Candle Price Calculator

Wax Cost per Pound ($):

Fragrance Oil Cost per Ounce ($):

Wick Cost per Unit ($):

Container Cost per Unit ($):

Label Cost per Unit ($):

Other Material Costs per Unit ($):

Labor Cost per Hour ($):

Time to Make One Candle (minutes):

Desired Profit Margin (%):

Candle Wax Weight (ounces):

Fragrance Load (% of wax weight):

Calculation Results:

Fill in the details above and click "Calculate Candle Price" to see your estimated costs and selling price.

function calculateCandlePrice() { var waxCostPerLb = parseFloat(document.getElementById('waxCostPerLb').value); var fragranceCostPerOz = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fragranceCostPerOz').value); var wickCostPerUnit = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wickCostPerUnit').value); var containerCostPerUnit = parseFloat(document.getElementById('containerCostPerUnit').value); var labelCostPerUnit = parseFloat(document.getElementById('labelCostPerUnit').value); var otherMaterialCostPerUnit = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherMaterialCostPerUnit').value); var laborCostPerHour = parseFloat(document.getElementById('laborCostPerHour').value); var timePerCandleMinutes = parseFloat(document.getElementById('timePerCandleMinutes').value); var desiredProfitMargin = parseFloat(document.getElementById('desiredProfitMargin').value); var candleWaxWeightOz = parseFloat(document.getElementById('candleWaxWeightOz').value); var fragranceLoadPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fragranceLoadPercent').value); if (isNaN(waxCostPerLb) || isNaN(fragranceCostPerOz) || isNaN(wickCostPerUnit) || isNaN(containerCostPerUnit) || isNaN(labelCostPerUnit) || isNaN(otherMaterialCostPerUnit) || isNaN(laborCostPerHour) || isNaN(timePerCandleMinutes) || isNaN(desiredProfitMargin) || isNaN(candleWaxWeightOz) || isNaN(fragranceLoadPercent) || waxCostPerLb < 0 || fragranceCostPerOz < 0 || wickCostPerUnit < 0 || containerCostPerUnit < 0 || labelCostPerUnit < 0 || otherMaterialCostPerUnit < 0 || laborCostPerHour < 0 || timePerCandleMinutes < 0 || desiredProfitMargin < 0 || candleWaxWeightOz <= 0 || fragranceLoadPercent < 0) { document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.'; return; } // 1. Calculate Wax Cost per Candle var waxWeightLbs = candleWaxWeightOz / 16; var costOfWax = waxWeightLbs * waxCostPerLb; // 2. Calculate Fragrance Oil Cost per Candle // Fragrance oil needed in ounces: (wax weight in lbs) * (fragrance load as decimal) * 16 oz/lb var fragranceOilNeededOz = waxWeightLbs * (fragranceLoadPercent / 100) * 16; var costOfFragrance = fragranceOilNeededOz * fragranceCostPerOz; // 3. Calculate Labor Cost per Candle var timePerCandleHours = timePerCandleMinutes / 60; var costOfLabor = timePerCandleHours * laborCostPerHour; // 4. Calculate Total Material Cost per Candle var totalMaterialCost = costOfWax + costOfFragrance + wickCostPerUnit + containerCostPerUnit + labelCostPerUnit + otherMaterialCostPerUnit; // 5. Calculate Total Production Cost per Candle var totalProductionCost = totalMaterialCost + costOfLabor; // 6. Calculate Desired Profit Amount var profitAmount = totalProductionCost * (desiredProfitMargin / 100); // 7. Calculate Final Selling Price var finalSellingPrice = totalProductionCost + profitAmount; var resultHTML = '

Candle Pricing Breakdown:

'; resultHTML += 'Individual Costs:'; resultHTML += '

Wax Cost: $' + costOfWax.toFixed(2) + '
Fragrance Oil Cost: $' + costOfFragrance.toFixed(2) + ' (' + fragranceOilNeededOz.toFixed(2) + ' oz)
Wick Cost: $' + wickCostPerUnit.toFixed(2) + '
Container Cost: $' + containerCostPerUnit.toFixed(2) + '
Label Cost: $' + labelCostPerUnit.toFixed(2) + '
Other Material Costs: $' + otherMaterialCostPerUnit.toFixed(2) + '
Labor Cost: $' + costOfLabor.toFixed(2) + '

'; resultHTML += '

'; resultHTML += 'Summary:'; resultHTML += '

Total Material Cost: $' + totalMaterialCost.toFixed(2) + '
Total Production Cost (Materials + Labor): $' + totalProductionCost.toFixed(2) + '
Desired Profit (' + desiredProfitMargin.toFixed(0) + '%): $' + profitAmount.toFixed(2) + '

'; resultHTML += '

'; resultHTML += 'Recommended Selling Price: $' + finalSellingPrice.toFixed(2) + ''; document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = resultHTML; }

Mastering Your Candle Pricing: A Comprehensive Guide

Pricing your handmade candles correctly is crucial for the success and sustainability of your business. It's not just about covering your costs; it's about valuing your time, materials, and craftsmanship, while also ensuring you make a healthy profit. Our Candle Price Calculator helps you break down every component, giving you a clear picture of what your candles should sell for.

