Candle making is one of the most popular and profitable crafts to sell at fairs and markets. With relatively low startup costs, high margins, and universal appeal, candles are a fantastic product for both first-time and experienced craft fair vendors.
But turning your candle hobby into a successful craft fair business takes more than just pouring wax. You need the right supplies, pricing strategy, booth presentation, and event selection to truly thrive.
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about selling candles at craft fairs in 2026.
Why Candles Are Perfect for Craft Fairs
Candles check every box for an ideal craft fair product:
- High perceived value — Customers happily pay $15–$30 for a quality handmade candle
- Repeat purchases — Candles are consumable, so customers come back for more
- Gift-friendly — A huge percentage of craft fair sales are gifts, and candles are universally loved
- Easy to display — They look beautiful on a table and the scent draws people in naturally
- Scalable — You can make large batches efficiently once you have your process dialed in
According to industry data, the handmade candle market continues to grow year over year, and craft fairs remain one of the best channels for artisan candle makers to connect directly with customers.
Getting Started: Supplies and Equipment
Essential Candle Making Supplies
Before you can sell at fairs, you need to master your craft. Here's what you'll need:
- Wax — Soy wax is the most popular choice for craft fair candles due to its clean burn, eco-friendly appeal, and ease of use. Paraffin, coconut, and beeswax blends are also options.
- Wicks — The right wick size is crucial. Too small and your candle tunnels; too large and it smokes. Always test your wick-to-container ratio.
- Fragrance oils — Invest in high-quality fragrance oils with good hot throw (scent when burning). Most candle makers use 8–10% fragrance load for soy.
- Containers — Jars, tins, or vessels. Buy in bulk to keep costs down. Popular options include mason jars, amber glass, and ceramic vessels.
- Dye — Optional, but colored candles can differentiate your line
- Thermometer, pouring pot, scale — Precision matters in candle making
Equipment for Production
To produce enough inventory for craft fairs, you'll want:
- A dedicated workspace with good ventilation
- A large melting pot or presto pot for batch production
- A digital scale (measure wax and fragrance by weight, not volume)
- Wick centering tools
- Heat gun for smoothing tops
Pro tip: If you're also interested in soap making for craft fairs, tools like Soaply can help you calculate lye ratios and manage recipes — soap and candles are a natural product pairing at markets.
Developing Your Product Line
How Many Scents to Offer
One of the biggest mistakes new candle vendors make is offering too many options. For craft fairs:
- Start with 8–12 signature scents — This gives variety without overwhelming customers
- Rotate seasonal options — Pumpkin spice in fall, fresh linen in spring
- Have 2–3 "hero" scents — These are your bestsellers that you always stock heavily
Sizing and Pricing
Most successful craft fair candle vendors offer 2–3 sizes:
| Size | Typical Price | Your Cost | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 oz tin/travel | $8–$12 | $2–$3 | 70–80% |
| 8 oz jar | $15–$20 | $3–$5 | 70–80% |
| 16 oz jar | $25–$35 | $5–$8 | 70–80% |
Candles have excellent margins — typically 70–80% — which is one reason they're so popular with craft fair vendors. For a deeper dive into pricing strategies, check out our craft fair pricing guide.
Additional Products to Offer
Diversify your table with complementary products:
- Wax melts — Lower price point ($5–$8), great add-on purchase
- Room sprays — Use the same fragrances as your candles
- Gift sets — Bundle a candle with a small wax melt or matches
- Samples — Small votives or tea lights as $3–$5 impulse buys
Legal Requirements
Before selling at your first fair, make sure you're covered:
Business Basics
- Business license — Most states require one to sell products
- Sales tax permit — You'll need to collect and remit sales tax
- Insurance — Many fairs require vendor liability insurance ($1M is standard)
We cover this in detail in our craft fair vendor license and permits guide and craft fair insurance guide.
Candle-Specific Requirements
- CLP labels — Include candle name, wax type, fragrance, weight, burn instructions, and safety warnings
- ASTM testing — While not legally required for small makers, following ASTM F2417 standards is best practice
- Fire marshal compliance — Some venues have restrictions on open flames; always check before demonstrating lit candles
Choosing the Right Craft Fairs
Not all craft fairs are created equal for candle vendors. Here's what to look for:
Ideal Fair Characteristics
- Indoor or covered outdoor — Candles can melt in direct sun and rain damages labels
- Upscale or artisan-focused — Customers at these events expect to pay handmade prices
- Good foot traffic — 1,000+ attendees for a single-day event
- Not candle-saturated — Ask organizers how many candle vendors are accepted
Where to Find Fairs
The easiest way to find craft fairs in your area is to use TheCraftMap's search tools. You can filter by state, date, booth fees, and more — and with a Pro membership, you can track deadlines and compare events side by side.
