How to Choose the Right Candle Wick
The wick is the engine of your candle. Choose too small and you get tunneling. Choose too large and you get soot, mushrooming, and an unsafe flame. Our wick size calculator matches your container diameter, wax type, and fragrance load to the correct wick series so you can test smarter, not harder.
Diameter Is the #1 Factor
Wick manufacturers size their products primarily by the diameter of the container, not the depth or volume. A wider jar needs a larger wick (or multiple wicks) to generate enough heat to melt the wax all the way to the container walls. This is called achieving a full melt pool, and it should happen within the first 2-4 hours of burn time.
Wax Type Changes Everything
Different waxes have different melting points and viscosities. Soy wax melts at a lower temperature than paraffin but has a higher viscosity, meaning it needs more heat (a larger wick) to achieve the same melt pool. Beeswax sits at the opposite end: high melting point, dense structure, and needs an even larger wick to burn properly.
Pro Tip: Always test burn at least 3 candles before committing to a production wick size. Burn each test candle for a minimum of 4 hours and check for tunneling, mushrooming, soot, and flame height. Write down your observations for every test.
Wick Sizing FAQs
How do I know if my wick is too small?▼
If your candle tunnels (wax only melts around the wick, leaving a ring of hard wax on the edges), your wick is too small. The melt pool should reach the container walls within 1 hour per inch of diameter.
What is the difference between CD and ECO wicks?▼
CD (Stabilo) wicks have a flat, braided cotton construction with a paper core. They are versatile and work well across many wax types. ECO wicks are coreless, flat cotton braids with thin paper threads woven in. They curl when burning, which provides a self-trimming effect and reduces mushrooming.
When should I use multiple wicks instead of one large wick?▼
For containers 3.5 inches or wider, multiple wicks often outperform a single large wick. Two or three smaller wicks distribute heat more evenly, reduce soot, and create a more complete melt pool without overheating the wax.