How Much Wax Per Candle? A Complete Guide

Making candles at home can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but knowing how much wax per candle is crucial for success. Wax is typically measured by weight, and since wax is less dense than water, you’ll need to adjust the volume for your specific container. In this guide, we’ll walk through how much wax you’ll need for various candle sizes, including 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz candles.

How Much Wax to Make a Candle?

To make a candle, it's essential to use the right formula. Start by calculating the volume of your container and convert it to weight. Wax weighs about 20% less than water, so for each candle, you’ll need to use a little less wax than the container's total volume. This ensures you get a well-filled candle without spilling over.

For instance, to figure out how much wax to make a candle, if your container holds 10 oz, you’ll need about 9 oz of wax. This process works for any size container, which leads us to the next section.

How Much Wax for 8 oz Candle?

When making an 8 oz candle, you won’t need a full 8 oz of wax due to the weight-to-volume ratio. You’ll generally need around 6.5 to 7 oz of wax per 8 oz candle container. This will leave enough room for your wick and any fragrance or dye you might want to add.

How Much Wax for 10 oz Candle?

For those working with a 10 oz container, you’ll need about 9 oz of wax to make a candle. As with the 8 oz candle, measuring by weight will give you an accurate result. This ensures a balanced candle without overfilling your container.

How Much Wax for 12 oz Candle?

If you are using a 12 oz container, plan on using roughly 10.5 to 11 oz of wax. This amount allows for a perfect fill without leaving gaps at the top of your candle.

How Much Wax Does It Take to Make a Candle?

Whether you’re making one candle or several, knowing how much wax it takes is essential. To calculate the total amount of wax you need for a batch, multiply the amount of wax needed per candle by the number of containers. If you’re making five 12 oz candles, for example, you’d need about 52.5 oz of wax in total.