The Water Method : How To Measure The Volume Needed For Your Candle

How to Measure Your Candle Jar Volume Using the Water Method

If you’re unsure how much volume your candle jar holds — don’t worry. This simple water method will help you work it out quickly and accurately.

Step 1: Fill your container with water

Start by filling your empty candle jar with water.
Pour in measured amounts at a time and keep track of how many millilitres (ml) you add.

For example:
In our demonstration using the brickwork bowl, we started by adding 700ml of water.

Step 2: Adjust to your desired fill level

Check where the water sits in the container.
Ask yourself: Is this where I want my candle wax to sit?

If not, continue adding water gradually until you reach your ideal fill level.
In our example, 700ml wasn’t quite enough — so we added another 100ml, bringing the total to 800ml.

Step 3: Calculate your total wax needed

Once you’re happy with the fill level, grab your calculator.

Take your total ml amount and multiply it by 0.9.
This converts the water volume into the approximate wax weight needed.

Example:
800ml × 0.9 = 720g

This means you’ll need 720g total of combined wax and fragrance to fill the container.

Step 4: Work out your fragrance and wax amounts

Next, calculate your fragrance load.
We fragrance at 8%.

8% of 720g = 57.6g fragrance oil

Now subtract that from your total to find your wax amount:
720g − 57.6g = 662.4g wax

Step 5: You’re ready to pour

You now have:

• 662.4g wax

• 57.6g fragrance oil

• Total = 720g

And just like that — your candle volume is measured and ready to pour. Bish bash bosh, perfectly calculated every time.