Candle Cost Calculator
Enter your ingredient costs and batch size — get cost per candle, suggested retail price, and gross margin.
Your Costs
Total cost per candle
$—
- Materials only (excl. labour): $—
- Suggested retail (3× materials): $—
- Suggested retail (4× materials): $—
- Suggested wholesale (2× materials): $—
- Gross margin at 3× retail: —%
Cost breakdown per candle:
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How to price your candles
The most common pricing formula for handmade candles is the keystone markup: set your retail price at 3–4× your total cost (materials + labour). This covers platform fees (Etsy takes 6.5%), packaging, credit card processing (~3%), and leaves a healthy net margin.
Breaking down candle costs
| Component | Typical cost range | Where to buy cheaper |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax (per lb) | $1.80–$3.50 | Buy 25–50 lb bags from suppliers |
| Fragrance oil (per oz) | $2.00–$4.00 | CandleScience, Brambleberry, bulk lots |
| Cotton wick | $0.08–$0.20 each | 100-count packs vs 10-count packs |
| 8 oz glass jar | $1.50–$3.00 | Wholesale minimum orders cut cost 40–60% |
| Label (printed) | $0.05–$0.25 | Print-on-demand at home vs. digital print shops |
What Etsy sellers typically charge
An 8 oz soy candle on Etsy retails for $18–$28. If your material cost is $5–$7 and you charge $22, you have a 3.1–4.4× markup. After Etsy fees (~10% total), you keep $17–$19 gross profit before your time.
Reducing your cost per candle
- Buy wax in larger bags — 50 lb bags are typically 30–40% cheaper per pound than 10 lb bags.
- Consolidate fragrance orders — most suppliers offer free shipping above a threshold ($75–$100).
- Buy jars by the case — 12- or 24-jar cases are significantly cheaper per unit than single jars.
- Print labels at home — a waterproof label printer pays for itself in 300–400 candles.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical 8 oz soy jar candle costs $4.50–$8.00 to make in small batches, including wax, fragrance, wick, jar, and label. At scale (500+ units), the same candle can cost $3.00–$5.00 by buying inputs in bulk.
Yes — especially if you are selling. Decide on a minimum hourly rate for yourself (many chandlers use $15–$25/hr) and divide by candles poured per hour. If you make 10 candles per hour at $20/hr, add $2.00 labour to every candle's cost.
After materials and labour, aim for 50–65% gross margin (meaning you keep $0.50–$0.65 of every dollar of revenue). At 3× material cost markup, you are typically in this range. Use the Profit Margin Calculator to set your exact retail price for any target margin.