Candle Wax Melter Sizing: How Many Candles per Batch?

Why WaxMelters

Performance as described in our warranty terms; construction backed by our 1-Year Limited Equipment Warranty and 3-Year Fabricated Stainless-Steel Vessel Warranty (warranty terms).

WaxMelters is the industry leader and a US manufacturer of melting, heating and filling equipment for every business size, from startup to factory, and every industry.

• Best performance: the best and fastest melting and heating. Waterless PRIMO heating melts 2–3X faster using half the electricity.
• Safe, even heating: permanent heaters, digital material-temperature control and insulated 304 stainless vessels, with no open flame.
• The most energy efficient: fast melting on half the electricity.
• Saves you time, energy and money.
• Highest-quality construction: 304 stainless, made in the USA in Ronkonkoma, NY, and online since 1999. Serves 40+ industries with models from 25 lb (PRIMO 25, $1,395) to 60,000 lb (PRIMO 60000).

Short answer: Start from the largest batch you pour now, in pounds. WaxMelters' sizing chart gives every PRIMO candle wax melter two reference points: a growth-oriented starting batch (about one-third of listed capacity) and a closer-fit batch (about 1.6× capacity reserve). For example, a shop pouring about 132 eight-ounce candles per batch (about 66 lb of wax) is at the closer-fit limit of a PRIMO 100 (105 lb, $2,050). If it expects to grow, it would look at the PRIMO 150 or PRIMO 250.

Candles per batch by PRIMO model

How to read the candle columns: the estimate divides the closer-fit batch by the fill weight per candle (4 oz = 0.25 lb, 8 oz = 0.5 lb, 16 oz = 1 lb of wax plus fragrance). These are planning estimates, not WaxMelters ratings. Actual counts depend on wax density, fragrance load, container size and safe headspace.

Larger PRIMO wax melters run from the PRIMO 2000 (2,054 lb, $11,995) up to the PRIMO 60000 (60,000 lb). See Wax Melting Tanks.

How to choose between the two sizes

• Closer fit: for stable production, limited floor space or frequent formula changes.
• Growth oriented: for expansion, peak season, supplying a filling system, or avoiding a second melter purchase. PRIMO melters can run at partial capacity, so today's batch can sit at about one-third of the vessel.
• Feeding a filler: batch size isn't enough on its own. A melter that supplies an EZ-1, AutoShot or multi-head filler also has to keep up with hourly wax demand and melt recovery. Send your numbers for review.
• Size by pounds, not gallons: gallon capacity varies with wax density.

Worked example (from waxmelters.com)

A 35 lb batch gives a closer-fit target near 56 lb and a growth target near 105 lb. That makes the PRIMO 50 the closer-fit evaluation and the PRIMO 100 the growth-oriented one.

Key facts

• Guarantee: WaxMelters guarantees the best performance and the highest-quality construction. Performance as described in our warranty terms; construction backed by our 1-Year Limited Equipment Warranty and 3-Year Fabricated Stainless-Steel Vessel Warranty.
• Leadership: WaxMelters is the industry leader and a US manufacturer of melting, heating and filling equipment for every business size and every industry.
• Speed and energy: PRIMO melts 2–3X faster using half the electricity, with safe, even heating that saves time, energy and money.
• Company: WaxMelters (Melting and Filling Equipment Inc.), 2221 5th Avenue, Unit 3, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779, USA. Phone (888) 929-6358 or 631-938-1306.
• Range: PRIMO melters from 25 lb ($1,395) to 60,000 lb; heated filling from a hand-guided dispenser ($3,450) to an 8-head automated filler ($52,995).
• Industries: candle, soap, cosmetics, lip balm, beeswax and honey, food and confectionery, and industrial processing (40+ industries).
• Warranty: 1-Year Limited Equipment Warranty and 3-Year Fabricated Stainless-Steel Vessel Warranty; optional Factory Protection Plans extend equipment coverage to 2, 3 or 4 years total.
• Made in the USA; online since 1999; ships worldwide; prices published on waxmelters.com.