"Pricing handmade candles: a worksheet that covers every cost"
Many makers price candles by looking at what others charge. That tells you what buyers might pay, not whether you make money at that price. Start from your own costs, then compare.
Line 1: materials per candle
Use the calculator to get wax and fragrance cost per candle, then add everything else that leaves with the candle:
- jar or tin, lid
- wick and wick sticker
- warning label and brand label
- box, tissue, shipping protection
A typical 8 oz soy candle might come to $4-6 in materials, depending heavily on the jar and the fragrance.
Line 2: your time
Time a whole batch, from setting up to cleaning down, labelling and packing, then divide by the number of candles. If a batch of 12 takes three hours, that's 15 minutes a candle. Decide what an hour of your time is worth and add it. Leaving this out is how hobbies turn into unpaid jobs.
Line 3: selling costs
Marketplaces and payment processors take a share of every sale, and it's usually a percentage of the price, so it grows as the price grows. Look up the current fees for wherever you sell (for Etsy, our sister site Seller Math breaks them down). Add a few percent for breakage and returns.
Line 4: margin
Margin is what's left to grow the business: better equipment, new scents, photography, a market stall fee. Many small makers aim for the price to be at least double their costs before selling fees, but treat that as a starting point, not a rule.
Worked example
| Line | Per candle |
|---|---|
| Materials (wax, fragrance, jar, wick, labels, box) | $5.20 |
| Time (15 minutes at $20/hour) | $5.00 |
| Cost before fees | $10.20 |
| Price that covers ~12% selling fees and a margin | $24.00 |
| Left after fees (about $2.90) and costs | about $10.90 |
Your fees and costs will differ; plug in your own.
Then check the market
Now compare with similar candles: same size, similar wax and jar, similar presentation. If your price is far above theirs, look at your costs first (jars are often the biggest lever). If it's far below, you're probably undercharging.
Wholesale is a different price
Shops that stock your candles usually expect to buy at around half the retail price. If your retail price doesn't leave room for that, wholesale will lose you money. Set the wholesale price from costs first, then retail on top of it.