How to make custom candle boxes
Candle box guide
Learn how to make custom candle box templates for different candle sizes.
This guide shows how to measure your candle, define the right box size, and choose a suitable template for small, medium, and tall candle boxes.
Measure your candle
Measure the diameter and height of the candle. If your candle is not round, measure its length, width, and height instead. You can use a ruler or a caliper. A ruler is fine, but a caliper is easier and more accurate.
Define the box size
The box should be slightly larger than the candle. For most candle boxes, add about 1–1.5 mm, or about 0.04–0.06 in, to the candle diameter and height.
If the candle has no jar, add more height so the top of the box does not press against the wick.
Once you have the final box size, choose a suitable template for that candle.
Small candle: Tuck End Box
If the candle diameter is under 5 cm / 2 in, use a tuck end box template.
For this tutorial, we used a reversed tuck end box, where the bottom closes from the back and the top closes from the front. This style has a simple shape with slit-lock tuck flaps on both ends, which help keep the box closed.
Medium candle: Tuck Top Box
If the candle diameter is over 5 cm / 2 in, use a box template with a tuck top and snap lock bottom. The snap lock bottom is easy to assemble and helps the box hold the candle weight more securely.
For this example, we used a tuck top slit lock box template with a snap lock bottom and added a corner window in Cricut DS by placing a rectangle on the panel before cutting.
Tall candle: Tuck Top Box 2-panel
For a tall candle, also use a box template with a tuck top and snap lock bottom.
For this example, we used a 2-panel front tuck lock box template with a snap lock bottom. This box can also be made as a single-piece template, but the 2-panel version helps fit a larger candle box template on smaller paper sizes, such as A4 or 8.5 × 11 in Letter paper.
We also added a window on the front panel before cutting.
Make Your Candle Box
Measure your candle, add the required clearance, and choose the template that best fits its size. Use a tuck end box for smaller candles, a tuck top box with a snap lock bottom for larger candles, or a 2-panel template when the full layout does not fit on A4 or Letter paper.
Start with one test box, check the fit, and adjust the dimensions if needed before making the final packaging.
New to Box Template Studio?
If you are not sure how to enter the dimensions, download the file, or prepare it for cutting, start with our tutorials.