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Candle Burn Time & Cost Calculator

How long will your candle last — and what does it really cost per hour?

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Find out exactly how long your candle will last — burning traditionally or on a warmer — and what it actually costs per hour.

Your candle

Optional — unlocks cost outputs
US average is ~$0.16/kWh
2 hrs

Estimated burn time

—hours
Pick a candle and wax to begin
Per session
—
Days of use
—
Cost per hour
—
Burned traditionally
—total hours
Add a price to see cost
—
vs
On a 20W warmer
—scent hours
Add a price to see cost
—
Add a candle price to see your savings
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How we calculate burn time and warmer scent life

Traditional burn time is based on industry averages per ounce of wax: soy burns roughly 7–9 hours per oz, paraffin 5–7, coconut blends 8–10, beeswax 9–10, and parasoy 6–8. Multiple wicks consume wax faster — a 2-wick candle gets about 65% of the per-oz burn time, a 3-wick about 50%.

Warmer scent life works differently. A warmer never combusts the wax, so the limit is when the fragrance oil is depleted, not when the wax runs out. Lower wattage means gentler heat and longer scent life — a 15W warmer can stretch a candle to roughly 3.5–4× its traditional burn time, while a 25W warmer with stronger throw runs closer to 2–2.5×.

Cost per hour divides candle price by usable hours. For warmer mode we also add electricity cost: wattage ÷ 1000 × your local rate. Even at strong wattage this usually adds less than a penny per hour.

These are estimates, not guarantees — actual burn time varies with wick trim length, draft, ambient temperature, and how long each session runs. Always trim to ¼" and never burn more than 4 hours at a time.

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How the calculator works

The calculator uses wax-specific burn rates, since different waxes melt at different rates. Soy wax typically delivers 7-9 hours per ounce, paraffin runs faster at 5-7 hours per ounce, coconut blends are slower at 8-10 hours, and beeswax burns slowest at 9-12 hours per ounce. Three-wick candles burn faster (about 1.6x quicker than the wax rate alone) because three flames consume more wax than one.

Cost per hour depends on the candle price divided by total burn hours. A $25 8-oz soy candle delivers about 64 hours of burn time, working out to $0.39 per hour. The same candle on a warmer can extend to 3-5x that, dramatically reducing cost per hour.

Why warmers extend candle life so much

A flame consumes wax — that's how it sustains itself. A wax warmer just heats the wax with no flame at all, so the wax doesn't get burned away, only releases its fragrance. Once the scent fades (usually 3-5x longer than burning), you replace just the wax, not the entire vessel.

For deeper guidance, see our candle vs warmer comparison, or browse our best wax warmers roundup. New to candles? Start with how to burn candles properly — proper burning extends candle life by 30%+ on its own.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an 8 oz soy candle last?

Most 8 oz soy candles deliver 40-60 hours of burn time when used in 2-4 hour sessions. Single-wick candles run closer to 64 hours; the lower end is for shorter sessions where the candle is relit before fully cooling.

Are 3-wick candles worth it?

Three-wick candles fill larger rooms with scent faster, but they burn through wax about 1.6x quicker than single-wick. For a small bedroom or office, a single-wick is usually plenty. For a living room or open-plan space, three wicks are noticeably better.

How much does it cost to use a wax warmer?

Most wax warmers use 15-25W of power. At average US electricity rates ($0.16/kWh), that's about $0.0024-$0.004 per hour for the electricity, plus the wax cost. Even a $20 wax melt that lasts 60 hours on a warmer comes out to about $0.34 per hour total.

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