Wicks and Wick Sizing
Best Wicks for Paraffin Candles
The one wax where the chart needs no adjustment. Four series, and the only wick packs on this site that publish burn data.
We have not burned these candles and we do not claim to have. Here is what we did instead. Links to Amazon earn us a commission at no extra cost to you — disclosure.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  LX 16 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 50 Pack, 6 inchTop pickThe only wick listing on this site that publishes manufacturer test data: an approximate consumption rate of 0.20 oz per hour and a flame height of 1.4 inches. Those are the numbers a burn test is trying to establish, published up front. | Paraffin containers around 2.5 to 3 inches | |
| 2 | LX 18 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 50 Pack, 6 inchOne size up from LX 16, with a published flame height of 1.5 inches against the 16's 1.4. A tenth of an inch of flame is what one LX size buys you, which is a usefully concrete way to think about sizing. | Paraffin containers around 3 to 3.25 inches | |
| 3 |  HTP 52 Pre-Waxed Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 6 in, 100 PackThe small end of the HTP range, for votives and the 4 ounce tins that fill a sample batch. This is the listing that publishes its tab dimensions, which is rarer than it should be: a 20 mm tab with a 6 mm neck, pre-waxed, 100 to a bag. | Smaller paraffin containers, 2.25 to 2.5 inches | |
| 4 |  Jess Mae HTP 83 Pre-Waxed Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 6 in, 50 CountThe HTP size the published paraffin chart puts at 3 to 3.5 inch containers, from a listing that prints a flame height: 1.2 inches. That is a figure you can hold your own candle against, and it is the second-rarest thing in wick retail after a consumption rate. | A 3 to 3.5 inch paraffin jar, with a flame height on the label | |
| 5 |  Jess Mae Zinc Core Candle Wicks 51-32-18, 50 Pack, 8 inchThe same 51-32-18 code as the 20-pack, from a named brand, at 50 wicks and 8 inches instead of 20 and 6. The extra length matters more than it sounds: a 6 inch wick in a tall jar leaves you nothing to hold while the wax sets. | Burn-testing the same code properly, and for deeper jars | |
| 6 |  CD 10 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks for Soy Candles, 100 pcsOne size down from CD 12, for the smaller jars and tins that most kits also include. Having both on the shelf is what lets you fix a tunneling candle without waiting for a delivery. | Jars around 2.25 to 2.75 inches across | |
| 7 |  Zinc Core Candle Wicks 51-32-18, 20 Pack, 6 inch51-32-18 is the exact code Lone Star publishes for a 3 to 3.25 inch paraffin container, so this is one of the rare wick purchases where the pack you buy and the row you read carry the same number. It also publishes burn figures, which most zinc listings do not. | The 3 to 3.25 inch paraffin jar, at the size the chart prints | |
| 8 |  CD 12 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks for Soy Candles, 100 pcsCD 12 is the size the published soy charts point to for a standard 3-inch jar, which is the jar most beginner kits ship. Buying the series by size rather than by assortment is how you actually control a burn. | Jars around 2.5 to 3 inches across | |
| 9 |  Jess Mae Zinc Core Candle Wicks 60-44-18, 20 Pack, 8 inchThe size above 51-32-18 on the published chart, and the one to reach for when the jar is wider than 3.25 inches. It is also the only zinc pick here whose listing names paraffin and gel as its intended waxes rather than listing every wax made. | Wide paraffin containers, 3.5 inches and up |
Paraffin is the easiest wax on this site to wick correctly, and almost nobody says so. Every major US wick chart was written against it, which means the row you read is the row you use, with no arithmetic in between. In soy you adjust. In beeswax you derive. In paraffin you just read.
This page is about which packs to buy. If what you need is the sizing itself, the published rows by container diameter are on the wick size chart for paraffin, and this page does not reprint them.
How we picked
- Published burn data, where it exists. A consumption rate, a flame height or a melt pool width on the listing. Five of the nine packs below publish all three and a sixth publishes a flame height, which makes this the best-documented wick category on the site.
- A wick code that matches a published chart row. LX 16, HTP 83, CD 10 and 51-32-18 are all codes you can look up. A pack sold as "medium" is not on any chart.
