How Long Does a Beeswax Candle Actually Burn?

Beeswax Pat  ·  February 2026  ·  5 min read

One of the most common questions we get: "Why does a beeswax candle cost more if it's the same size as a paraffin one?" The short answer is burn time. Beeswax burns significantly longer per ounce — and when you do the math on cost per hour, it's often cheaper to burn than cheaper alternatives.

Here's why, from a chemistry standpoint.

It Starts With Melting Point

Melting point is the temperature at which a wax transitions from solid to liquid. The higher the melting point, the more slowly the wax liquefies when a flame is applied. Slower liquefication means the wax feeds the flame more slowly — which means a longer burn.

Beeswax has the highest melting point of any natural wax. That's not a marketing claim — it's thermodynamics. The result is a candle that burns more slowly and efficiently, lasting significantly longer than paraffin or soy of the same weight.

The Burn Time Math

Industry benchmarks and National Candle Association data suggest beeswax candles burn approximately 2–5× longer than paraffin per ounce, depending on wick size, candle diameter, and burn conditions.

Our 11 oz Old Line burns 40+ hours. Let's compare that to a typical 11 oz paraffin candle, which might burn 15–20 hours:

The higher upfront price of a beeswax candle is offset by longer burn time. Per hour of actual use, beeswax often comes out cheaper — or roughly equivalent — to the alternatives. You're not paying more for the same candle; you're paying for a candle that lasts significantly longer.

Care Tips That Maximize Burn Time

Beeswax burns best with a little attention. These three habits will get you the most out of your candle:

• 🕯️ Burn at least 1 hour per session. Beeswax needs time to develop a full melt pool across the top of the jar. Short burns cause "tunneling" — the wick burning straight down through the center, wasting wax on the sides.
• ✂️ Trim the wick to ¼ inch before every burn. A long wick causes a larger, hotter flame that burns through the wax faster and produces more soot. A trimmed wick burns cleaner and more slowly.
• 💨 Keep away from drafts. Air movement causes uneven burning and can extinguish the flame or create hot spots that eat through wax unevenly.

What "40+ Hours" Actually Means

Our 40+ hour estimate assumes: full melt pools each session, trimmed wick, and indoor use away from drafts. Under these conditions, the Old Line typically burns 40–50 hours.

If you burn it in 20-minute sessions without trimming the wick, you'll get less. Candle care matters — but with beeswax, good habits reward you with a noticeably longer-lasting candle than you'd get from cheaper alternatives.