How to Make Money Selling Candles from Home: Honest Income Breakdown [2026]

You too can pour your own candles and promote them at a farmers market this weekend if you have already got the money for provides.

Now, I’m not gonna inform you candle margins are 70% and depart it at that.

That quantity is technically true and virtually deceptive.

The actual math is extra fascinating, and extra trustworthy.

Right here’s what you’ll be taught on this information:

• A channel-by-channel revenue breakdown (Etsy, craft gala’s, wholesale, print-on-demand)
• What it really prices to begin, from $0 to $1,500
• Tips on how to value so that you’re not by chance incomes $7/hr
• The place to promote based mostly in your funds and character
• What candle varieties and smells promote finest proper now

How A lot Cash Can You Make Promoting Candles?

The margin seems to be lovely on paper.

The truth relies upon completely on the place you promote and the way you depend your time.

The Trustworthy Revenue Math

A fundamental soy candle prices $5–$8 to make (wax, perfume, wick, jar, label).

Retail value for a comparable candle runs $15–$26.

That’s a gross revenue of $10–$18 per candle, and sure, that’s the place the “70% margin” declare comes from.

However gross margin doesn’t depend your time.

From what I’ve seen on dozens of threads on Reddit’s r/candlemaking and r/Etsy, making 100 candles takes most house sellers 15–20 hours while you embody prep, pouring, cooling, labeling, and packaging.

At $1,000 gross on these 100 candles, subtract $600–$800 in supplies and also you’re left with $200–$400 web, earlier than platform charges.

That’s roughly $7–$13 per hour.

That’s not a nasty aspect hustle quantity.

Nevertheless it’s a good distance from “70% margins.”

Most guides quote 70% gross margins. That’s technically true. However gross margin ignores your time, your packaging, your platform charges, and the three candles you ruined testing a brand new perfume load. Web margin is nearer to 25–30% for many house sellers, and that’s earlier than you depend the hours.

Life like Month-to-month Earnings by Channel

The place you promote adjustments every thing.

Right here’s what part-time sellers really report throughout the principle channels.

A number of issues most individuals overlook on this desk…

Craft gala’s look modest month-to-month, however a single sturdy Saturday in This autumn can gross $600–$900 in sooner or later.

Wholesale by way of Faire seems to be small till you land two or three boutique accounts reordering month-to-month.

And the Shopify column solely is sensible as soon as you have already got an viewers (it’s not a place to begin.).

The print-on-demand quantity deserves a footnote.

Francisco Rivera began promoting POD candles on Etsy in February 2023 with no stock and no upfront price past a $0.20 itemizing price.

He designs labels on Canva, hyperlinks to Printify, and the producer ships on to consumers.

By the top of 2023, his store introduced in six figures, in line with CNBC.

That’s an outlier.

However the mannequin is actual and the barrier to entry is basically zero.

For most individuals selling on Etsy, real looking first-year revenue lands within the $200–$600/month vary after 3–6 months of constructing opinions and optimizing listings.

What It Truly Prices to Begin a Candle Enterprise

I’ve seen articles say you can begin for $50.

You may’t!

Not if you wish to promote one thing that truly burns accurately.

The Lean Startup Price range

Right here’s a sensible breakdown in your first batch of 30–40 candles.

That will get you began.

However add in take a look at batches you’ll pour earlier than you discover the appropriate wick dimension, and most sellers land nearer to $400–$600 earlier than their first sale.

If you wish to promote at craft gala’s, add sales space charges ($30–$200) and sufficient stock to fill a desk.

Now you’re at $800–$1,200 to do it proper.

For a deeper take a look at starting a business with limited cash, that information breaks down which enterprise varieties are literally real looking on a decent funds.

The $0 Route: Print-on-Demand Candles

For those who don’t have a number of hundred {dollars} to spend on provides, that is value realizing about.

With print-on-demand, you don’t make candles.

You design the label.

A service known as Printify handles manufacturing and ships on to your buyer.

Your solely upfront price is $0.20 to checklist on Etsy.

You don’t purchase stock.

You don’t pour wax.

You don’t ship something.

The trade-off is margin.

You’ll make much less per sale than a home made candle vendor.

However you possibly can checklist 50 designs in a weekend and take a look at what sells earlier than spending a greenback on provides.

It’s additionally how Rivera constructed his six-figure Etsy store, as lined within the part above.

For anybody simply beginning out, it’s a sensible technique to be taught the market earlier than committing to stock.

For extra concepts on selling handmade products online, learn my submit that covers different platforms and product varieties value contemplating alongside candles.

