Easy Tips to Make Your Candles Last Longer
Just because a candle says “30-hour burn” doesn’t mean it will actually burn for the full 30 hours. That number is the maximum -- as in, it has the potential to burn for 30 hours if you take care of it properly.
Depending on how you burn it, you might only get 20 or 25 hours of use. And yes, we know that feels like a scam. But it’s actually just science.
In this article, we’ll go over 3 easy things you can do right now to help your candles last longer. They’re small tweaks that make a big difference in how slowly and cleanly your candle burns.
Let Your Candle Burn From Edge to Edge
On your very first burn, let the candle melt all the way across the top – from edge to edge.
Why you should do this:
- Helps all future burns stay even (or closer to even)
- Helps prevent candle tunneling
The logic:
When you light a candle, your candle forms what’s called a melt pool, the area of melted wax around the wick. That melt pool sets the stage for every future burn.
If you blow out your candle too early on the first burn and the melt pool hasn’t reached the edges, your candle will start to tunnel -- meaning it’ll burn straight down the center, leaving excess wax stuck to the sides.
Once that tunneling starts, the flame has to work twice as hard to melt the uneven wax. And depending on how deep the tunnel gets and how long you let it burn, your candle may never fully even out. At that point, the flame just isn’t strong enough to melt through the leftover wax and a good chunk of your candle goes to waste.
Want more tips? Check out our Complete Guide on How to Fix Candle Tunneling
Trim Your Wick
You’ve probably heard this one before but we can’t stress it enough. Trimming your wick is one of the easiest ways to make your candles last longer.
Why you should do this:
- Helps your candle burn more slowly
- Reduces soot buildup
- Keeps your jars looking clean
- Minimizes the toxins released into the air
The logic:
When the wick is too long, the flame gets bigger. The bigger the flame, the faster it burns through your candle.
Also, when you light an untrimmed wick, you’re lighting right on top of built-up carbon (aka soot) from the last burn. That extra soot gets released into the air and ends up dirtying the inner rim of your jar. So not only does your candle look grimy, but you’re also breathing in more particles than necessary.
By keeping your wick trimmed to about ¼ inch, you’ll help your candle burn slower, cleaner, and more efficiently.
To learn more about wick trimming, check out our Complete Guide on How to Trim Your Candle Wicks and Why You should Do It
Cap Your Burns
We know -- it's so tempting to leave your candle burning all day. But the longer you burn your candle, the faster you burn through it and the more soot you release into the air.
Try the 4-Hour Rule:
This means capping your burns to a max of 4 hours at a time. That’s usually just enough time to melt all the way across the surface without overheating the wax or producing excess soot.
A Good Rule of Thumb:
Candles typically melt about 1 inch of wax width per hour, so here’s how long you should burn your candle based on size:
- 2-inch wide candle: burn for 2–3 hours
- 3-inch wide candle: burn for 3–4 hours
- 4-inch wide candle: burn for 4–5 hours
- 5-inch wide candle: burn for 5–6 hours
This ensures you get an even melt pool without overheating or wasting wax.
For more tips on how to properly care for your candles, check out our guide on How to Make Candles Last Longer, Burn Evenly, and Stay Clean
And Here’s Something Not a lot of People Know:
The top half of your candle burns slower because it’s exposed to more oxygen and airflow. But once your candle reaches the bottom half, it starts to burn faster because there’s less airflow and more insulation from the jar walls.
That's cool, but what does that mean for me?
It means you only really need long burns during the first half of the candle. Once you get to the halfway point, shorter burns are totally fine and will help preserve what’s left of your wax.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever wondered why your candles don’t seem to last as long as they should, it’s not your imagination and it’s not the candle’s fault either.
The reality is, oftentimes, candles burn too quickly due to our own habits, but luckily, thats something we can easily fix with a few small habit changes like letting it burn all the way across, trimming your wick, and capping your burns. By doing all 3 or even a few of them, can help make your candles last longer.
