- Best overall: Will & Baumer Altar Brand 12 in (24), a 51% beeswax candle in the most common 7/8 in size.
- Best for big sanctuaries: Christian Brands 2 x 24 in candles for tall floor stands and processional use.
- Measure first: diameter and end type (plain, self-fitting, recessed) decide what fits your candlesticks, not the label on the box.
- Know the norm: the GIRM asks for at least two lighted candles at every Mass, and four or six are customary on Sundays and solemnities.
- Finish the set: add a brass follower to cut drips and an 8-day sanctuary candle for the tabernacle lamp.
Choosing the best altar candles sounds simple until the box arrives and the candles wobble in the socket, drip down the brass, or burn out halfway through the Easter Vigil. Sacristans and altar guild volunteers know the real questions: will it fit our candlesticks, how long will it burn, and does it meet what the Church asks for at Mass?
This guide sorts the candles our readers actually need by size, wax content and end type, then rounds out the altar with a sanctuary candle, a follower and a refillable option. We flag where a quick check with your pastor or diocese is wise.
Our picks
Will & Baumer Altar Brand 12 in Beeswax Blend Candles (24)
Will & Baumer's Altar Brand line is the default choice in many American sacristies, and this box covers the most common job: a pair or set of six candles on the altar for weekday and Sunday Mass. Each candle is about 7/8 in across and 12 in tall, made with a 51% beeswax blend with flat, plain ends that sit steadily in a socket or on a pricket with a follower. The maker has worked in the USA since 1855.
- 51% beeswax blend
- Common 7/8 x 12 in size
- Box of 24 covers months of weekday Masses
- Plain ends may need a candle adapter in wide sockets
Root 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 1.5 x 17.5 in, Recessed Base
Root has made beeswax candles since 1869, and this box of six suits parishes whose candlesticks take a thicker 1.5 in candle. The recessed base is designed for 1.5 in sockets, so the candle seats on a pin or spike instead of balancing on a flat end. Root describes the wax as domestically harvested and filtered without bleach, giving a natural honey tone.
- Recessed base seats firmly
- Unbleached, natural color
- Taller, fuller profile
- Only six per box
- Check your socket is exactly 1.5 in
Christian Brands 2 x 24 in Beeswax Altar Candles, Case of 6
Big churches with floor candlesticks or tall altar stands need a candle that holds its own visually, and a 2 in by 24 in Altar Brand candle does. This case of six is 51% beeswax with a plain end, so pair it with 2 in followers to keep wax off the stands.
- Large 2 x 24 in size
- 51% beeswax
- Long burn per candle
- Needs 2 in followers and sockets
- Too large for most tabletop candlesticks
Cathedral Self-Fitting End Beeswax Candles, 7/8 x 8 in (36)
Short candles suit a side altar, convent chapel or home oratory. These 8 in Cathedral candles are 51% beeswax and 7/8 in across, with a self-fitting end that is tapered to press snugly into a socket. A box of 36 means a small chapel can keep a fresh pair ready all year.
- Self-fitting end grips the socket
- Compact 8 in height
- Box of 36
- Short burn time per candle
Cathedral Stearine Altar Candles, 1 1/8 x 15 in, Pack of 12
Stearine (stearic) candles are hard, white and slow to bend in a warm church, which makes them popular for shrines, side altars, wakes and home altars where a beeswax blend is not expected. This pack of 12 from Cathedral Candle is 1 1/8 in by 15 in with plain ends. For the candles that burn at Mass, most American parishes keep to a beeswax blend, so use these where the custom does not apply or ask your pastor.
- Bright white, rigid wax
- Generous 15 in height
- Useful 1 1/8 in diameter
- Not a beeswax blend
- Plain end only
Emkay 8-Day 51% Beeswax Sanctuary Candles, Box of 12
The lamp beside the tabernacle should not go out, so the sanctuary candle matters as much as any candle on the altar. Emkay's 8-day candles are made with 51% beeswax, matching the wax content many parishes use on the altar, and sized for a standard sanctuary lamp globe. A box of 12 covers roughly three months of continuous burning when changed weekly.
- 51% beeswax
- 8-day burn
- Fits standard globes
- Confirm your lamp takes the 8-day size
Needzo Solid Brass Candle Follower, 7/8 in
A follower is a brass cap that rides down the candle as it burns, shaping the flame and catching drips before they reach the candlestick or altar linens. This polished solid brass follower is made for 7/8 in candles, so it pairs with our top two 7/8 in picks.
- Solid polished brass
- Fits standard 7/8 in candles
- Keeps wax off linens
- Sold singly
- Only fits 7/8 in candles
Religious Supply Center Refillable Oil Candle, 7/8 x 12 in
Refillable oil candles look like a 7/8 x 12 in altar candle but burn liquid fuel from a shell that never shortens, which appeals to busy parishes and chapels with drafts. This one is sized for standard altar candle holders. Pair it with Altar Pure liquid paraffin. Because liturgical candles are traditionally wax, check your diocesan guidelines before using oil candles at Mass.
