Candle Wax Calculator
Making candles at home? Enter your container size, wax type, and fragrance percentage to find out exactly how much wax, fragrance oil, and dye to use. The calculator includes a 20% shrinkage buffer so you have enough for a smooth top-off pour.
How the calculation works:
- Wax weight = container volume (fl oz) x wax density x 1.20 (shrinkage buffer)
- Fragrance oil = wax weight x fragrance percentage
- Dye = dye rate (g/lb) x total wax weight in lbs
Wax type densities (oz per fl oz):
- Soy wax: 0.86 (most popular for beginners)
- Paraffin: 0.90 (strongest scent throw)
- Coconut wax: 0.82 (clean burn, soft texture)
- Beeswax: 0.96 (natural, honey scent)
- Para-soy blend: 0.88 (combines strengths of both)
Fragrance load guidelines:
- 6% -- light, subtle scent
- 8% -- medium (good starting point for soy)
- 10% -- strong scent throw
- 12%+ -- only if your wax supports it (check manufacturer specs)
Why the 20% shrinkage buffer? Most waxes shrink as they cool, creating sinkholes around the wick. You will need extra wax to do a second pour to fill these in and get a smooth top surface.