- A pack size that leaves room to burn-test. Two adjacent sizes, twice each, is the minimum honest test. A 20-pack does not stretch far.
- Length against jar depth. 6 inch is standard and short for a tall jar; 8 inch needs trimming for a short one. Both are fine; neither is right for everything.
- Paraffin named on the listing, not implied. Several wick listings claim every wax ever made. The ones that name paraffin specifically are treated as better evidence.
Top pick · Paraffin containers around 2.5 to 3 inches
LX 16 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 50 Pack, 6 inch
LX series
The only wick listing on this site that publishes manufacturer test data: an approximate consumption rate of 0.20 oz per hour and a flame height of 1.4 inches. Those are the numbers a burn test is trying to establish, published up front.
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Published specifications
- Series
- LX, coreless flat-braided cotton with stabilizing threadsSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Consumption rate
- Approximately 0.20 oz per hourSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Flame height
- Approximately 1.4 inchesSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Length
- 6 inch, pre-waxed and pre-tabbedSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Quantity
- 50 packSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 2.5 to 3.0 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply LX chart
What that means
A 1.4 inch published flame height sits inside the 1 to 1.5 inch band a correctly wicked candle should show. That is a useful cross-check: if your LX 16 is burning at two inches, something other than the wick is wrong.
0.20 oz per hour is a burn rate you can do arithmetic with. A 6.4 oz container candle at that rate is roughly 32 hours of burn, which is a figure you can put on a label.
Those figures are the manufacturer's test data on a reference candle, not a promise about yours. Fragrance load and container shape both move them.
Good
- Publishes consumption rate and flame height, which is almost unheard of
- Coreless, so no metal in the flame
- Pre-waxed and pre-tabbed
Less good
- Fifty per pack rather than a hundred, so less room for burn testing
- LX charts are written for paraffin; soy needs sizing up
Skip this one if
You are pouring soy. The published LX ranges are base-paraffin figures and Lone Star instructs sizing up one to three for soy.
Pick 2 · Paraffin containers around 3 to 3.25 inches
LX 18 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 50 Pack, 6 inch
LX series
One size up from LX 16, with a published flame height of 1.5 inches against the 16's 1.4. A tenth of an inch of flame is what one LX size buys you, which is a usefully concrete way to think about sizing.
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Published specifications
- Series
- LX, coreless flat-braided cotton with stabilizing threadsSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Consumption rate
- Approximately 0.20 oz per hourSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Flame height
- Approximately 1.5 inchesSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Length
- 6 inch, pre-waxed and pre-tabbedSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Quantity
- 50 packSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 3.0 to 3.25 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply LX chart
What that means
The two LX listings publish the same 0.20 oz per hour consumption but different flame heights. Read that as the reference candle differing rather than the wicks consuming identically; either way the direction is what matters.
Buying LX 16 and LX 18 together gives you the two adjacent sizes a burn test needs, at 50 each.
In soy, Lone Star's instruction is to size up one to three from these paraffin figures, which would put a 3 inch soy jar somewhere around LX 20 to LX 22.
Good
- Published flame height and consumption rate
- The natural pair to LX 16 for testing
- Coreless
Less good
- 50 per pack
- Paraffin-basis chart, so soy needs adjustment
Skip this one if
Your containers are under about 2.75 inches. This is the larger of the pair and will run hot in a small jar.
Pick 3 · Smaller paraffin containers, 2.25 to 2.5 inches
HTP 52 Pre-Waxed Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 6 in, 100 Pack
Generic (Hive and Honey Candle Co)
The small end of the HTP range, for votives and the 4 ounce tins that fill a sample batch. This is the listing that publishes its tab dimensions, which is rarer than it should be: a 20 mm tab with a 6 mm neck, pre-waxed, 100 to a bag.