- Consistent height every Mass
- No dripping wax
- Fits standard holders
- Check diocesan policy for Mass use
- Fuel bought separately
What to look for in the best altar candles
Start with your hardware, not the catalog. Pull one candlestick out of the sacristy and measure two things: the inside diameter of the socket and whether it has a spike (pricket) or a flat cup.
Diameter
Altar candles are sold by diameter first. 7/8 in is the most common size for altar candlesticks in the United States; 1 1/8 in and 1 1/2 in are typical for larger sets; 2 in and 3 in sizes suit floor stands and paschal candleholders. A candle that is even 1/16 in too thin will lean.
End type
- Plain end: flat bottom for sockets that match the diameter exactly, or for prickets with a follower on top.
- Self-fitting end: tapered base that presses snugly into slightly varied sockets.
- Recessed base: a hollow in the bottom that seats on a pin or spike for extra stability.
Wax content
The Church has long favored beeswax for liturgical candles. In the United States, the custom is a candle with at least 51% beeswax for Mass, with a higher content often used for the paschal candle. Current norms leave details to the bishops, so our candle guide explains the options and your diocese can confirm local practice.
How many altar candles do you need?
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 117) asks for at least two candlesticks with lighted candles on or next to the altar at every Mass. On Sundays and holy days of obligation, four or six are customary, and seven are used when the diocesan bishop celebrates. They should not block the view of the altar or cross.
- Weekday Mass: 2 candles.
- Sunday and solemnities: 4 or 6 candles.
- Bishop's Mass: 7 candles.
- Plus: a sanctuary lamp burning continuously near the tabernacle (GIRM 316).
When stocking up on the best altar candles for your parish, count how many Masses each candle serves before it reaches the follower or the socket. Parishes with daily Mass benefit from boxes of 24 or 36.
Altar candle comparison
| Pick | Wax | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will & Baumer Altar Brand | 51% beeswax | 7/8 x 12 in, plain | Everyday Mass |
| Root 51% Beeswax | 51% beeswax | 1.5 x 17.5 in, recessed | 1.5 in sockets |
| Christian Brands 2 x 24 | 51% beeswax | 2 x 24 in, plain | Floor stands |
| Cathedral Self-Fitting | 51% beeswax | 7/8 x 8 in, self-fitting | Small chapels |
| Cathedral Stearine | Stearine | 1 1/8 x 15 in, plain | Shrines, home altars |
| Emkay 8-Day | 51% beeswax | 8-day sanctuary | Tabernacle lamp |
| Needzo Follower | Brass | 7/8 in | Drip control |
| Refillable Oil Candle | Oil shell | 7/8 x 12 in | Drafty chapels |
How we chose
We compared every candle in our altar candle and sanctuary candle categories using the makers' published specifications: wax content, diameter, height, end type and pack size. We favored makers with long records in church candles, covered the sizes parishes ask about most, and avoided listing two near-identical boxes unless they serve a different need. Burn times quoted are the makers' own figures. The result is a short list of the best altar candles for real sacristy needs rather than a catalog dump.
Care and use tips from the sacristy
- Store candles flat in their box in a cool closet; heat in a car or attic makes them bow.
- Trim the wick to about 1/4 in before lighting so the flame stays small and steady.
- Use a candlelighter with wax tapers and a snuffer rather than blowing candles out, which splatters wax.
- Fit a follower to each candle and wipe it with a soft cloth after Mass.
- Lift dripped wax from linens by freezing it and flaking it off; see our Mass linens guide.
- Keep a labeled box of each size in the sacristy.
Mistakes to avoid
- Ordering by height alone and discovering the diameter does not fit.
- Putting a plain-end candle on a pricket without a follower or proper base.
- Letting the sanctuary candle run down without a spare on hand.
- Assuming a decorative pillar candle is suitable for Mass; ask your pastor if unsure.
Planning for Advent? See our Advent wreath picks, and for vessels and candlesticks visit the candlesticks and sanctuary lamps collection.
Questions
What are the best altar candles for a parish church?
For most parishes the best altar candles are 51% beeswax candles in the size your candlesticks take, usually 7/8 in diameter. Will & Baumer and Cathedral Candle both make reliable boxes of 24.
Do altar candles have to be beeswax?
The Church has long preferred beeswax for liturgical candles, and in the United States 51% beeswax is the common standard for Mass candles. Your diocese can confirm current local guidelines.
What size are standard altar candles?
The most common size in the US is 7/8 in diameter, usually 12 in tall. Larger candlesticks often take 1 1/8, 1 1/2 or 2 in candles, so measure the socket before ordering.
What is the difference between an altar candle and a sanctuary candle?
Altar candles burn during Mass on or near the altar. A sanctuary candle burns continuously inside a red or clear lamp near the tabernacle to show the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
What is a candle follower for?
A follower is a metal cap that slides down the candle as it burns. It keeps the flame even and stops wax dripping onto candlesticks and altar cloths.
Sources
Product links go to the store page, where price and availability are current. Church Supply may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.