Tips on how to Begin a Candle Enterprise Step by Step

Most individuals skip Step 1 and go broke shopping for provides for a candle that gained’t keep lit.

Step 1: Decide Your Wax and Good One Method First

Soy wax is the perfect place to begin for many newcomers.

It’s simpler to work with than paraffin, burns cleaner, and sells higher to the consumers who store handmade candles on Etsy and at craft gala’s.

Right here’s the best way to do it:

Begin with one wax, one perfume, and three or 4 wick sizes.  Pour the identical candle time and again till it’s proper.

From what I’ve seen in r/candlemaking threads, most sellers say it takes round 84 take a look at candles earlier than you have got a method you possibly can promote with confidence. Some name it the “84 Candle Rule.

Don’t skip this step.

A candle that tunnels, drowns its wick, or throws no scent will get you one-star opinions and kill your store earlier than it begins.

CandleScience is the perfect free useful resource for wick guides, perfume load calculators, and troubleshooting widespread issues.

Step 2: Select Your Area of interest and Set Your Worth

There are three value ranges within the candle market.

• Mass market runs $10–$18.
• Mid-range runs $18–$30.
• Luxurious sits at $35 and up.

Most handmade sellers do finest within the mid-range, the place consumers anticipate high quality however aren’t comparability procuring in opposition to Goal.

For pricing, use this method:

Multiply your price of supplies by 5 for direct-to-consumer gross sales, and by 2 for wholesale.

In case your candle prices $6 to make, your retail value needs to be round $30 and your wholesale value round $12.

Most new sellers value too low.

Low costs sign low high quality to candle consumers.

It additionally leaves you no room to run a sale or soak up a delivery price.

Step 3: Decide One Promoting Channel and Show It First

Don’t attempt to promote on Etsy, at craft gala’s, and thru your personal web site on the identical time.

Decide one channel.

Promote there till you’re worthwhile.

Then develop.

I cowl every channel intimately within the subsequent part so you possibly can choose the appropriate one in your state of affairs.

Step 4: Deal with the Authorized Fundamentals

That is the step most individuals skip.

Don’t!

You’ll want a fundamental enterprise license ($50–$200 relying in your state), a gross sales tax allow when you promote in particular person, and product legal responsibility insurance coverage ($300–$600 per yr).

That final one issues greater than individuals understand.

Candles are an open flame. If one thing goes mistaken, you need to be lined.

You additionally must label your candles accurately.

The National Candle Association publishes free labeling pointers that cowl what’s legally required on each candle you promote, together with burn warnings and ingredient disclosure.

For enterprise registration fundamentals, SBA.gov walks you thru what’s required in your state.

The place to Promote Your Candles

The channel you choose adjustments every thing.

Most individuals select Etsy by default. That’s not at all times the appropriate name.

Etsy (Handmade)

Etsy is the best place to begin.

The consumers are already there searching for handmade candles.

The charges add up quick although.

You’re paying $0.20 per itemizing, 6.5% per sale, and one other ~3% for fee processing.

That’s near 10% off each order earlier than you’ve packed a single field.

The important thing to Etsy is niching down.

Don’t checklist a “soy candle.” Listing a “cozy library scent candle for e book lovers.”

The extra particular you get, the much less competitors you face.

Professional tip: A variety of newcomers rapidly understand how rattling onerous it’s to get their first few opinions on Etsy. I’d suggest promoting a number of to family and friends first so you may get a number of opinions first. Research present having even a number of opinions improve gross sales. Don’t you often ignore Amazon itemizing with no opinions!?

POD on Etsy (Printify)

For those who don’t have startup money, that is the route value first.

You design the label on Canva. You checklist it on Etsy. Printify handles every thing else, together with manufacturing and delivery.

Your solely upfront price is $0.20 per itemizing.

No stock.

No wax.

No delivery.

Craft Gala’s and Farmers Markets

In-person promoting has one huge benefit: conversion charges are larger.

Folks can scent your candles. That adjustments every thing.

Sales space charges run $30–$200 relying on the occasion.

A very good Saturday in This autumn can gross $600–$900 in a single day.

Plan your stock across the holidays.

The Nationwide Candle Affiliation experiences that 35% of annual candle gross sales occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Wholesale by way of Faire

That is the channel most individuals overlook.

Faire is a wholesale market the place unbiased boutiques and reward retailers purchase merchandise to inventory their cabinets.

You checklist your candles, retailers order, and Faire handles the fee and web phrases.

Charges are 15% in your first order from every retailer, then 0% after that.

Land two or three boutique accounts reordering month-to-month and you’ve got a dependable revenue base that doesn’t rely upon algorithm adjustments.