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Published specifications
- Series
- HTP 52, as named on the listingSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-10
- Pre-wax
- Pre-waxed with a high melt point waxSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-10
- Tab
- Pre-tabbed, 20 mm round metal tab with a 6 mm neckSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-10
- Length
- 6 inchSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-10
- Pack quantity
- 100 piecesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-10
- Origin
- Made in the United StatesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-10
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 2.25 to 2.5 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply HTP chart
- Wax compatibility
- Not published on this listing
What that means
A standard 4 oz candle tin measures a little under 2.5 inches inside, which puts it in this row on the paraffin chart.
Buying HTP 52 alongside HTP 83 covers most of the useful container range and gives you two sizes to test between.
The 20 mm tab with a 6 mm neck is worth noting because it tells you the sticker size that fits: a 20 mm wick sticker sits on this tab exactly, which is the size the sticker picks on this site publish.
HTP sizes rotate in and out of availability more than ECO and CD do. The listing this entry pointed at previously went unavailable, which is the normal failure mode in this series rather than a sign of a bad wick.
Good
- Correct size for the ubiquitous 4 oz tin in paraffin
- Publishes its tab dimensions and its pack quantity, which the series rarely does
- Pre-waxed and made in the United States, stated
Less good
- Sold under a generic brand, so the listing is less stable than a named supplier's
- Publishes no wax compatibility and makes no self-trimming claim
- No burn data of any kind on the listing
Skip this one if
Your containers are 3 inches or wider. This is the small end of the range and will tunnel.
Pick 4 · A 3 to 3.5 inch paraffin jar, with a flame height on the label
Jess Mae HTP 83 Pre-Waxed Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks, 6 in, 50 Count
Jess Mae
The HTP size the published paraffin chart puts at 3 to 3.5 inch containers, from a listing that prints a flame height: 1.2 inches. That is a figure you can hold your own candle against, and it is the second-rarest thing in wick retail after a consumption rate.
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Published specifications
- Series
- HTP, flat braid with performance threads, rigid and self-trimmingSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Flame height
- Approximately 1.2 inchesSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Wax compatibility
- Pre-waxed for soy, paraffin, beeswax, coconut and gel wax blendsSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Length
- 6 inch, vegetable wax primed, pre-tabbedSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Tab
- 20 mm base with a 6 mm neckSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Pack quantity
- 50 piecesSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Stated vessel range
- Stated as burning well in a 2 to 2.5 inch "radius" vesselSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-10-16
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 3.0 to 3.5 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply HTP chart
What that means
A published 1.2 inch flame sits inside the 1 to 1.5 inch band a correctly wicked candle should show, at the low end. In a 3 inch paraffin jar that is the right place to start, because fragrance load pushes a flame up rather than down.
The listing says it burns well in a 2 to 2.5 inch "radius" vessel. Read as a radius that is a 4 to 5 inch diameter, which is far wider than the 3.0 to 3.5 inches Lone Star publishes for HTP-83. Almost certainly the listing means diameter; either way the chart row is the figure to size from, not the bullet.
Rigid construction means it stands up in liquid wax without a centering device holding it, which is a practical advantage in a deep container.
The published Lone Star HTP chart is base paraffin with an instruction to size up one to three for soy, so an HTP-83 in soy behaves like a smaller wick than the chart row suggests.
Good
- Publishes a flame height, which almost nothing in the HTP or CD families does
- Rigid and self-trimming, so it stays upright without help and builds less carbon
- Publishes its tab dimensions, so you know which wick sticker fits
Less good
- Fifty per pack, so less room to burn-test than a hundred-count
- Its stated "2 to 2.5 inch radius" vessel range contradicts the published chart row
- Publishes no consumption rate and no melt pool width
Skip this one if
You are pouring plain soy. ECO and CD have soy-specific published charts and HTP does not; the HTP rows are base paraffin and need sizing up one to three for soy.
Pick 5 · Burn-testing the same code properly, and for deeper jars
Jess Mae Zinc Core Candle Wicks 51-32-18, 50 Pack, 8 inch
Jess Mae
The same 51-32-18 code as the 20-pack, from a named brand, at 50 wicks and 8 inches instead of 20 and 6. The extra length matters more than it sounds: a 6 inch wick in a tall jar leaves you nothing to hold while the wax sets.
