Etsy Candle Profit Calculator (2025)
Calculate net profit for soy candles, beeswax candles, and container candles sold on Etsy. Preloaded with typical candle material costs — adjust to match your actual numbers.
By Marginory team · Online sellers with hands-on experience across Etsy, Shopify & PODUpdated Fee data verified against official platform documentation
Candle cost presets
The calculator is preloaded with typical 8oz soy candle costs: ~$7 product cost (materials + labor), $5 shipping. Adjust these to match your actual batch costs and selling price.
Revenue
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Risk
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Expected % of orders returned. Impacts net profit.
Summary
Sale price (after discount)$25.00
Platform fee-$1.63
Payment fee-$1.00
Total cost (COGS + fees + ads)-$11.25
Net revenue (after fees)$21.75
Profit
Gross profit$13.75
Return cost impact-$0.00
Net profit$13.75
Profit margin55.0%
ROI on total cost122.2%
Pricing guidance
Break-even priceⓘ$9.38
Price for 20% marginⓘ$11.72
Price for 30% margin$13.39
Fee data source: https://www.etsy.com/legal/fees/ · Last verified: 2025-06-01
Candle material cost breakdown
| Material | Cost per candle (8oz) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax | $1.00–$1.50 | ~8oz per candle; ~$0.13–0.19/oz in bulk |
| Fragrance oil | $0.60–$1.20 | 6–10% fragrance load; quality FO matters for reviews |
| Wick (+ sustainers) | $0.10–$0.25 | Cotton or wood wick; test multiple sizes |
| Glass jar / vessel | $1.00–$2.50 | Biggest cost variable; buy in bulk to reduce |
| Label / lid / sticker | $0.20–$0.50 | Print-at-home labels or Avery sheets |
| Packaging (box, tissue, filler) | $0.50–$1.50 | Shipping damage protection is critical for reviews |
| Overhead (electricity, workspace) | $0.20–$0.50 | Prorated per candle |
| Labor (15 min @ $15/hr) | $3.75 | Pour, cure, trim, package, photograph, list |
| Total (typical range) | $7.35–$12.20 | Scale with batch size to reduce unit cost |
Profit at common Etsy candle price points
Assumes $7 material + labor cost, $5 shipping cost, US buyer. Etsy fees: 6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 payment processing + $0.20 listing.
| Sale price | Etsy fees | Net profit | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $1.93 | $1.07 | 7% |
| $18 | $2.20 | $3.80 | 21% |
| $22 | $2.54 | $7.46 | 34% |
| $25 | $2.80 | $10.20 | 41% |
| $28 | $3.06 | $12.94 | 46% |
| $35 | $3.60 | $19.40 | 55% |
Candle pricing tips for Etsy
- Price for the bundle: Offer 3-pack or gift sets — higher AOV without more Etsy listing fees
- Free shipping strategy: Roll $5–6 shipping into the candle price; Etsy favors free-shipping listings in search
- Seasonal pricing: Holiday candles (cinnamon, pine) can command 20–30% premium in Q4
- Scent matters more than weight: Unique, exclusive scent names justify higher prices than generic "lavender"
Etsy candle profit formula (2025)
Etsy transaction fee: Sale price × 6.5%
Etsy payment processing (US): Sale price × 3% + $0.25
Listing fee: $0.20 per unit sold
Net profit: Sale price − All Etsy fees − Material cost − Labor − Shipping
Margin %: Net profit ÷ Sale price × 100
Assumptions:
- US Etsy Payments rate used (3% + $0.25)
- Enter total product cost = materials + labor + overhead per unit
- Offsite Ads fee not included — add 15% or 12% if applicable
- Shipping cost = actual carrier cost, not what you charge the buyer
Source: https://www.etsy.com/legal/fees/ · Last verified: 2025-06-20
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good profit margin for Etsy candles?
Most successful Etsy candle sellers target 30–50% net profit margin after all fees and material costs. A $22 soy candle with $6–8 in materials and ~$2.50 in Etsy fees should yield $11–13 in profit — roughly 50–60% gross margin before labor. Below 25% net is a warning sign that pricing is too low.
How do I calculate candle material cost per unit?
Add up: wax cost per candle (total wax cost ÷ candles per batch), fragrance oil cost per candle (oz used × price per oz), wick cost, jar/vessel cost, label cost, lid/packaging cost. For a 8oz soy candle: ~$1.20 wax + $0.80 fragrance + $0.15 wick + $1.50 jar + $0.35 label = ~$4.00 material cost. Add overhead (electricity, workspace) and labor separately.
Should I include my labor cost in the candle calculator?
Yes — always include labor as a cost, not profit. Candle making takes real time: sourcing, melting, pouring, curing (24–48 hours wait), packaging, photography, listing management. A realistic candle labor cost is $3–8 per candle depending on batch size and your wage target. Enter this in the 'product cost' field along with materials.
How much does Etsy take from a candle sale?
For a $22 candle sold to a US buyer: Etsy transaction fee 6.5% = $1.43, Etsy payment processing 3% + $0.25 = $0.91, Etsy listing fee $0.20 = total ~$2.54 in Etsy fees per sale. That's about 11.5% of your sale price going to Etsy before product costs.
What candle price should I charge on Etsy?
Use the formula: Price = (Material cost + Labor + Overhead + Packaging + Shipping) ÷ (1 − Etsy fee rate). For a candle with $8 total costs (materials + labor) and $6 actual shipping cost, minimum break-even price = $14 ÷ (1 − 0.115) ≈ $15.82 just to break even — before any profit. Most Etsy candle sellers price 8oz candles at $18–$28 to achieve healthy margins.