Candle Wick Size Calculator
Find a practical starting wick and nearby sizes to burn-test based on your container's inside diameter, wax family and fragrance load.
Wick Size Calculator
Wick charts are starting points, not final approvals. Use this tool to narrow your burn-test candidates.
Your Results
Candle Wick Size Chart
Use this compact chart as a baseline for common cotton wick families. The calculator adjusts the starting position for wax family, fragrance load and dye, then gives a three-size test range.
| Inside Diameter | CD | ECO | HTP | LX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5–2.0 in | 4–6 | 2–4 | 52–62 | 10–12 |
| 2.0–2.5 in | 6–8 | 4–6 | 62–73 | 12–14 |
| 2.5–3.0 in | 8–10 | 6–8 | 73–83 | 14–16 |
| 3.0–3.5 in | 10–14 | 8–10 | 83–105 | 16–20 |
| 3.5–4.0 in | 14–16 | 10–12 | 104–105 | 20–22 |
How to Choose a Candle Wick Size
Start with the vessel's inside diameter rather than its advertised ounce capacity. Then account for wax family and formulation. Heavier fragrance loads, dyes and additives can change fuel delivery, so the same jar may need a different wick when the recipe changes.
CD vs ECO vs HTP vs LX Wicks
Wick series are not interchangeable number-for-number. Each family uses its own construction and size sequence. Choose the series you can reliably source, use its recommendation as a starting point, and compare neighboring sizes in controlled tests.
When to Use Multiple Wicks
Wide vessels can be difficult to heat evenly with one large wick. This calculator begins suggesting two wicks around wider container diameters and three for very wide vessels. Multi-wick recommendations are layout starting points only; spacing and vessel temperature still need testing.
How to Burn Test a Candle Wick
Make otherwise identical candles with the smaller, recommended and larger candidates. Cure them consistently, trim each wick the same way, and burn them under the same conditions. Record flame behavior, melt pool, soot, mushrooming and vessel temperature over repeated sessions.
Signs Your Wick Is Too Small or Too Large
Too small: persistent tunneling, weak flame or excessive wax left at the sides late in the candle's life. Too large: excessively tall flame, soot, heavy mushrooming, very deep melt pool or an overly hot vessel. Do not judge a wick from the first hour alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size wick do I need for a 3 inch candle?
A 3-inch inside diameter is a common single-wick starting range, but the exact candidate depends on wick family, wax and formulation. Use the calculator to generate three nearby sizes to test.
Should I measure the inside or outside diameter?
Use the inside diameter of the candle vessel. The wick needs to heat the wax surface inside the container.
Does fragrance load affect wick size?
It can. Fragrance oil and other additives can change how the candle feeds and burns, which is why a finished formulation should be burn-tested rather than selected from diameter alone.
Is the recommended wick guaranteed to work?
No. It is deliberately presented as a starting point. Your final wick should be selected only after repeatable burn testing in the exact wax, fragrance, dye and vessel combination you plan to use.