Use our Candle Burn Time Calculator to estimate candle longevity in hours and minutes. Simply enter the height, diameter, wax type, and wick size to predict realistic burn duration and set clear expectations.

Calculate Your Candle's Burn Time

How Candle Burn Time Calculator works?

A candle’s burn time depends mainly on the amount of wax available and the rate at which the wick consumes that wax. Our calculator uses a mathematical formula that combines candle volume, wax density, and wick burn rate to estimate the total burn duration.

The formula is:

Burn Time (hours) = Candle Volume (ml) ÷ (Wick Burn Rate × Wax Multiplier)

Step 1 – Calculate Candle Volume

Formula: Volume = π × (radius²) × height

Example: A candle with a diameter of 7 cm and a height of 10 cm has a radius of 3.5 cm.

Volume = 3.1416 × (3.5²) × 10 ≈ 384 ml

Step 2 – Apply Wick Burn Rate

Small wick burns around 3.5 ml per hour

Medium wick burns around 5 ml per hour

Large wick burns around 7 ml per hour

Extra-large wick burns around 10 ml per hour

Step 3 – Adjust with Wax Type Multiplier

Paraffin = baseline (1.0)

Soy wax = slower burn (0.85)

Beeswax = slowest burn (0.75)

Step 4 – Final Burn Time Estimate

If the 384 ml candle above uses soy wax with a medium wick:

Effective burn rate = 5 × 0.85 = 4.25 ml/hour

Burn Time = 384 ÷ 4.25 ≈ 90 hours

 

This approach mirrors real-world testing methods candle makers use, but provides an instant calculation without waiting for a full burn test.

What to enter for accurate results?

For the most accurate candle’s burn time estimate, it’s important to enter precise candle measurements. Accurate inputs allow the calculator to generate a realistic prediction that closely reflects the actual burn performance of your candle.

Candle Height (cm)

Measure only the wax fill height, not the entire container. For jar candles, exclude the container’s empty space above the wax.

Room Environment

Measure the inner diameter at the wax surface. For pillars, measure across the widest part of the candle body.

Wax Type

Choose whether your candle is made of soy wax, paraffin wax, or beeswax. Each wax has a different density and burn rate, which impacts total hours.

Wick Type

Select the wick size closest to your candle. Wick size is usually listed by suppliers or can be measured by its diameter range.

What affects real-world burn time?

Even with accurate calculations, actual burn time can vary due to real-world conditions. Here are the most common factors:

Wick Maintenance

If the wick is not trimmed regularly, it can produce a larger flame that burns wax faster, reducing total burn hours.

Room Environment

Drafts, air conditioning, or fans can cause the flame to flicker and consume wax unevenly, leading to shorter burn durations.

Fragrance Load & Additives

Candles with high fragrance oil or dye percentages may burn hotter, which speeds up wax consumption and shortens burn time.

Vessel Material and Shape

Glass jars retain heat differently than metal tins or ceramic containers. A heat-retaining vessel may cause faster wax melting, altering the expected burn time.

Frequently asked questions

The calculator provides a reliable estimate based on candle dimensions, wick type, and wax density. However, real-world burn time may vary due to wick trimming, fragrance load, and environment.

Soy wax has a lower burn rate, meaning it melts more slowly compared to paraffin. This allows soy candles of the same size and wick to typically burn for more hours.

Wick sizes are often listed by suppliers. If not, you can measure the wick thickness and match it with the calculator’s categories (small, medium, large, extra-large).

No. While it provides a useful guideline, candle makers should always conduct real burn tests for compliance, safety, and product labeling accuracy.