Candle Wick Size Chart for Soy, Paraffin and Beeswax

Quick answer: container inside diameter is the primary input. Wax type adjusts from there — denser waxes need larger wicks. Use the chart below as a starting point, then burn test. For an interactive recommendation, use the Wick Size Calculator.

Wick size chart by container diameter and wax type

Starting size recommendations based on inside container diameter at 6-8% fragrance load with no dye. Heavy fragrance loads (above 8%) or dark dyes require sizing up one to two sizes.

Numbers between series are not interchangeable. An ECO 10 is not the same size as a CD 10 or LX 10 — each series has its own scale.

How to measure your container

Measure the inside diameter — the distance across the opening at the top, from inner wall to inner wall. Not the outside. Not the fluid ounce label.

A jar labeled “8oz” tells you its fill volume, not its width. An 8oz jar from one brand can be 3 inches across; the same volume from another brand might be 2.75 inches. Always measure before selecting a wick.

For tapered jars, use the diameter at the widest point of the melt pool, usually near the top.

What size wick for common jar sizes

Typical inside diameters for standard candle containers. Actual dimensions vary by brand — measure yours.

CD wick size chart

CD wicks (also called Stabilo wicks) are coreless, flat-braided cotton with paper filament. CandleScience’s primary recommendation for GB464 soy wax based on their testing across a wide range of materials. Non-directional, self-trimming, and handle higher fragrance loads well.

For paraffin in the CD series, start one to two sizes smaller — paraffin melts more readily than soy.

ECO wick size chart

ECO wicks are flat, coreless cotton wicks braided with paper filaments for rigidity. Primed with vegetable wax, which lets you label candles as all-natural. CandleScience rates ECO as a strong secondary option for GB464 after CD, and their primary recommendation for beeswax.

In beeswax, size up one to two ECO sizes from the soy recommendation for the same diameter.

LX wick size chart

LX wicks are flat-braided 100% cotton with a controlled curl that reduces mushrooming. CandleScience’s top recommendation for paraffin wax. Works in paraffin-soy blends too.

For soy in the LX series, size up two to three from the paraffin recommendation — soy burns cooler and needs more wick to sustain a full melt pool.

Wooden wick size chart

Wooden wicks are sized by width. Single-ply wicks work best in paraffin, parasoy, and coconut blends. Pure soy needs a booster wick or double-ply setup — single-ply typically doesn’t generate enough heat to sustain a full melt pool in 100% soy wax.

In pure soy, use a booster wick at the size shown above, or layer two single-ply wicks in one clip. Lone Star Candle Supply recommends using L or XL sizes when working in pure soy.

How wax type changes wick size

Same container, different wax, different wick. Denser waxes with higher melt points need more heat to form a full melt pool, which means a larger wick.

Soy burns cool. CD or ECO are standard. Dense fragrance oils slow wax flow and often require sizing up one step above what the chart shows.

Paraffin melts more readily than soy. LX is the standard series. Use a smaller wick for the same diameter compared to soy.

Beeswax is the densest common wax and has the highest melt point. Size up significantly from soy charts. Beeswax also varies more batch to batch than commercial waxes, so testing matters more here than anywhere else.

Coconut-soy blends treat like soy for starting size. Some blends run slightly cooler and need sizing up one step.

Fragrance load — CandleScience calibrates their wick guide at 7.5% fragrance with no dye. Above 8% or with dark dyes, size up one to two steps.

Signs your wick is wrong

Too small: melt pool doesn’t reach the container edges and tunneling forms. Flame floods and self-extinguishes. Weak or no hot throw.

Too large: melt pool deeper than half an inch, consuming wax too fast. Heavy mushrooming after burns. Soot or smoke from the flame. Container gets hot to the touch.

A correctly sized wick produces an edge-to-edge melt pool a quarter to half an inch deep after 3-4 hours, a steady flame around 1 inch tall, and light or no mushrooming.

How to test

Pour 2-3 test candles with the same wax, fragrance, and container — one with your chart starting size, one a size up, one a size down. Cure fully (two weeks for soy). Trim to a quarter inch before each burn. Burn 3-4 hours and compare melt pool, flame height, and mushrooming.

If none of the three sizes work, shift the whole set up or down and retest. If an entire wick series isn’t performing, try a different series.

For a starting recommendation by diameter and wax type, use the Wick Size Calculator.

Frequently asked questions