# How much candle wax do I need?

A candle wax calculator: how much wax and fragrance oil to melt for your containers, from the water each one holds, the wax-to-water ratio and the fragrance load.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/candle-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/candle-calculator.json
- Version: 597dff285a8b

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Container holds 8 fl oz, Number of candles 1, Fragrance load 8%, Wax-to-water weight 0.86): For 1 × 8 fl oz: melt 6.63 oz of wax and add 0.53 oz of fragrance oil.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cap | Container holds | The water one container holds, filled to where the wax will reach. |
| n | Number of candles | How many containers of this size you will fill. |
| fl | Fragrance load | Fragrance oil as a percent of the wax weight; check your wax’s maximum, often 6% to 12%. |
| r | Wax-to-water weight | How much the wax and oil weigh for the same volume of water; 0.86 is the usual rule. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| wax | Wax to melt | Wax for all the candles: fill ÷ (1 + fragrance load). |
| fragrance | Fragrance oil | Oil for all the candles: wax × fragrance load. |
| fill | Total fill | Wax and oil for all the candles: water weight × wax-to-water weight. |
| waxEach | Wax per candle | The wax for one container. |
| fragranceEach | Fragrance per candle | The fragrance oil for one container. |
| water | Water weight per container | The container’s volume × 0.998 kg per liter. |

## Method

Fill = water the container holds × 0.998 kg/L × wax-to-water weight; wax = fill ÷ (1 + load); fragrance = wax × load; × the number of candles.

## Assumptions

- Wax and fragrance oil weigh about 0.86 of the same volume of water; the ratio can be changed for your wax.
- The fragrance load is a percent of the wax weight, as most wax makers state it.
- Water weighs 0.998 kg per liter at 20 °C; the container is measured to the fill line.

## Worked examples

1. cap = 0.000237, n = 1, fl = 8%, r = 0.86 gives water = 0.236115, fill = 0.203059, wax = 0.188018. Source: Tinware Direct, How To Calculate Wax For Candle Containers (the wax and fragrance weigh about 86% of the water the container holds; fragrance load is a percent of the wax weight), https://tinwaredirect.com/blogs/tips-advice/how-to-calculate-wax (retrieved 2026-10-03); USGS Water Science School, Water Density (about 0.998 g/cm³ at 20 °C), https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/water-density (retrieved 2026-10-03).
2. cap = 0.0002, n = 12, fl = 10%, r = 0.86 gives waxEach = 0.156051, fragrance = 0.187261. Source: Tinware Direct, How To Calculate Wax For Candle Containers (the wax and fragrance weigh about 86% of the water the container holds; fragrance load is a percent of the wax weight), https://tinwaredirect.com/blogs/tips-advice/how-to-calculate-wax (retrieved 2026-10-03); USGS Water Science School, Water Density (about 0.998 g/cm³ at 20 °C), https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/water-density (retrieved 2026-10-03).

## FAQ

### How much wax do I need for a candle?

Weigh or measure the water the container holds, then take about 0.86 of that weight: wax is lighter than water. An 8 fl oz jar holds about 236 g (8.33 oz) of water, so the wax and oil weigh about 203 g (7.16 oz).

### How much fragrance oil do I add?

Fragrance load is a percent of the wax weight. At 8%, 100 g of wax takes 8 g of oil. The calculator splits the fill so that wax plus oil fills the container: wax = fill ÷ 1.08 and oil = wax × 0.08.

### What fragrance load should I use?

Most container waxes hold 6% to 10% fragrance, and some up to 12%. Use your wax maker’s maximum; too much oil can seep out or burn poorly.

### Why 0.86?

Candle wax and fragrance oil are less dense than water, so the same jar holds less weight of wax than of water. 0.86 is the rule candle suppliers use; change it if your wax maker gives another figure.

### Does the fill include the wick?

No. The wick takes very little space. Measure the water to the fill line, usually about half an inch below the rim.

## Sources

- Tinware Direct, How To Calculate Wax For Candle Containers (the wax and fragrance oil weigh about 86% of the water a container holds; fragrance load is a percent of the wax weight). https://tinwaredirect.com/blogs/tips-advice/how-to-calculate-wax (retrieved 2026-10-03)
- USGS Water Science School, Water Density (fresh water is about 0.998 g/cm³ at 20 °C). https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/water-density (retrieved 2026-10-03)