$3.14B
Estimated annual U.S. candle retail sales
The National Candle Association cites a Mintel estimate for annual candle sales, excluding candle accessories.
National Candle Association, Facts & Figures, 2013 ↗CANDLE REFERENCE
U.S. candle market and safety statistics.
Current, citable numbers on candle sales and home safety, gathered in one clear reference for shoppers, writers, and anyone building safer candle rituals.
Last updated September 24, 2026
THE NUMBERS
Eight facts worth knowing.
35%
Share of candle sales that occur during the Christmas and holiday season
The National Candle Association identifies the holiday period as the category's biggest seasonal sales window.
National Candle Association, Facts & Figures, Source reviewed Sep. 24, 2026 ↗1B+ lb
Wax used to produce candles sold in the U.S. each year
This industry estimate shows the physical scale behind a category often thought of as a small gift or home accent.
National Candle Association, Facts & Figures, Source reviewed Sep. 24, 2026 ↗10,000+
Different candle scents estimated to be available to U.S. consumers
The range of scents helps explain why fragrance remains a central part of how people choose candles.
National Candle Association, Facts & Figures, Source reviewed Sep. 24, 2026 ↗5,894
Estimated home fires started by candles each year
This is the National Fire Protection Association's annual average for the five-year period.
National Fire Protection Association, Candle Safety, 2020-2024 ↗2%
Share of reported U.S. home fires started by candles
Candles also accounted for 2% of civilian home-fire deaths and 5% of civilian home-fire injuries in the same period.
National Fire Protection Association, Candle Safety, 2020-2024 ↗12%
Share of candle fires occurring in December
December is the highest month for candle fires, followed by January.
National Fire Protection Association, Candle Safety, 2020-2024 ↗10%
Share of candle fires occurring in January
Holiday gatherings and winter routines make early-year candle care especially important.
National Fire Protection Association, Candle Safety, 2020-2024 ↗PUTTING IT IN CONTEXT
A small ritual deserves real care.
Candles remain a meaningful part of everyday home fragrance, but the safety figures are a useful reminder that a calmer room starts with simple habits. Keep a candle within sight, place it on a stable heat-safe surface, and give it room to burn away from anything that can catch fire.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping burning candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, keeping them away from children and pets, and never leaving them unattended. That guidance was reviewed by the agency on April 1, 2023.
Read the U.S. Fire Administration's candle safety guidance ↗SOURCES AND METHOD
How to read this page.
Each number above is linked to its original source and carries the reporting period provided by that source. The sales estimate is retained as a historical industry benchmark. The National Candle Association's market-size, seasonality, wax-use, and scent-range facts do not name a reporting period, so this page records the date its current source page was reviewed. Fire data use the National Fire Protection Association's five-year 2020-2024 average, so the figures should be read as annual estimates, not a live count.
This page is reviewed regularly so citations can keep pointing to a stable, useful reference. Last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Cite this page
Inspired Jewel, LLC. “U.S. Candle Market and Safety Statistics.” Updated September 24, 2026. https://the-inspired-jewel.com/candle-statistics
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