Every candle wax has two temperatures that matter: the temperature you heat it to, and the temperature you pour it at. Most candle waxes are fully melted by about 180°F, but the temperature you pour at varies widely, from around 90°F for some soy waxes to 185°F for hard paraffin. Getting both right is the difference between a smooth, well-adhered candle and one with sinkholes, frosting, or poor glass adhesion. This guide gives the reference temperatures by wax type and the method to hit them.
Wax Melting and Pouring Temperatures
The table below covers the wax families we carry. Heating temperatures are where the wax is fully liquid and ready to scent; pouring temperatures are where it goes into the container or mold. Use these as a starting reference, then confirm the exact numbers on each wax's product page, since formulations differ within a family.
Melting and Pouring Temperatures by Wax Type
| Wax type | Heat to | Pour at | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soy container wax | 180–185°F | 90–160°F | Pour temperature varies by brand; cooler pours give smoother tops |
| Soy melt and tart wax | 180–185°F | 150–160°F | 150°F for clamshell molds |
| Paraffin container wax | 180–185°F | 150–160°F | Preheat glass containers for better side adhesion |
| Paraffin votive wax | 180–185°F | 150–170°F | Clean molds give the best release |
| Paraffin tart and melt wax | 180–185°F | 160–170°F | 150°F for clamshell molds |
| Paraffin pillar and mold wax | 180–185°F | 170–180°F | Needs a second pour to fill the contraction void |
| Hard base paraffin | 180–190°F | 175–185°F | Firmer wax; top off for a smooth finish |
Paraffin wax melts across a range of roughly 115°F to 154°F depending on the grade[1], which is why a heating target of 180–185°F leaves a safe margin to make sure the wax is fully and evenly liquid before you scent it. Soy waxes melt at a lower point but are heated to about the same temperature for the same reason.
How to Melt Candle Wax
Wax is a combustible solid[1], so it is always melted gently in a double boiler rather than over direct heat. The method is the same whether you are melting soy flakes or slabs of paraffin.
Melting Wax in a Double Boiler
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1
Set up the double boiler
Put about an inch of water in a saucepan and set your pouring pot inside it, raised off the bottom on a metal trivet or cookie cutter so the pot never touches direct heat. Keep the burner at medium-low.
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2
Weigh the wax into the pot
Measure wax by weight, not volume, directly in the pouring pot. Soy flakes scoop and weigh easily; slab paraffin is cut with a butter or putty knife or scored with a utility knife and snapped into pot-sized pieces first.
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3
Heat to the wax's target
Bring the wax to 180–185°F for most waxes, or up to 190°F for hard base paraffin, stirring gently as it liquefies. Check the wax temperature regularly and stay with it the entire time it is on the heat.
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4
Add fragrance at about 180°F
Once the wax is fully melted, add fragrance oil at around 180°F and stir for a full two minutes so it binds evenly. Add any dye at this stage too. See How to Prepare Wax for Pouring for measuring and scenting in detail.
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5
Cool to the pour temperature
Let the wax cool to the pour temperature for your wax type, watching the thermometer. This is the most common place to rush; pour too hot and you invite sinkholes and poor adhesion.
Pouring Temperature by Wax Type
Heating temperature is nearly the same across waxes, but pouring temperature is where waxes diverge, and where most surface problems start. The right pour temperature depends on the candle you are making.
Pouring by Candle Type
Container candles
Preheat the glass to roughly 125–149°F first so the wax bonds to the side instead of pulling away. Pour soy on the cooler side of its range, usually 125–160°F, and paraffin container wax around 150–160°F. Let the candle cool slowly at room temperature.
Soy waxes
Pour temperature varies more by brand than any other wax. Some soy waxes pour as warm as 160–170°F, while others pour as low as 90–100°F. Pour on the cooler end of the wax's stated range for a smoother top, and adjust for your room temperature.
Pillar and mold candles
Pour hotter, around 170–180°F, into a clean mold. As the candle cools, poke relief holes near the wick to release the hidden air pockets that form as the wax contracts, then top it off with a second pour no higher than the first.
Votives and tarts
Pour around 150–170°F into clean molds. Unlike container and pillar waxes, many votive and tart waxes can be cooled faster in a water bath without harming the finish.
Paraffin Wax
Paraffin is the most temperature-flexible wax family, which is why it spans container, votive, pillar, and tart blends, each with its own pour temperature. Container and votive paraffin pour around 150–170°F, pillar blends pour hotter at 170–180°F and need a second pour, and hard base paraffin pours hottest of all at 175–185°F. To pick the right grade for your project, see our paraffin wax guide, or browse the full range and each blend's recommended temperatures in our paraffin wax collection.
Soy Wax
Soy waxes share a heating target near 180–185°F but differ most in their pour temperature, which can range from 90°F to 170°F across brands. Because soy is sensitive to cooling conditions, the same wax may need a slightly different pour temperature in a cold workshop than a warm one. Each wax's recommended range is on its product page; see the full selection in our soy wax collection. For how additives change a wax's behavior, see our candle waxes & additives guide.