Candle Color Dye Blend Calculator
Calculate dye block or liquid candle dye amount for a target color by wax weight.
Covers 0.05-0.1% loading rates for soy, paraffin, and beeswax.
Achieving consistent custom candle colors requires precise dye measurements. Most candle dyes — whether liquid, dye blocks, or powder — are used at a percentage of the total wax weight.
Core Formula: Dye Amount (g) = Wax Weight × (Dye Percentage / 100)
For a two-color blend:
- Dye A Amount = Wax Weight × (Dye A % / 100)
- Dye B Amount = Wax Weight × (Dye B % / 100)
Typical Dye Usage Rates:
| Dye Type | Light Shade | Medium Shade | Deep Shade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid dye | 0.01–0.02% | 0.03–0.05% | 0.06–0.10% |
| Dye block | 0.05–0.10% | 0.15–0.25% | 0.30–0.50% |
| Powder dye | 0.01–0.02% | 0.03–0.05% | 0.05–0.08% |
Blend Ratio: When blending two colors, specify the ratio between them. A 70:30 red-to-yellow blend creates a warm orange. A 50:50 blue-to-red creates purple.
Total dye % = desired intensity level. Dye A share = Total dye % × (Ratio A / (Ratio A + Ratio B)). Dye B share = Total dye % × (Ratio B / (Ratio A + Ratio B)).
Worked Example — 1 lb soy wax, medium depth, 60:40 red:blue blend:
- Wax weight: 453.6 g
- Total dye % for medium liquid dye: 0.04%
- Total dye: 453.6 × 0.0004 = 0.181 g
- Red dye: 0.181 × (60/100) = 0.109 g → about 3 drops
- Blue dye: 0.181 × (40/100) = 0.073 g → about 2 drops
Liquid dye conversion: 1 drop ≈ 0.03–0.05 g (varies by brand).
Tips:
- Always test a small batch first — colors darken as wax cools and cures.
- Soy wax produces more pastel tones than paraffin.
- Adding too much dye (above 0.5%) can clog wicks and affect burn quality.
- Record your exact measurements for reproducibility across batches.