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Published specifications
- Wick code
- 51-32-18Source: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Construction
- Rigid zinc core, braidedSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Consumption rate
- Approximately 0.18 to 0.22 oz per hourSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Flame height
- 1.3 to 1.5 inchesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Melt pool
- 2.0 to 2.4 inchesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Length
- 8 inch, pre-waxed with a high-melt primer, pre-tabbedSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Pack quantity
- 50 piecesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 3.0 to 3.25 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply zinc chart
What that means
This listing publishes its figures as ranges where the 20-pack publishes single numbers, for the same wick code. A range is the more honest shape for a figure that moves with wax, fragrance and vessel, and it is the reason this is the pick of the two 51-32-18 packs.
Its published melt pool of 2.0 to 2.4 inches disagrees with the other listing's 1.77 inches for the same code. Neither is lying; they tested different reference candles. It is a good illustration of why the wick code is a starting point and the burn test is the answer.
Fifty wicks at one code is enough to run a proper burn test, pour a batch, and still have wicks for the next one.
Good
- Fifty wicks, which is a real burn-testing quantity
- 8 inch length suits deep jars where a 6 inch wick is awkward
- Publishes its burn figures as ranges rather than false precision
Less good
- Costs more per pack than the 20-count, which is the wrong buy if you only need a handful
- 8 inches means trimming almost every wick before you pour a short jar
- Published melt pool conflicts with the other listing for the same code
Skip this one if
You want to try one wick code cheaply before committing. The 20-pack is the smaller bet on the same number.
Pick 6 · Jars around 2.25 to 2.75 inches across
CD 10 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks for Soy Candles, 100 pcs
CD series
One size down from CD 12, for the smaller jars and tins that most kits also include. Having both on the shelf is what lets you fix a tunneling candle without waiting for a delivery.
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Published specifications
- Series
- CD, cotton and paper flat braidSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Quantity
- 100 piecesSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Length
- 6 inches, pre-tabbedSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Published range (soy)
- 2.25 to 2.75 inch containersSource: Tools for Makers CD soy chart
What that means
The gap between CD 10 and CD 12 is roughly a quarter of an inch of container diameter. That sounds trivial and is not: a quarter inch is the difference between a full melt pool and a tunnel.
Buy the size below and the size above your target. Burn testing means comparing, and you cannot compare with one size in the drawer.
Good
- Covers the small-jar range most kits ship
- Same self-trimming behavior as CD 12
- Pre-tabbed
Less good
- Too small for a standard 3-inch jar in soy
- Single size, so no comparison in one purchase
Skip this one if
Your jars are 3 inches or wider. This wick will tunnel and you will blame the wax.
Pick 7 · The 3 to 3.25 inch paraffin jar, at the size the chart prints
Zinc Core Candle Wicks 51-32-18, 20 Pack, 6 inch
Generic
51-32-18 is the exact code Lone Star publishes for a 3 to 3.25 inch paraffin container, so this is one of the rare wick purchases where the pack you buy and the row you read carry the same number. It also publishes burn figures, which most zinc listings do not.
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Published specifications
- Wick code
- 51-32-18Source: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Construction
- Rigid zinc core with a braided cotton exteriorSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Consumption rate
- Approximately 0.18 oz per hourSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Flame height
- Approximately 1.33 inchesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Melt pool
- Approximately 1.77 inchesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Length
- 6 inch, pre-waxed with a high-melt primer, pre-tabbedSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Pack quantity
- 20 piecesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 3.0 to 3.25 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply zinc chart
What that means
A published 1.33 inch flame sits just inside the 1 to 1.5 inch band a correctly wicked candle should show, at the low end. In a 3 inch jar that is the right place to start, because fragrance load pushes a flame up rather than down.
The published melt pool of 1.77 inches is the figure to argue with. A 3 inch container wants a pool that eventually reaches the glass, and 1.77 inches does not, so read this as the pool on the manufacturer's reference candle rather than a prediction for yours.
Twenty wicks is a testing quantity, not a production quantity. That is the right shape for a first paraffin batch and the wrong shape if you are filling an order.