Why Accurate Pricing Matters

Profitability: Ensures you're making money, not just breaking even.
Sustainability: Allows you to reinvest in your business, purchase quality materials, and grow.
Fair Compensation: Values your time and skill as a candlemaker.
Market Positioning: Helps you understand where your product stands against competitors.
Customer Perception: A price that's too low can devalue your product, while one too high can deter buyers.

Key Components of Candle Pricing

To arrive at a fair and profitable selling price, you need to consider all direct and indirect costs. Here's a breakdown of the inputs in our calculator:

1. Material Costs

Wax Cost per Pound: This is the foundation. Different waxes (soy, paraffin, beeswax, coconut) have varying costs. Input the average cost you pay per pound.
Fragrance Oil Cost per Ounce: Fragrance oils are often sold by the ounce. Knowing your cost per ounce is vital, especially since fragrance load can vary.
Wick Cost per Unit: Wicks are a small but essential cost. Calculate the cost of a single wick.
Container Cost per Unit: Jars, tins, or other vessels can be a significant expense. Input the cost of one container.
Label Cost per Unit: Don't forget the cost of your branding labels, including safety labels.
Other Material Costs per Unit: This category covers everything else: dye, packaging materials (boxes, tissue paper), safety stickers, warning labels, and any other small components. Estimate an average cost per candle.

2. Labor Costs

Labor Cost per Hour: What is your time worth? Even if you're not paying yourself an hourly wage yet, it's crucial to factor in a reasonable hourly rate for your work. This includes melting wax, wicking, pouring, labeling, and packaging.
Time to Make One Candle (minutes): Be realistic about how long it takes you to complete one candle from start to finish, including setup and cleanup.

3. Candle Specifications

Candle Wax Weight (ounces): This refers to the amount of wax (by weight) in your finished candle. This directly impacts your wax and fragrance oil usage.
Fragrance Load (% of wax weight): This is the percentage of fragrance oil you add relative to your wax weight. For example, a 10% fragrance load for an 8oz candle means you use 0.8oz of fragrance oil.

4. Profit Margin

Desired Profit Margin (%): This is the percentage you want to add on top of your total production cost. A common starting point for handmade goods is 50-100%, but this can vary based on your market, brand, and overheads. This profit allows for business growth, marketing, and unexpected expenses.

How the Calculator Works (Example)

Let's walk through a typical scenario using the default values in the calculator:

Wax Cost: $4.50/lb
Fragrance Oil Cost: $2.00/oz
Wick Cost: $0.20/unit
Container Cost: $1.50/unit
Label Cost: $0.15/unit
Other Material Costs: $0.30/unit
Labor Cost: $20.00/hour
Time per Candle: 15 minutes
Desired Profit Margin: 50%
Candle Wax Weight: 8 ounces
Fragrance Load: 10%

Based on these inputs, the calculator performs the following steps:

Wax Cost per Candle: (8 oz / 16 oz/lb) * $4.50/lb = $2.25
Fragrance Oil Cost per Candle: (8 oz wax / 16 oz/lb) * 10% fragrance load * 16 oz/lb * $2.00/oz = $1.60
Labor Cost per Candle: (15 min / 60 min/hr) * $20.00/hr = $5.00
Total Material Cost: $2.25 (wax) + $1.60 (fragrance) + $0.20 (wick) + $1.50 (container) + $0.15 (label) + $0.30 (other) = $6.00
Total Production Cost: $6.00 (materials) + $5.00 (labor) = $11.00
Desired Profit: $11.00 * 50% = $5.50
Recommended Selling Price: $11.00 + $5.50 = $16.50

This example demonstrates how each cost contributes to the final price, ensuring you cover all expenses and achieve your desired profit.

Beyond the Numbers: Other Pricing Considerations

Market Research: Look at what similar candles are selling for in your niche. Are you premium, mid-range, or budget-friendly?
Brand Value: A strong brand, unique packaging, and compelling story can justify a higher price point.
Overhead Costs: While not in this calculator, remember to factor in business insurance, website fees, marketing, photography, and other general business expenses when setting your overall business strategy.
Wholesale vs. Retail: If you plan to sell wholesale, your retail price needs to be high enough to allow for a significant discount to your wholesale partners while still maintaining your profit.
Perceived Value: Does your candle look and feel like it's worth the price you're asking? Quality ingredients and presentation are key.

Use this calculator as a powerful tool to guide your pricing decisions, but always combine it with market awareness and a clear understanding of your brand's value. Happy candlemaking!