How To Ship Candles (And Package Them)

Are you are thinking about mailing a relative a candle for a holiday or have you started a candle-making business? Candles make a great gift, whether it is for yourself or a loved one, candles can also be a great business. Let’s take a look at the rules, laws, and regulations to see how you can ship candles.

How to ship candles? The cheapest way to ship candles is USPS cubic shipping. You can ship candles with USPS, FedEx, and UPS. They all ship and deliver candles. USPS recommends at least 2 inches of cushioning between the item and the walls of the box. So be sure to adequately package your candles for shipping.

Not only can you mail candles, several candle subscription companies actually exist. They will charge you a monthly fee in order to mail you candles on a recurring basis.

Wrapping Candles For Shipping

One of the most important aspects of shipping your candles is wrapping them. Wrapping them properly will make sure that your candles do not get damaged or broken while in the mail.

How do you wrap candles for shipping? Wrap the candles individually in packing paper, then wrap individually again in bubble wrap. Then wrap all of the candles together with bubble wrap, this will prevent them from knocking into each other during shipping.

Whoever is receiving the candle would rather spend a few minutes unwrapping candles than opening a box and seeing broken ones.

candle packed with wrapping paper

In this picture, you can see that the candle is packed with paper wrapped around the inner box. The inner box was filled with shredded paper to cushion the candle.

candle packed with shredded paper

In this picture, you can see that it was shipped without an inner box, the box the candles were shipped in was filled with shredded paper.

This comes down to preference and aesthetics. The more of a high end product you are marketing, the more elaborate your shipping setup should be.

Candles Melting During Shipping

This is an often overlooked part of making candles and selling them online. You have to be careful when and where you ship your candles.

Will candles melt in the mail? Candles will melt in the mail. Soy wax can melt at temperatures as low as 120°F. In the summer a vehicle can reach temperatures of 120°F in just 90 minutes. This can cause the candle to lose its shape, or warp its design.

However, the good news is that you can take steps to help prevent your candles from melting in the mail.

How do you pack candles so they don’t melt? Place frozen gel packs in with your candles if you are worried that they might melt during shipping. Oil-based candles like soy and palm have a very low melting point. Ship your candles on Monday to avoid the candle spending the weekend in a hot warehouse.

You can find these gel packs on both Amazon and Uline.

Additionally, if you are sending container candles make sure the lids are fastened to the container before packaging the candles. If the candle does get hot and start to melt, a few pieces of tap might prevent a mess.

Candle Packaging Technique

There are a few things you can do when packaging your candles to help ensure shipping success. If you take the time to make sure it is done the right way, your customers will always get their order in one piece.

How to package candles for shipping? Place wrapped candles in a heavy corrugated cardboard box. Fill the empty spaces in the box with crumpled newspaper. Make sure you have at least 2 inches of cushioning between the candles and the sides of the box. When you shake the box you should hear nothing move.

If you are starting a business and will be mailing lots of candles you can get shipping supplies super cheap from a company like Uline. Buying packing materials from a supplier such as Uline will literally only cost you a few dollars per package.

Save Money Shipping Candles

You also have a few options when it comes to shipping your candles. If you shop around and take a look at the different programs available from USPS, you can find the cheapest rates possible. What is the cheapest way to ship candles?

The cheapest way to ship candles is the cubic shipping option with USPS. Cubic shipping price is based on the shape of the package and not the weight. Wrapping your candle in bubble wrap and placing it in a flat rate envelope may also be an option for you. Expect to spend $8-$15 when shipping candles.

The cost per candle goes down when shipping more than one candle at a time. For example, shipping one candle might cost you $8.00, but shipping two candles might cost you $12.00. This gives you an idea of what you need to charge for shipping depending on the size of your customer’s order.

Candle Shipping Tips

Some things to consider before shipping your candles.

Compare Prices

If you are looking for boxes make sure you shop around. I listed Uline up above, but they are not the only company in the industry. The more money you can save the more money you can profit.

This same advice goes for shipping as well.

Don’t Forget Aesthetics

When you are buying your boxes and packaging material do not forget aesthetics. Candles are usually quite beautiful, colorful, fragrant, so think about something besides boring old brown packing paper and bubble-wrap.

Try to find something that matches your brand, if your company is all about luxury or all about art and different colors then brown packing paper and foam peanuts might hurt your image.

Think Ahead

If you are just starting out this is the time you can plan everything out ahead of time.

Check the prices with USPS on differently shaped boxes and see what gets you the best deal. Then see what kind of candles you can fit in that box.

Even if you can save $.50 per box that could come out to be thousands of dollars for your business in the long run.

This is also the time to decide on what type of wax you are going to be using. If you are going to be shipping candles to Texas in July you might opt for a blend rather than 100% soy wax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a candle in the mail?

You can send candles in the mail. The most important part about sending candles through the mail is to make sure they are packaged properly. Make sure the candles are wrapped and cushioned. In addition, make sure the box is large enough to provide a few inches of space between the candle and the side of the box.

Can you ship candles through USPS?

You can ship candles through USPS. USPS is one of the most affordable options for shipping candles. You can ship candles under a certain size and weight to anywhere in the lower 48 continental United States for anywhere between $4 and $9 dollars.

Does the post office look in your packages?

The post office CAN look into your packages. However, they do not often look into them unless they have a reason to suspect you may be shipping something illegal. However, you should always position your shipping label so that they can open the package if needed.

How much does it cost to ship a candle?

It costs approximately $5.68 to ship one 8 oz candle First Class Mail from New York City to Los Angeles. This price was calculated using a 4″x4″x6″ box weighing a total of approximately 12 ounces for the candle and all packaging materials included.

How much does it cost to ship a 16 oz candle?

It costs approximately $8.80 to ship one 16 oz candle Priority Mail from New York City to Los Angeles. This price was calculated using a 5″x5″x6″ box weighing a total of approximately 19 ounces for the candle and all packaging materials included.

Conclusion

When shipping candles and planning to ship candles everything is rather straightforward. You just have to remember to plan ahead. Check and compare prices with a few shipping supply companies and at least two shipping companies.

If you want a more in-depth guide on how to keep your candles from melting during shipping you can take a look at the article I wrote titled How To Keep Soy Candles From Melting During Shipping.

The most important things to remember about shipping candles is to make sure you have a strong enough box with enough room for cushioning and make sure that you have wrapped the candle in bubble wrap to ensure that it does not get broken. If you have a strong box and adequate packaging your candle will arrive at its destination in one piece.

It is always better to use too much packaging than not to use enough packaging.

How To Ship Candles

Carl Adamson

Hi, I'm Carl Adamson, one of the founders here at Candleers. A few years ago I got really into the art and craft of candle making, initially with soy wax container candles. My friends started asking me to make candles for them and pretty soon it turned into a nice side-business. I started this website as a way to document what I've learned over the past few years and hopefully help others in the process. I still love candle making but I'm learning that what I enjoy even more is the business side of things - and for this reason I've started consulting others on how to start and grow their own candle-making businesses and side-hustles.

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