Good
- The pack code matches the published paraffin chart row exactly
- Publishes consumption rate, flame height and melt pool, which zinc listings rarely do
- Rigid enough to stand without a centering tool while the wax sets
Less good
- Twenty per pack, so there is little room to burn-test and still have wicks left
- Sold under a generic brand with no supplier chart of its own behind it
- 6 inch length is short for a deep jar once the tab sits on the bottom
Skip this one if
You are pouring soy. Lone Star publishes zinc as not recommended for soy, and this listing's own claim of soy compatibility is the seller's, not a chart's.
Pick 8 · Jars around 2.5 to 3 inches across
CD 12 Pre-Tabbed Candle Wicks for Soy Candles, 100 pcs
CD series
CD 12 is the size the published soy charts point to for a standard 3-inch jar, which is the jar most beginner kits ship. Buying the series by size rather than by assortment is how you actually control a burn.
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Published specifications
- Series
- CD, cotton and paper flat braidSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Quantity
- 100 piecesSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Length
- 6 inches, pre-tabbedSource: Amazon product listing, read 2026-09-02
- Published range (soy)
- 2.5 to 3 inch containersSource: Tools for Makers CD soy chart
What that means
CD wicks curl as they burn, which trims the tip and reduces the mushroom of carbon that builds on a straight wick. That self-trimming behavior is the whole reason the series exists.
The published charts disagree on CD for soy by up to two sizes, because Lone Star prints CD against base paraffin and tells you to size up one to three for soy. Our chart shows both readings side by side.
Good
- One size, 100 of them, so you can run a proper burn test
- Self-trimming curl reduces mushrooming
- Pre-tabbed, so no assembly
Less good
- Wrong size for a 4-inch jar and wrong size for a votive
- CD in beeswax needs a different size again
Skip this one if
You do not yet know your container diameter. Measure the inside of the jar first, then buy the size the chart gives you.
Pick 9 · Wide paraffin containers, 3.5 inches and up
Jess Mae Zinc Core Candle Wicks 60-44-18, 20 Pack, 8 inch
Jess Mae
The size above 51-32-18 on the published chart, and the one to reach for when the jar is wider than 3.25 inches. It is also the only zinc pick here whose listing names paraffin and gel as its intended waxes rather than listing every wax made.
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Published specifications
- Wick code
- 60-44-18Source: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Construction
- Rigid zinc core, braidedSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Consumption rate
- Approximately 0.23 oz per hourSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Flame height
- Approximately 1.62 inchesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Melt pool
- Approximately 1.95 inchesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Length
- 8 inch, pre-waxed with a high-melt primer, pre-tabbedSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Pack quantity
- 20 piecesSource: Amazon Creators API item data, read 2026-10-13
- Published range (base paraffin)
- 3.5 to 3.75 inch containersSource: Lone Star Candle Supply zinc chart
What that means
A published 1.62 inch flame is above the 1 to 1.5 inch band a correctly wicked candle should show. That is the honest warning sign on this wick: in anything narrower than its chart row it will run hot.
Its published melt pool of 1.95 inches is NARROWER than the 50-pack 51-32-18's published 2.0 to 2.4 inches, even though this is the larger wick on the chart. Published wick figures are not comparable across listings, and this pair is the proof.
The listing names gel and paraffin specifically. Gel wax is the one place zinc is still the default rather than a legacy choice, because gel needs a rigid wick that will not slump in a semi-solid medium.
Good
- Covers the 3.5 inch and wider rows where the LX and HTP packs here stop
- Publishes consumption rate, flame height and melt pool
- Names paraffin and gel as the intended waxes instead of claiming all of them
Less good
- Published flame height of 1.62 inches is above the band a correct candle should show
- Twenty per pack at the size you are most likely to need several of
- Its published melt pool is not comparable with the other zinc listings here
Skip this one if
Your containers are 3.25 inches or under. This is the wide-jar size and it will soot and overheat the glass in a standard jar.
Which series, in one paragraph each
LX is coreless flat-braided cotton with stabilizing threads that make it curl and self-trim as it burns. It is the pick here for one reason that has nothing to do with the braid: both LX listings publish manufacturer test data. Nothing else in wick retail does this consistently.
