Cathedral Candle Company
Cathedral 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 7/8 x 12 in (24)
Box of 24 white 51% beeswax altar candles, 7/8 in diameter by 12 in tall, with plain ends for standard sockets.
Church Candles
Altar Candles
Altar candles stand on or beside the altar at Mass and other liturgical rites. Catholic practice has long favored beeswax, so most church candles are 51% beeswax blends. Stearine (stearic acid) candles are the other common choice. Products differ by diameter, from slim 7/8 in sticks to 2 in columns, and by height, from 8 in to 24 in. They also differ by base, either plain end, self-fitting end or recessed, and by count, from two candles to a box of 36.
Start with the socket. Measure the inside diameter of each candlestick and match it. Sockets of 7/8 in and 1 1/2 in are common, and 2 in sockets appear on large brass stands. Then pick a height to suit the stand. The boxes of 24 from Cathedral and Will & Baumer suit daily Mass. The Root 17.5 in candles suit tall candlesticks, and the 2 x 24 in case suits a large altar. Stearine options from Cathedral and Will & Baumer cover parishes that do not require beeswax.
8 altar candles
The altar candles below are grouped by diameter and wax type, with box counts noted for each.
Root Candles
Root 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 1.5 x 17.5 in, Recessed Base
Six 51% beeswax altar candles, each 17.5 in tall and 1.5 in across, with a recessed base for 1.5 in sockets.
Will & Baumer
Will & Baumer Altar Brand 12 in Beeswax Blend Candles (24)
Box of 24 Altar Brand 51% beeswax blend candles, 12 in tall with flat plain ends, made in the USA by Will & Baumer.
Christian Brands
Christian Brands 2 x 24 in Beeswax Altar Candles, Case of 6
Large 51% beeswax altar candles, 2 in diameter by 24 in tall, plain end, packed as a case of six for large sanctuaries.
Trinity Church Supply
Trinity 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 2 x 9 in, Pack of 2
Two Altar Brand 51% beeswax candles, 2 in across and 9 in tall, with an all-purpose end for standard holders.
Cathedral Candle Company
Cathedral Stearine Altar Candles, 1 1/8 x 15 in, Pack of 12
Twelve white stearic altar candles, 1 1/8 in diameter by 15 in tall, with plain ends, made by Cathedral Candle.
Will & Baumer
Will & Baumer Stearine Altar Candles, 1 1/2 x 16 in (12)
White stearine altar candles, 1 1/2 in diameter by 16 in tall, plain end, listed as a box of 12.
Cathedral Candle Company
Cathedral Self-Fitting End Beeswax Candles, 7/8 x 8 in (36)
Package of 36 short 51% beeswax altar candles, 7/8 in across and 8 in tall, with a self-fitting end for snug socket seating.
Side by side
The specifications the makers publish, in one table.
| Product | Size | Color | Unit Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 7/8 x 12 in (24) Cathedral Candle Company | 12 Inch | White | 24 | Check availability |
| Root 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 1.5 x 17.5 in, Recessed Base Root Candles | 17.5-Inch | 51 Percent Beeswax | 6 | Check availability |
| Will & Baumer Altar Brand 12 in Beeswax Blend Candles (24) Will & Baumer | 24-Count | 5/8-Inch Diameter - Plain End | 1 | Check availability |
| Christian Brands 2 x 24 in Beeswax Altar Candles, Case of 6 Christian Brands | 0.3x7.0x 5.1 | — | — | Check availability |
| Trinity 51% Beeswax Altar Candles, 2 x 9 in, Pack of 2 Trinity Church Supply | — | Multicolor | — | Check availability |
| Cathedral Stearine Altar Candles, 1 1/8 x 15 in, Pack of 12 Cathedral Candle Company | — | White | — | Check availability |
| Will & Baumer Stearine Altar Candles, 1 1/2 x 16 in (12) Will & Baumer | 16 inches x 1.5 inches | White | 12 | Check availability |
| Cathedral Self-Fitting End Beeswax Candles, 7/8 x 8 in (36) Cathedral Candle Company | 6 inch | — | 36 | Check availability |
Questions before you order
What diameter altar candle fits my candlesticks?
Measure the inside of the socket with a ruler or calipers. Common church sizes are 7/8 in, 1 1/8 in, 1 1/2 in and 2 in. A plain-end candle must match the socket closely. A self-fitting end or a recessed base, like the Root candles, takes some slack. Any brass follower must match the same diameter.
How many altar candles does a parish use in a year?
Burn time depends on height, diameter and wax, and the makers here do not list hours. Keep a log of how long one candle lasts on your altar, then multiply by Masses per week. Parishes with daily Mass on a two-candle altar usually buy boxes of 12 or 24 and reorder a few times a year.
Should a parish buy beeswax or stearine candles?
Church norms favor beeswax, and 51% beeswax candles meet the usual expectation for Mass. Stearine is a hard vegetable-based wax that burns steadily and holds its shape in warm churches. Many parishes keep beeswax for the main altar and stearine for weekday chapels. Both come in plain-end church sizes.
How should altar candles be stored in the sacristy?
Keep boxes flat in a cool, dry cupboard away from sunlight and heating pipes so the candles do not bow or discolor. Leave them in the original box until needed. Rotate stock so older boxes are used first, and trim wicks to about a quarter inch before lighting.