Candle Wax Calculator
Calculate how much candle wax and fragrance oil to use for any jar or container, for a single candle or a whole batch.
How it works
Fill one empty container with water up to the level where the wax will sit, usually about half an inch below the rim, and measure that water in fluid ounces. This is the most reliable way to find the true volume of a jar, because printed capacities often include space up to the very top.
Wax is lighter than water. Soy, paraffin and coconut blends weigh roughly 0.86 ounces per fluid ounce of space, so the calculator multiplies your water volume by 0.86 to get the weight of wax for one candle, then multiplies by the number of candles you plan to pour.
Enter your fragrance load as a percentage. The fragrance oil weight is that percentage of the wax weight. Most waxes hold 6% to 10% well and many allow up to 12%. Going above the maximum on your wax supplier's sheet can cause oil to sweat out or create a fire risk.
Formula
wax per candle (oz)
Where:
- 0.86
- = Approximate weight of wax per fluid ounce of volume
- load
- = Fragrance oil as a percent of wax weight
- candles
- = How many identical containers you are filling
Worked example
An 8 fluid ounce jar needs 8 × 0.86 = 6.88 ounces of wax. At a 10% fragrance load that is 0.688 ounces of fragrance oil per candle.
For four candles, melt 27.52 ounces of wax, about 1.72 pounds, and add 2.75 ounces of fragrance oil at the temperature recommended by your wax supplier.
Getting a clean, strong scented candle
Heat your wax to the temperature on the supplier sheet, usually around 185 degrees Fahrenheit for soy, before adding fragrance oil, then stir gently for two minutes so the oil binds. Pour at the recommended lower temperature to reduce sinkholes and frosting, and let candles cure for one to two weeks for the best scent throw.
Match wick size to jar diameter, not just height. A wick that is too small tunnels down the middle, while a wick that is too large smokes and makes the jar hot. Test burn one candle for three to four hours before making a full batch, and keep notes of every wax, fragrance load and wick combination you try.
Frequently asked questions
An 8 fluid ounce jar holds about 6.9 ounces of wax by weight. Weigh wax on a kitchen scale rather than measuring it by volume.