HTP is a flat braid with performance threads woven in, rigid and self-trimming, which means it stands up in liquid wax without a centering device and builds less carbon on the tip. The HTP 83 listing here also prints a flame height, which is unusual outside the LX and zinc families, and both HTP packs publish their tab dimensions so you know which wick sticker fits.
CD is flat-braided cotton with paper threads woven in, built for higher fragrance loads in viscous waxes. It has published charts for both soy and paraffin, which makes it the series to choose if you pour both and want one system in your head rather than two.
Zinc core has a metal wire through the braid that holds it upright in liquid wax. It is the one family here that is genuinely a paraffin and gel wick rather than a general-purpose wick with a paraffin chart attached. It is also the one Lone Star publishes as not recommended for soy.
The published numbers, side by side
Six of these packs publish at least one burn figure and five publish all three. Putting them in one table is the single most useful thing this page can do, because it is the only place the category's own data can be compared at all.
| Pack | Consumption | Flame height | Melt pool | Chart row (base paraffin) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX 16 | approx 0.20 oz/hr | approx 1.4 in | approx 2.2 in | 2.5 to 3.0 in |
| LX 18 | approx 0.20 oz/hr | approx 1.5 in | approx 2.2 in | 3.0 to 3.25 in |
| Zinc 51-32-18, 20 pk | approx 0.18 oz/hr | approx 1.33 in | approx 1.77 in | 3.0 to 3.25 in |
| Zinc 51-32-18, 50 pk | 0.18 to 0.22 oz/hr | 1.3 to 1.5 in | 2.0 to 2.4 in | 3.0 to 3.25 in |
| Zinc 60-44-18 | approx 0.23 oz/hr | approx 1.62 in | approx 1.95 in | 3.5 to 3.75 in |
| HTP 52 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2.25 to 2.5 in |
| HTP 83 | Not published | approx 1.2 in | Not published | 3.0 to 3.5 in |
| CD 10 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2.0 to 2.69 in |
| CD 12 | Not published | Not published | Not published | approx 2.4 in pool |
Read the two 51-32-18 rows against each other, because they are the same wick code from two listings. One publishes a 1.77 inch melt pool; the other publishes 2.0 to 2.4 inches. Neither is wrong. They tested different reference candles, with different wax, different fragrance load and different glass.
Why a published flame height is worth more than a review
A correctly wicked candle shows a flame of roughly 1 to 1.5 inches. That band is the one thing every source agrees on, and it turns a published flame height into a usable cross-check rather than a marketing number.
- LX 16 at 1.4 inches sits inside the band, near the top. Fragrance load pushes a flame up, so in a fragranced candle expect to be at or slightly over it.
- Zinc 51-32-18 at 1.33 inches sits comfortably inside it, which is the most reassuring single figure in the table.
- Zinc 60-44-18 at 1.62 inches sits ABOVE it. That is the honest warning on that pack: it is a wide-jar wick and in anything narrower it will run hot.
If your LX 16 is burning at two inches, the wick is not the variable that changed. Check the fragrance percentage, then the container diameter, then whether the wax is the grade you think it is. Wick too big or too small runs the symptoms in order.
What to buy, by jar diameter
Measure across the INSIDE of the glass, not the outside, and not the candle's weight in ounces. Then buy the pack for that row and the pack one size either side of it.
| Inside diameter | Start with | Test against |
|---|---|---|
| 2.25 to 2.5 in | HTP 52 | CD 10 |
| 2.5 to 3.0 in | LX 16 | CD 12 |
| 3.0 to 3.25 in | LX 18 | Zinc 51-32-18 or HTP 83 |
| 3.25 to 3.5 in | HTP 83 | Zinc 51-32-18 |
| 3.5 in and wider | Zinc 60-44-18 | Two wicks instead of one |
Past about 4 inches a single wick stops being the right answer regardless of series, and the question becomes a layout problem rather than a sizing one. How many wicks does a candle need works out where that line falls.
Paraffin grade changes the answer
Soy blends vary. Paraffin grades vary more, and the labels are less standardized, so the wax you bought matters as much as the wick code you read.
