Candle Wax Calculator

Why Wax Type Changes the Answer

A fluid ounce is a measure of volume, but wax is sold and melted by weight — and different waxes pack a different weight into the same volume. Soy wax is relatively light (about 86% the weight of water), paraffin sits a bit heavier around 90%, and beeswax is denser still at roughly 96%. Skip this conversion and use volume as if it were weight, and you'll consistently over- or under-pour depending on which wax you're using.

How to Use This Calculator

Find your container's volume in fluid ounces — check for a stamp on the bottom, or fill it with water and pour that into a measuring cup. Pick a fill percentage (85% is standard, leaving room at the top for a clean finish and a possible second pour to fix sink holes), and select your wax type.

How We Calculate It

Wax needed (oz) = container volume × fill percentage × wax density. For example: a 9 oz container, 85% fill, soy wax (0.86) → 9 × 0.85 × 0.86 = 6.58 oz of wax to melt.

A Few Notes

This tells you how much wax to melt, not how much fragrance oil to add — that's calculated separately as a percentage of the wax weight (commonly 8-10% for soy, check your specific wax and fragrance manufacturer's recommended maximum load). Also budget for a small amount of wax lost to the melting pot and pouring process, especially on your first batch with a new setup.