Wick Size Guide

Candle Making Tool

Wick Size Guide

Choose a starting wick by wax type, container inner diameter, wick series, and fragrance load. Use the dropdown calculator first, then open the guide sections below for deeper testing notes.

Important: Wick charts are starting points only. Wax type, fragrance load, dye, jar shape, vessel depth, and burn time can all change the final result. Always test before selling.

Wick Dropdown Calculator

Select your candle type and container diameter. The result will show wick sizes to test first, plus warnings for high fragrance load, wide vessels, gel wax, beeswax, palm wax, and wooden wick limits.

Recommended starting test

Select your options above to see wick sizes to test.

Wick Series Comparison

Pick the wick series first, then pick the size. A CD-8, ECO-8, HTP-83, and LX-18 are not interchangeable.

Wick Series Best Starting Use Burn Style Watch Out For
CD Wick Soy, paraffin, vegetable wax, container candles, harder-to-burn formulas Strong and versatile; useful when a candle needs more heat Can mushroom or soot if oversized
ECO Wick Soy wax and natural wax container candles Hotter burn; useful for helping soy reach a full melt pool May burn too hot in some paraffin formulas
HTP Wick Containers, votives, pillars, harder waxes, blends Stable flame with good rigidity and a self-trimming style Can run hot in soft wax or small jars
LX Wick Paraffin, soy blends, pillars, votives, cleaner container burns Controlled curl and cleaner flame profile May need upsizing in stubborn soy wax or high-fragrance formulas
Zinc Core Wick Paraffin, gel wax, votives, tealights, some containers Rigid core helps the wick stay upright Not a strong first choice for soy or natural wax candles
Wooden Wick Decorative container candles Wide flame, premium visual look, possible crackling effect Sensitive to wax, fragrance load, dye, and vessel shape
Soy / Vegetable Wax Wick Chart

Best first choices: ECO, CD, HTP, LX. ECO is commonly used for soy wax. CD, HTP, and LX may need to be upsized when used in soy or vegetable wax.

Container Inner Diameter Good Starting Wick Options Testing Note
1.25" – 1.50"ECO-1, CD-4, LX-8Small containers heat quickly. Watch for overheating.
1.50" – 2.00"ECO-2, CD-5, LX-10Good for small tins, small jars, and votives.
2.00" – 2.25"ECO-4, CD-6 to CD-8, HTP-41 to HTP-62, LX-12 to LX-16Soy may need one size larger than a base paraffin chart.
2.25" – 2.50"ECO-4 to ECO-6, CD-7 to CD-10, HTP-52 to HTP-73, LX-14 to LX-18Test smaller and larger sizes before deciding.
2.50" – 2.75"ECO-6, CD-8 to CD-12, HTP-62 to HTP-83, LX-16 to LX-20Common range for 6 oz to 8 oz container candles.
2.75" – 3.00"ECO-8, CD-8 to CD-12, HTP-73 to HTP-83, LX-16 to LX-20If tunneling occurs, test one size hotter.
3.00" – 3.25"ECO-10, CD-10 to CD-14, HTP-83 to HTP-104, LX-18 to LX-21High fragrance load may require a stronger wick.
3.25" – 3.50"ECO-12, CD-12 to CD-16, HTP-83 to HTP-104, LX-20 to LX-22Borderline size. Compare single wick vs. double wick.
3.50" – 3.75"ECO-14, CD-14 to CD-18, HTP-104 to HTP-105, LX-21 to LX-24Often better with 2 smaller wicks instead of 1 oversized wick.
3.75" – 4.50"CD-16 to CD-22, HTP-104 to HTP-1212, LX-22 to LX-28Use multi-wick testing. Watch jar temperature carefully.
4.50" – 5.00"Multi-wick test recommended, CD-20 to CD-22, HTP-105 to HTP-1212, LX-28 to LX-30Do not force one oversized wick. Test 2 or 3 smaller wicks.
Paraffin / Paraffin-Soy Wick Chart

Good first choices: CD, LX, HTP, Zinc. Zinc can work for paraffin, gel, votives, and some containers, but it is not a strong first choice for soy wax.

