Candle Wax Calculator
Tell it how many jars you're pouring and how big they are, and it works out exactly how much wax and fragrance to melt.
📖 How it works & FAQHow much wax does your batch really need?
Buying wax by guesswork leaves you either short mid-pour or with a shelf full of leftover flakes. This calculator uses the standard chandler rule of thumb: a jar only holds about 80% of its stated capacity in wax, because that number is measured with water and wax is lighter, plus you leave headroom below the rim. Enter your jar size and how many candles you're making, and you get the total melt weight in both ounces and pounds.
Why the 80% fill factor
Container sizes are quoted in fluid ounces of water, but soy, coconut, and paraffin waxes are less dense, so the same jar takes noticeably less wax by weight than its printed volume suggests. The 0.8 factor is a reliable working average across common waxes. If you want to be exact for one specific wax, pour a single test candle, weigh the wax you used, and compare it to this estimate to fine-tune your own number.
Adding fragrance oil
Fragrance is measured as a percentage of the wax weight, not the jar volume. Most waxes are rated to hold 6-10%; the calculator defaults to 8%. It multiplies your total wax by that load so you know exactly how many ounces of oil to weigh out for the whole batch. These are estimates to plan a pour, not professional formulation or safety advice, so always follow your wax and fragrance supplier's stated maximum load and flashpoint.
How to use it
- Enter the number of containers you're pouring.
- Enter each container's capacity in fluid ounces (the size printed on the jar).
- Set your fragrance load percentage, or leave it at 8%.
- Read the total wax in ounces and pounds, plus the fragrance oil to weigh out.
FAQ
- Does this work for soy, coconut, and paraffin?
- Yes. The 80% factor is a solid average for all common container waxes. Weigh one test candle to dial in an exact number for your specific wax.
- Is the fragrance based on wax or jar size?
- On wax weight, which is the industry standard. The calculator applies your load percentage to the total wax, not the jar volume.
- What if my jars are different sizes?
- Run each jar size as its own batch and add the wax totals together for your shopping list.
- Should I buy extra wax?
- Adding about 10% covers spills, the wax that clings to your pot, and topping off sink holes after the first pour.