- General purpose paraffin carries no glass-adhesion additives and will pull away from the jar wall. Sold for canning and waterproofing as much as for candles.
- Container paraffin carries additives for adhesion and fragrance retention. This is the grade a jar candle wants.
- Single-pour paraffin is formulated to set smooth in one pour, and Lone Star's published note is to size the wick UP for it, the same instruction as for soy.
If your candle pulls away from the glass, that is a wax grade problem and no wick will fix it. Our paraffin wax picks name the grade on each listing, and candle wax types explained has the full breakdown.
One real advantage paraffin has
Paraffin cures fast. Two to three days is generally enough against soy's one to two weeks, so you can burn-test a paraffin candle in the same week you poured it. Every wick recommendation on this page is a starting size, and paraffin is the wax that lets you find out quickest whether the starting size was right.
The procedure is four hours per burn, trimmed to a quarter inch each time, measuring the pool. Wick burn testing sets it out step by step.
How these picks were made. Published specifications compiled from the sources listed below, the arithmetic shown on the page, and live Amazon prices. No product here has been burned by us. Read the method.
Common questions
What is the best wick for paraffin candles?
LX, for a reason unrelated to the braid: both LX packs publish manufacturer test data for consumption rate, flame height and melt pool, so you can check your candle against a number. LX 16 for a 2.5 to 3 inch jar, LX 18 for 3 to 3.25 inches.
Do paraffin candles need a smaller wick than soy?
Generally yes. Lone Star publishes its paraffin charts with an instruction to size up one to three for soy, so going the other way you size down by the same amount. A soy-sized wick in paraffin runs hot and soots.
Are zinc core wicks good for paraffin?
Yes, and paraffin and gel are the waxes zinc was developed for. Lone Star publishes zinc sizes against base paraffin and states plainly that they are not recommended for soy. The rigid core keeps the wick upright in liquid wax without a centering tool.
What does 51-32-18 mean on a wick?
It is the zinc series wick code, not a measurement you can convert. Lone Star's published chart puts 51-32-18 at 3.0 to 3.25 inch base-paraffin containers and 60-44-18 at 3.5 to 3.75 inches. Treat the code as a chart lookup rather than a dimension.
Can I use wood wicks in paraffin wax?
You can, but no published wood wick chart on this site is written against paraffin, so you would be sizing by trial rather than from a printed row. Our wood wick picks rank on published ribbon width, and paraffin is not the wax those widths were established in.
How many wicks should I buy to test a paraffin candle?
Two adjacent sizes, at least two wicks of each, so you can run a four-hour burn test twice per size without reusing a candle. That is why pack size is a ranking criterion here: a 20-pack of one code does not let you test properly.
Why do two listings publish different melt pools for the same wick code?
Because they tested different reference candles. The two 51-32-18 packs here publish 1.77 inches and 2.0 to 2.4 inches for the same code. Published figures are useful for comparing a wick against itself, not for ranking listings against each other.
How long should I wait before burn-testing a paraffin candle?
Two to three days is generally enough. Paraffin crystallizes faster than soy and holds fragrance more readily from the start, which is the one place working in paraffin is more forgiving than working in soy.
Sources
Read next
Wicks and Wick Sizing
Four published sizing charts cross-referenced into one table, plus the wick picks that match the containers most kits ship.
Wick Size Chart for Paraffin Wax
Published LX, HTP, CD and zinc wick sizes for paraffin containers, with the manufacturer test data two LX listings publish.
Best Candle Wicks for Soy Candles
Wick picks matched to the container sizes most kits ship, with the published chart range printed on every one.
Top pick
ECO 10 Pre-Waxed Wicks for Soy Candles, 100 pcs
CD vs ECO vs HTP Wicks
The CD, ECO, HTP and LX series compared by construction, published basis wax and sizing, with the equivalent sizes for a 3-inch jar.
Wick Burn Testing
The full burn test procedure: setup, what to record hour by hour, what a correct melt pool looks like, and how to read each failure.
How Many Wicks Does a Candle Need?
When to move from one wick to two or three, worked from the published chart ranges, with the spacing gap stated and the wicks and holders that suit multi-wick pours.