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.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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