Candle Burn Time Estimator
How many hours will your candle burn? Enter the wax weight and wax type for a personalised estimate.
Estimate Burn Time
Estimated burn time
—–— hours
- At 4 hrs/session: — burn sessions
- Wax weight used: — oz
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Burn rates by wax type
| Wax type | Average burn rate | Hours per oz |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax | Slow and clean | 7–9 hrs/oz |
| Coconut wax | Moderate, smooth | 6–8 hrs/oz |
| Paraffin wax | Fast, bright flame | 5–7 hrs/oz |
| Beeswax | Very slow | 8–10 hrs/oz |
What affects burn time?
- Wick size — a wick that is too large burns through wax faster than one that is correctly sized.
- Fragrance load — higher fragrance loads (above 8%) can slightly slow burn time as oil must evaporate alongside wax.
- Draught — burning near an open window accelerates consumption by 15–25%.
- Burn session length — burning longer than 4 hours at a time raises the melt pool temperature and accelerates consumption.
How to make candles burn longer
- Trim the wick to exactly ¼ inch (6 mm) before every burn.
- Burn for no more than 4 hours at a time; allow the candle to cool and re-solidify fully.
- Keep the candle away from windows, fans, and air vents.
- Store candles away from direct sunlight to prevent fragrance evaporation between burns.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 4 oz soy wax candle typically burns 28–36 hours — about 7–9 hours per ounce. Wick size and room conditions affect the actual figure by ±15%.
Yes — soy wax burns approximately 25–50% longer than an equivalent weight of paraffin wax. Beeswax burns even longer, but costs significantly more.
Yes, but you should burn-test your specific candle to get an accurate range. Never advertise the theoretical maximum — a conservative estimate protects you from returns and complaints.