All About Candle Wicks

June 30, 2017 31 Comments

Wick selection can be confusing and overwhelming at first. The type of wick you need will vary according to the wax, size of jar and type of candle you are making.

Wicking is available raw (plain or uncoated), primed (wax coated) and pre-tabbed in stock sizes or custom assemblies. Unfortunately there is not a wick available that is good for every application so you will need different wick sizes for different size and types of candles. 

The chart below provides of a basic outline based on the type of candle you are making.

Determine which packaging method is best for you. 
Machine Primed – Wicking is machine primed with a high melt point wax for a more even and stable burning candle. Wick tabs can also be attached easily. Great for candle makers who make all different size candles who prefer to cut their own lengths and tab their own wicks. 
Raw – Plain wicking with no wax coating.Perfect for the candle maker who prefers to prime their own wick or make their candles with unprimed wick. 
Pre-tabbed Wick Assemblies – Primed, cut and tabbed for the ultimate in convenience. Just attach your wick to the bottom of your jar and pour your wax. 

**** About The Wick Charts ****

The wick charts provided are intended to be used as a general guideline and do not replace your own test burning! All of our candle size and wax pool testing was done with a 141mp paraffin with no scent or color. The addition of scent and color to your wax will affect the way the candle burns. The “wax pool” is the diameter of the melted wax after the wick burned 2 hours.

Wick size recommendations are based upon burn testing with paraffin wax with no additives and may need adjustments for other wax types.

If your wick extinguishes itself and will not burn—use a larger size.

If your wick burns  hot, flame is high, is sooting, mushrooms or needs to be trimmed frequently—use a smaller size.

ALWAYS TEST BURN YOUR CANDLES!

Zinc Core Wick Size Chart

Wick Size Mfg. Size Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time Best Use
X-Small 28-24 1” to 2” 1.4” Tea lights
Small 44-24-18 2” to 3” 1.6” Votives
Medium 51-32-18 2.5” to 3.5” 1.8” Canning Jars
Large 60-44-18 3” to 4” 1.9”
X-Large 62-52-18 3” to 4” 2” Other Large Jars

Paper Core Wick Size Chart

Wick Size Mfg. Size Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time Best Use
X-Small 34-24 1” to 2” 1.6” Votives
Small 44-24-18 2” to 3” 1.8” Votives, Small Jars
Medium 51-32-18 2.5” to 3.5” 1.9” Canning Jars
Large 60-44-18 3” to 4” 2” Apothecary Jars
X-Large 62-52-18 3” to 4” 2.1” Other Large Jars

Heinz Coreless Wick Size Chart

Wick Size Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time Wick Size Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time
CD-3 1” to 1.5”

Tealights

 1.8” CD-12 3” to 3.75”

Pint Jars

 2.4”
CD-4 1.5” to 2” 1.9” CD-14 3.25” to 3.75: 2.5”
CD-5 2” Votive 2.0” CD-16 3.5” to 4” 2.7”
CD-6 2” to 2.5” 2.1” CD-18 3.75” to 4.25” 2.8”
CD-8 2.5” to 3” 2.2” CD-20 4” to 4.5” 2.8”
CD-10 3” to 3.5”

Canning Jars

 2.3 CD-22 4.25” to 5” 2.9”

Wedo RRD Wick Size Chart

Wick Size Gel Candle Size Wax Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time Wick Size Gel Candle Size Wax Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time
RRD-29 1.5” to 2” 1.5” to 2” 1.8” RRD-47 3.75” to 4.25” 3.75” to 4.25” 2.4”
RRD-34 1.75” to 2.25” 2” to 2.5” 2.0” RRD-50 4” to 4.5” 3.75” to 4.25” 2.5”
RRD-37 2.25” to 3” 2.5” to 3” 2.0” RRD-55 4” to 4.5” 4.25” to 4.75” 2.8”
RRD-40 3” to 3.75” 3” to 3.5” 2.3” RRD-65 4.5” to 5” 4.25” to 4.75” 3.2”

German Coreless LX Wick Size Chart

Wick Size Gel Candle Size Wax Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time Wick Size Gel Candle Size Wax Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time
LX-8 1.5” to 2” 1” to 1.5” 2.0” LX-18 3.5” to 4” 3” to 3.5” 2.2”
LX-10 2” to 2.75” 1.5” to 2” 2.0” LX-20 3.75” to 4.25” 3.25” to 3.75” 2.3”
LX-12 2.5” to 3.25” 2” to 2.5” 2.1” LX-22 4” to 4.5” 3.5” to 4” 2.8”
LX-14 3” to 3.5” 2.5” to 3” 2.1” LX-26 4.25” to 4.75” 3.75” to 4.25” 3.3”
LX-16 3.25” to 3.75” 2.75” to 3.25” 2.2” LX-30 4.5” to 5” 4” to 4.5” 3.7”

Cotton Wick Size Chart

Wick Type Size Candle Size Wax Pool after 2 hours burn time Best Use
Cotton Core 34-40 Votives 1.6” Votives
Square Braid #4/0 1” to 2” 1.6” Votives, Beeswax Tapers
Square Braid #2/0 2” to 3” 1.9” Pillars
Square Braid #4 3” to 4” 2.2” Pillars
Square Braid #6 3.5” to 4.5” 2.4” Pillars
Flat Braid 12 ply Tapers Tapers
Flat Braid 15 ply 1” to 2” 1.9” Thick Tapers, Pillars
Flat Braid 24 ply 2” to 3” 2” Pillars
Flat Braid 30 ply 2.5” to 3.5” 2” Pillars
Flat Braid 36 ply 3” to 4” 2.1” Pillars
Flat Braid 60 ply 4” to 5” 2.2” Pillars

31 thoughts on “All About Candle Wicks”

Comments are closed.