Our Candle Wax Calculator tells you how much wax and fragrance oil a jar needs. It does not calculate costs. This guide shows the cost math that goes on top, so you can price each candle.
All prices below are assumptions for illustration, not quotes. Replace them with your supplier's current price list.
Step 1: Quantities From Jar Size
The calculator converts jar volume to wax weight using a soy wax specific gravity of 0.86, then applies your fragrance load to the wax weight:
- Wax (oz) = jar fl oz x 0.86
- Fragrance oil (oz) = wax oz x load %
Its recommended fragrance load range is 6% to 12%, with a default of 10%. Check your wax maker's datasheet for the maximum load for your wax.
Table at an 8% load, with assumed prices of $3.50 per lb for soy wax and $2.00 per oz for fragrance oil:
| Jar (fl oz) | Wax (oz) | Oil at 8% (oz) | Wax cost | Oil cost | |-------------|----------|----------------|----------|----------| | 4 | 3.44 | 0.28 | $0.75 | $0.55 | | 8 | 6.88 | 0.55 | $1.50 | $1.10 | | 12 | 10.32 | 0.83 | $2.26 | $1.65 |
Wax cost = oz / 16 x $3.50. Oil cost = oz x $2.00, rounded to the nearest cent.
Step 2: Add the Other Materials
Add the wick, container, label and any packaging at your actual unit prices. Include shipping in your per-unit supplier cost, for example a wax priced at $3.50/lb plus shipping spread over the order.
Add a waste allowance for spills, wax left in the pouring pot and test candles. A common rule of thumb is 10-15%; replace it with your own tracked figure.
Step 3: Add Labour and Overhead
Time is the cost beginners most often leave out. A pouring session might include prep, pouring, cleanup, labelling and packaging. As an example, assume 35 minutes per candle (15 prep, 5 pouring, 10 cleanup and labelling, 5 packaging). Batch production lowers per-candle time.
Labour per candle = minutes / 60 x your hourly rate. Choose a rate that suits you; $15/hour is used below purely as an example. Overhead covers electricity, equipment, storage and licences; spread it over the candles you make.
Worked Examples (Assumed Prices)
Example 1: Basic Soy Candle, 8 fl oz
- Soy wax, 6.5 oz: $1.42
- Fragrance oil, 0.5 oz: $0.83
- Cotton wick: $0.25
- Basic glass jar: $1.00
- Label: $0.15
- Materials: $3.65 (wax is 39% of this)
- Labour, 30 min at $12/hour: $6.00
- Overhead allocation: $1.00
- Total cost: $10.65
Pricing at 3x materials gives $10.95, which leaves only $0.30 over total cost. A price of $15 leaves $4.35 before fees, so the 3x rule of thumb does not protect your profit when labour is included.
Example 2: Coconut Wax Candle, 8 fl oz
- Coconut wax, 6.5 oz at an assumed $5.00/lb: $2.03
- Fragrance oil, 0.4 oz at an assumed $40/lb: $1.00
- Wood wick: $0.50
- Premium jar: $2.50
- Custom label: $0.35
- Materials: $6.38 (wax is 32% of this)
- Labour, 35 min at $15/hour: $8.75
- Overhead allocation: $1.50
- Total cost: $16.63
At 3x materials the price would be $19.14, which leaves $2.51 over total cost. A $22 price leaves $5.37 before fees.
Fees
If you sell on Etsy, fees come out of the sale price. Etsy's published US payment processing fee is 3% + $0.25 per order; check the current rates and the listing and transaction fees on the Etsy fees guide and on Etsy's own fee page, as they change.
Pricing Steps
- Calculate quantities from jar size and fragrance load.
- Add materials at your real unit prices, plus waste.
- Add labour and overhead.
- Add fees.
- Compare against similar candles in your market before you choose a price.
Only the last step requires judgement. Steps one to four are arithmetic.
Key Takeaways
- The Candle Wax Calculator gives quantities. The cost math in this guide goes on top.
- Wax is about 31-39% of material cost in the two examples above, using assumed prices. Your ratio will depend on your suppliers.
- A 3x-materials price can fall close to total cost once labour is included.
- Keep a dated record of supplier prices and update it when they change.
Ready to run your own numbers? Try our free Candle Wax Calculator.