance (divided by) 16 (equals) how much wax per candle you need in pounds.

For example, let’s say you want a 7% fragrance load. If you’re making 12 4-ounce candles, you’ll need 3.36 oz of fragrance. 

This means the correct amount of wax to make 12 scented candles in 4-ounce jars is:

12 x 4 – 3.36 /16 = 2.79 pounds of wax

When you compare the answers, you’ll see that had you left out the fragrance, you would have wasted enough wax to make nearly another 4-ounce candle!

This is a big deal if you own a candle making business!! Just think if you had to fill an order of 200 scented candles and only used the first formula or, even worse, thought a container that holds 4 ounces of water would hold 4 ounces of candle wax. You would have wasted a lot of money. 

Taking the time to make these calculations beforehand will not only save you money but time and a whole lot of frustration as well. And as I said before, all it takes is a digital kitchen scale and a little math.

One more thing to consider,

The fill line. Some containers and candle molds already have fill lines indicated. If that is the case, fill it with water first and measure the total volume to the fill line. Then use that number in the candle wax calculator formula. 

The great news is you can get accurate measurements every time, so you’ll never get stuck on figuring out how much wax per candle you need again. And it can be applied to all container types and sizes, even candle molds! 

How Much Wax Can Your Container Hold?

How Much Wax Can Your Container Hold?

A candle wax formula goes a long way in figuring out the amount of wax needed to make mason jar candles or how much you’ll need to fill any other candle container. But why not make it even easier if you can? 

Want an even EASIER METHOD for calculating how much wax per candle you’ll need?

It doesn’t matter what candle container size you choose, our candle wax calculator can tell you exactly how much candle wax you’ll need to make all the candles you’ve been dreaming of.  Oh yeah, you can skip the math with our ultra-easy Candle Wax Calculator!! 

Here’s how to use the candle wax calculator: 

  1. Enter how many ounces a single candle container holds (see the tips above).
  2. Enter the number of candles you want to make in the next box.
  3. Enter the total amount of fragrance in ounces you’ll be adding to the wax. 
  4. Click the Calculate button

Candle Wax Calculator








ounces

(Don’t know how much fragrance to use? Get a quick answer without our fragrance load calculator.)

Either way you choose to go about it, determining how much wax per candle you need isn’t as difficult when you understand why weight and density matter in candle making. I hope this clears up all your questions about measuring candle wax and provides you with the tools to get accurate measurements every time!  

There’s no reason to waste your candle supplies. Pin this candle wax calculator formula now, and don’t forget to grab our printable candle container size swipe files! Tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share your candle making with us.

Want more? Dive into our Candle Making Library Now or Find a New Candle Recipe To Make Here

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