How to Calculate Candle Burn Rate and Burn Time

There are two essential components that make a candle - wax and wick. When a candle burns, you end up with less wax after burning than you started with. This is because the wax oxidizes, or burns, in the flame to yield water and carbon dioxide, which dissipate in the air around the candle. This reaction also produces light and heat.

To find out burn rate, first weight the candle (record weight A). In a controlled room (ensure there's no wind to create drift/drip, or sudden blow out to the candle), burn the candle for a period of time (give an exact number of minutes for the burn interval like 30 minutes, 60 minutes, etc.) Put it out and weight the candle again (record weight B). Then, subtract the two weights to get a new weight (record weight C). Divide weight C by your burn interval to get your burn rate.

To find out burn time, divide weight A by your burn rate.

For example. Your candle weighs 320 grams (weight A). After burning 60 minutes (burn interval), it weighs 20 grams (weight B). Subtract the two weights, you get 300 grams (weight C). Therefore, your burn rate (each minute it burned) is 5 grams per minute. Your burn time is 64 minutes (320/5).