For state-specific lists, check out our state craft fair directory. If you're looking for upcoming events, our This Weekend and seasonal pages are updated automatically.
For more tips on selecting events, read our guide on how to choose the right craft fair.
Setting Up Your Candle Booth
Your booth is your storefront. Make it count.
Display Essentials
- Multi-level risers — Create height variation so every candle is visible
- Clean tablecloth — White or neutral colors let your candles be the star
- Open testers — Have unlit "smell jars" (lidless candles) for customers to sniff
- Price signs — Clear, professional signage for each size/price point
- Banner or backdrop — Your brand name should be visible from 20+ feet away
For more display inspiration, see our 25 craft fair booth display ideas and booth setup guide for beginners.
The Scent Strategy
Scent is your secret weapon — and your biggest challenge:
- Don't overwhelm — Too many open testers creates "scent fatigue"
- Rotate featured scents — Have 3–4 open testers at a time, swap throughout the day
- Use coffee beans — Keep a small bowl of coffee beans nearby for customers to "reset" their nose
- Light one candle — If allowed, a single lit candle draws people in and demonstrates the product
Booth Layout
- Place your bestsellers at eye level, front and center
- Put small/impulse items near the checkout area
- Keep business cards and a sign-up sheet for your email list prominently displayed (here's how to build your email list at fairs)
Maximizing Sales at the Fair
Engaging Customers
- Tell your story — "I hand-pour every candle in small batches using 100% soy wax" is far more compelling than "these are $20"
- Offer to help — "What kind of scents do you usually go for?" opens a conversation
- Let them smell — Hand them a tester and let the product sell itself
Pricing Psychology
- Bundle deals work amazingly for candles: "Any 3 for $50" or "Buy 2, get a wax melt free"
- Offer a "fair special" that won't be available online
- Accept all payment methods — card, cash, and mobile payments. See our guide to accepting payments at craft fairs
Tracking Your Sales
Keep detailed records of what sells at each fair. Track:
- Units sold per scent
- Revenue vs. booth fee + expenses
- Best-selling sizes
- Customer feedback
This data helps you optimize your product line and choose better fairs. Our ROI tracking guide walks you through this process. If you're running a candle business specifically, tools like WickSuite can help you manage inventory, track costs, and calculate margins across events.
Common Mistakes Candle Vendors Make
- Bringing too much variety — 30 scents means half won't sell and you've overinvested in inventory
- Underpricing — Don't race to the bottom. Your handmade candles are worth premium prices.
- Ignoring presentation — A beautiful candle on a messy table won't sell
- No email list — You're leaving money on the table if you don't capture customer info
- Skipping permits — Getting caught without a sales tax permit can mean fines
- Not testing in heat — If you're doing outdoor summer fairs, test your wax formula in heat. Some waxes soften at 90°F+
For more pitfalls to avoid, check out 13 craft fair mistakes that cost vendors money.
Scaling Your Candle Fair Business
Once you've done a few fairs and found your groove:
Increase Production Efficiency
- Batch pour — make 50–100 candles at a time
- Pre-cut and tab wicks in advance
- Label and package on a separate day from pouring
Expand Your Fair Circuit
- Apply to juried shows with higher foot traffic and vendor standards (see juried fairs)
- Attend multiple fairs per month during peak season (spring and fall)
- Consider holiday markets — November and December are candle goldmines
- Use our seasonal calendar planning guide to map out your year
Build an Online Presence
- Launch a Shopify or Etsy store to capture customers between fairs
- Use social media to announce upcoming fairs and new scents (social media marketing for vendors)
- Send email updates to your craft fair customers about online sales
How Much Can You Make Selling Candles at Craft Fairs?
Let's do some realistic math:
- Average sale: $22 (one 8oz candle + one wax melt)
- Transactions per fair: 30–60 for a busy one-day event
- Revenue per fair: $660–$1,320
- Costs: $100 booth fee + $200 product cost + $50 travel/misc = $350
- Profit per fair: $310–$970
Doing 2–3 fairs per month, that's $620–$2,910 in monthly profit. Not bad for a side hustle. For more detailed income breakdowns, see how much money can you make at craft fairs.
Final Thoughts
Selling candles at craft fairs is one of the most rewarding and profitable ways to turn a creative hobby into real income. The combination of high margins, repeat customers, and the sensory experience of scented candles makes them a craft fair staple.
The key to success? Start small, test your products, choose your fairs wisely, and present your brand professionally. Use tools like TheCraftMap to find the right events, track deadlines, and build your craft fair circuit strategically.
Ready to find your first fair? Browse upcoming craft fairs near you →
Have questions about selling candles at craft fairs? Contact us — we love hearing from vendors!