Container Inner Diameter CD Series HTP Series LX Series Zinc Core
1.25" – 1.50"CD-4—LX-8—
1.50" – 2.00"CD-5—LX-10—
2.00" – 2.25"CD-6HTP-41LX-1244-24-18
2.25" – 2.50"CD-7HTP-52LX-14—
2.50" – 2.75"CD-8HTP-62LX-16—
2.75" – 3.00"CD-8HTP-73LX-16—
3.00" – 3.25"CD-10HTP-83LX-1851-32-18
3.25" – 3.50"CD-12HTP-83LX-2051-32-18
3.50" – 4.00"CD-14 to CD-16HTP-104LX-21 to LX-2260-44-18
4.00" – 4.50"CD-18 to CD-20HTP-105LX-24 to LX-26Multi-wick test recommended
4.50" – 5.00"CD-22 or multi-wickHTP-1212LX-28 to LX-30Multi-wick test recommended
Wooden Wick Chart

Wooden wicks are for container candles, not pillars or votives. For pure soy wax, larger wood wicks are usually a better starting point. Wooden wicks are not a good first choice for beeswax or palm wax.

Wood Wick Size Soy Wax Application Paraffin Wax Application
X-SmallNot recommendedSmall container up to 1.5"
SmallNot recommendedSmall container up to 2.25"
MediumSmall container up to 2.25"Medium container up to 3.0"
LargeLarge container up to 3.25"Large container up to 3.25"
X-LargeLarge container up to 3.5"Large container up to 3.75"
Gel Wax Wick Chart

Gel wax requires gel-safe fragrance oil and careful testing. Zinc core wicks are commonly used as a starting option because they stay rigid.

Container Inner Diameter Starting Wick Option Testing Note
2.0" – 2.25"44-24-18 Zinc CoreUse only gel-safe fragrance oil.
3.0" – 3.5"51-32-18 Zinc CoreWatch flame height and jar heat.
3.5" – 4.0"60-44-18 Zinc CoreMulti-wick testing may be safer for wider vessels.
Beeswax / Palm Wax Caution

Beeswax and palm wax can be harder to wick than soft container waxes. They may need stronger wick testing, but oversizing can still create a large flame, soot, or unsafe container temperature.

Practical rule: For beeswax, palm wax, or unusual wax blends, do not rely on a generic wick chart. Start with small test batches and compare several wick series.
Single Wick vs. Multi-Wick

Wide containers often burn better with two or three smaller wicks instead of one oversized wick. One large wick can create a tall flame, deep melt pool, soot, and excessive jar heat.

Container Width Recommended Test Setup Placement Rule
3.25" – 3.50"Compare one larger wick vs. two smaller wicksWatch jar heat carefully during later burns.
3.50" – 4.25"Usually test two smaller wicksSpace wicks evenly and keep them away from glass.
4.25" – 5.00"Usually test two or three smaller wicksUse balanced spacing and test full candle life.
Wide shallow bowlOften needs multiple small wicksDo not judge only by first-burn melt pool.
Troubleshooting Wick Problems
Problem Likely Cause Next Test
TunnelingWick too small, wax too hard, fragrance load slowing the burnTry one size larger or a hotter wick series.
Weak hot throwUnder-wicked candle, poor wax/fragrance match, not enough cure timeRetest wick size before adding more fragrance oil.
Large flameWick too large, too many wicks, or wick not trimmedTry one size smaller or a cooler wick series.
Soot or smokeOver-wicked candle, high fragrance load, poor wick matchReduce wick size and check fragrance load.
Jar gets too hotWick too large, too many wicks, vessel too narrow, excessive heat buildupStop using that formula. Redesign the wick setup.
Wick drowningWick too small, melt pool too deep, fragrance or dye interfering with burnTest a larger wick or reduce fragrance load.
Testing Rules Before Selling
Test at least 3 wick sizes Make one candle with a smaller wick, one with the suggested wick, and one with a larger wick.
Trim before each burn Trim the wick before every test burn so results are not distorted by mushrooming.
Burn 2–4 hours per cycle Watch flame height, soot, mushrooming, melt pool, hot throw, and jar temperature.
Test full candle life The correct wick is not the one that looks good only during the first hour.
Change one variable only Do not change wax, fragrance, jar, dye, and wick all at once.
Do not ignore jar heat A candle that smells good but overheats the container is not a good formula.

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Start small. Test your wax, wick, fragrance oil, dye, and vessel together before scaling up.

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