One factor to know:

Wholesale pricing means promoting at roughly 50% of your retail value. Your margins must assist that earlier than you go this route.

Your Personal Web site

Don’t begin right here.

A Shopify retailer is sensible upon getting an current buyer base and a few model recognition.

With out site visitors, you’re paying $39/month for a retailer no one visits.

Construct your viewers first on Etsy or at craft gala’s. Then transfer consumers to your personal website while you’re prepared to chop out the platform charges.

What Candles Promote Finest

Not all candles promote equally.

And never all scents are value your time to inventory.

Prime-Promoting Candle Sorts

Container and jar candles are the preferred kind with American shoppers, in line with the National Candle Association.

They’re straightforward to ship, straightforward to show, and what most consumers image after they seek for candles on-line.

Past the format, these are the kinds that persistently transfer:

• Soy candles. Patrons actively seek for them. “Clear burning” and “non-toxic” are actual buy drivers.
• Area of interest and novelty candles. “Smells like a promotion.” “Cozy bookstore.” “New automobile scent.” Humorous or hyper-specific candles get shared on social media and convert higher on Etsy.
• Seasonal candles. Pumpkin spice in September, evergreen and cinnamon in November. Time your stock across the calendar.
• Luxurious candles. Excessive-end jars, minimal labels, premium perfume oils. Patrons who spend $40+ on a candle are actual. You simply must look the half.

Scents That Persistently Promote

Some scents promote year-round.

Others spike and disappear.

12 months-round bestsellers:

• Vanilla
• Lavender
• Sandalwood
• Clear linen

Seasonal spikes:

• Pumpkin spice (September by way of October)
• Cinnamon and clove (November by way of December)
• Citrus and contemporary florals (March by way of Could)

The worldwide scented candle market is rising at 4.51% per yr and is projected to achieve $5.8 billion by 2032, in line with Fortune Business Insights.

Scented candles will not be a fad. Demand is regular and rising.

Right here’s an insider tip a realized from an Etsy candle vendor:

Area of interest scents tied to a selected id or occupation outperform generic ones on Etsy.

A “nurse life” candle or a “instructor appreciation” candle with a intelligent label sells higher than one other vanilla jar in a crowded search end result.

Is Promoting Candles Price It?

Right here’s my take (based mostly on my analysis):

For most individuals, promoting candles make an honest aspect hustle and a tough full-time enterprise.

When It Makes Sense

In case your purpose is $500–$2,000 a month in additional revenue, promoting candles can get you there.

Not quick although!

Most sellers take 6–12 months to hit constant revenue.

Nevertheless it’s one of many few bodily merchandise the place you can begin small, take a look at at an area market, and scale solely while you’re prepared.

The maths works when you:

• Worth accurately. 5x your materials price for retail. No exceptions.
• Rely your hours. For those who’re making $8/hr, that’s helpful info. Don’t ignore it.
• Begin with one channel. Show it really works earlier than you unfold skinny.

If you wish to earn an extra $1,000 a month, candles are a sensible path. Simply not an in a single day one.

When It Doesn’t

Don’t begin a candle enterprise when you want cash within the subsequent 30 days.

Don’t begin when you’re not prepared to pour 50–100 take a look at candles earlier than promoting a single one.

And don’t begin when you’re going to cost at $12 since you’re scared no one can pay extra. They’ll. However provided that the candle is sweet and the branding seems to be legit.

The sellers who stop often made one in all three errors:

• Underpriced. Chased quantity as a substitute of margin.
• Skipped testing. Bought candles that didn’t carry out and bought unhealthy opinions early.
• Did an excessive amount of too quick. Etsy plus craft gala’s plus an internet site in month one.

Keep away from these three and also you’re already forward of most individuals who do that.

Begin Small, Show It, Then Scale

Candles are one of many few bodily merchandise the place the barrier to entry is genuinely low.

You may take a look at your method at an area farmers market, make $300 in a Saturday, and know inside 90 days whether or not that is value scaling.

That’s uncommon!

The maths works. The demand is actual. The marketplace for handmade merchandise retains rising. You simply have to cost proper, depend your hours truthfully, and never attempt to do every thing directly.

For those who can’t afford provides but, begin with the Printify POD route.

Listing 10 candle designs on Etsy this weekend for $2.

See what will get clicks. Then determine if handmade is definitely worth the funding.

Both means, you’ll know extra in 30 days than most individuals be taught in a yr of researching.

Have you ever bought candles earlier than?

Drop a remark under. I’d like to know what stunned you most, good or unhealthy.