How Long Do Beeswax Candles Burn? Burn Times by Candle Type
Short answer: It depends on the shape and size. Our tea lights burn about 4–5 hours, votives about 10–12 hours, taper pairs about one hour per inch of height (8 to 14 hours per candle), and pillars from about 20–25 hours for the narrow 3 inch up to 55+ hours for the flat top 7 inch. Every product page lists its own estimate.
How long does each type of candle burn?
Tea lights and votives | Candle | Burn time (approx.) | |---|---| | Tea Light (12 box) | 4–5 hours each | | Votive (single or 18 box) | 10–12 hours each |
Tapers | Candle | Burn time (approx.) | |---|---| | Taper Pair 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 in | 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 hours per candle | | Elegant Beeswax Candles 8 & 10 in | 40–60 minutes per candle | | Celebration Tapers and Hanukkah Candles | 50–60 minutes per candle | | Birthday Candles | about 15 minutes per candle |
Pillars | Candle | Size | Burn time (approx.) | |---|---|---| | Narrow 3 in | 2 in dia. x 3 in | 20–25 hours | | Narrow 5 in | 2 in dia. x 5 in | 30–35 hours | | Narrow 7 in | 2 in dia. x 7 in | 40–45 hours | | Flat Top 3 in | 3 in dia. x 3 in | 35–45 hours | | Bell Top 3 in | 3 in dia. x 3 in | 35–45 hours | | Flat Top 5 in | 3 in dia. x 5 in | 45+ hours | | Flat Top 7 in | 3 in dia. x 7 in | 55+ hours | | Hex 3.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 | 3 x 3 x 3 / 3 x 4 x 3 / 3 x 5 3/4 x 3 in | 35–45 / 40+ / 50+ hours | | Simple Fern / Rustic Fern Pillar | listed as 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 6 3/4 / 6 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 in | 50+ hours |
Decorated candles | Candle | Burn time (approx.) | |---|---| | Pine Cone | up to 5 hours | | Fir Cone | 4–5 hours | | Sweet Heart | 5–7 hours | | Carved Faberge Egg | 13–15 hours | | Victorian Santa | 14–16 hours | | Beaded Pillow Box | 15–18 hours | | Key to My Heart | 15–17 hours | | Spruce Tree, Laughing Buddha | 16–18 hours | | Rustic Fern Globe, Vintage Bee Globe | 30–35 hours | | Chubby Pumpkin | 30+ hours | | Mindful Buddha | over 60 hours |
Why do beeswax candles burn slowly?
Beeswax is dense and has a naturally high melting point. It needs more heat to turn to liquid, so it burns down more slowly than paraffin or soy. That comes from the wax itself, not from anything we add.
What changes the burn time?
Drafts, an untrimmed wick and short burns all shorten a candle's life or waste wax. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before each burn. On the first burn, let the melted pool reach the edge, roughly an hour per inch of width.
Questions
Are these times guaranteed? No. They're estimates based on shape and size. What's the best value per hour? Compare the hours against the price on each product page. The larger pillars give the most hours per candle. What's best for a power outage? A tea light or votive box spreads light across several rooms. One pillar gives the most hours in a main room. Always use a stable heat-safe holder and never leave a flame unattended.
Related: Candle Care · FAQs · Tapers · Pillars · Tea Lights & Votives