The line every candle label needs
In the United States, consumer products sold by weight need a statement of net quantity on the front of the package. The rules come from the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and for non-food products like candles the Federal Trade Commission sets the details in 16 CFR Part 500. They cover how the weight is written, where it goes and how big the letters are. None of it is complicated, but it is very easy to get slightly wrong, and a label print run is not cheap to redo.
How the weight is written
| Candle weighs | Write it as | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 lb | Ounces, plus metric | Net Wt. 8 oz (226 g) |
| 1 lb to under 4 lb | Pounds and ounces, plus metric; total ounces optional | Net Wt. 1 lb 8 oz (680 g) |
| 4 lb and up | Pounds and ounces, plus metric | Net Wt. 5 lb 4 oz (2.38 kg) |
“Net Wt.” or “Net Weight” both work. The metric figure can go in brackets after the US one. The calculator always rounds down, so the label never claims more than the candle holds.
Where it goes and how big
The net quantity goes in the bottom 30% of the principal display panel, the part of the label a shopper sees first, and it runs parallel to the base. The minimum letter height depends on the size of that panel:
| Panel area | Smallest type |
|---|---|
| 5 sq in or less | 1/16 in |
| Over 5, up to 25 sq in | 1/8 in |
| Over 25, up to 100 sq in | 3/16 in |
| Over 100, up to 400 sq in | 1/4 in |
| Over 400 sq in | 1/2 in |
For a round jar or tin, the rules count the panel as 40% of the height times the circumference, which is the part you can see from the front. On a jar 3 inches across and 2.5 inches tall, the panel counts as about 9.4 sq in, so the net weight needs letters at least 1/8 inch tall. If the weight is molded or blown into the glass instead of printed, add another 1/16 inch.
Jars are sold by fluid ounce capacity. The candle inside weighs less. Printing the jar size as the net weight is the most common labeling mistake we see. Weigh the wax, not the jar.
Other things on the label
Besides net quantity, the FPLA rules ask for the identity of the product (for example “Soy candle”) on the main panel and the name and place of business of the maker, packer or distributor. Most sellers also add burning safety warnings and the warning icons from the ASTM F2058 standard, and some states have their own rules. This page only covers the net weight line; for anything else, check with your state’s weights and measures office.
We are not lawyers, and nothing here is legal advice. It is the arithmetic of the federal rules, with links to the rules themselves so you can read them.
Read our guides
Why your 8 oz jar holds about 6.4 oz of candleFluid ounces measure space and ounces measure weight. Here is how the two meet in a candle jar, and the one-minute water test that settles it.A US candle label checklist, line by lineWhat goes on a candle label sold in the US: product identity, net weight in ounces and grams, maker’s name and address, type size, placement and safety warnings.Questions makers ask
Do candles need a net weight on the label?
Candles sold to consumers in the US are covered by the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act rules for consumer commodities, which the FTC enforces under 16 CFR Part 500. Those rules ask for a net quantity statement on the principal display panel. Check with your state’s weights and measures office if you are unsure.
Is net weight the jar plus the wax?
No. Net weight is only what is inside: wax, fragrance and dye. Weigh the empty jar, then the finished candle, and subtract.
Should I round up or down?
Never state more than is in the container. The calculator rounds down to a tenth of an ounce and a whole gram. If your candles vary a little, use your lightest one.
Why does a 24 oz candle say 1 lb 8 oz?
For packages from 1 lb up to under 4 lb, the rules ask for pounds with the rest in ounces, plus metric. You may also show the total in ounces in brackets. The calculator gives you both versions.
How big does the net weight text have to be?
It depends on the area of the main panel. For a label panel up to 5 sq in, at least 1/16 in; up to 25 sq in, 1/8 in; up to 100 sq in, 3/16 in; up to 400 sq in, 1/4 in. On a round jar the panel counts as 40% of height times circumference.
What else goes on a candle label?
The product identity (what it is), the name and place of business of the maker or seller, and the net quantity are the core FPLA items. Most sellers also add safety warnings following ASTM F2058.
Sources we checked
- 16 CFR Part 500: regulations under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
- 16 CFR 500.21: type size for net quantity
Numbers last checked 2026-10-21. How we check them. If your supplier says something different, tell us.