Candle Cost-Per-Candle Calculator
Roll up your batch costs into a per-candle cost and a suggested retail price.
Use the same weight unit for wax and fragrance cost-per-unit as for the weight-used fields below (e.g. both priced and weighed in grams) — this calculator doesn’t convert between units.
Total batch cost: 21
Cost per candle: 4.2
Suggested price per candle: 7
Wax: 5 · Fragrance: 2 · Wicks: 1.5 · Containers: 10 · Other: 2.5
Frequently asked questions
- What units should I use?
- Any weight unit, as long as you're consistent: enter your wax and fragrance oil cost per the SAME unit you enter their weight-used in (e.g. both in grams, or both in ounces). Mixing units (like a per-pound cost with a weight in grams) will give a wrong answer — this tool doesn't convert between units for you.
- Margin or markup — which does this use?
- Profit margin (profit as a percent of the SELLING price), not markup (profit as a percent of cost) — these give different suggested prices for the same target percentage. A $5 cost at a 40% margin suggests an $8.33 price; a 40% markup on the same cost would only be $7.00.
- Does this include my labor time?
- Not directly — "other cost per candle" is meant for materials like labels, dye, or boxes. If you want to price in your own labor, add a per-candle labor cost into that field, or set a higher target margin to cover it.
- Anything else to know before selling what I make?
- This calculator only handles cost and pricing math — it doesn't check safety or labeling compliance. Candles sold in the US are generally expected to meet ASTM F2417 (fire safety: flame height, secondary ignition, stability) and carry the fire-safety warning label required by ASTM F2058; if you sell in glass containers, ASTM F2179 covers whether the glass itself is rated for candle use. Check the current standards directly rather than relying on this tool for compliance.