Candle Label Size Calculator

Work out the label length and height for a round or square container, allowing for wrap overlap and a safe margin.

A label a quarter of an inch short will not meet at the back, and one that is too tall runs into the curve of the jar. This calculator turns a container's dimensions into the label size to order, allowing for the overlap where the two ends meet and a safety margin above and below.

At a glance

What you enter: Container shape, Round container diameter, Square container width, Square container depth, Container height, Label height you want, Wrap overlap, Safe margin top and bottom
What you get: Label length to order, Label height to order, Label length to order, Label height to order, Label area
Formula shown: Yes, every step, right below your results.
Cost and privacy: Free, no account needed, and nothing you type is stored.

See worked examples ↓ Read the FAQ ↓ Share this calculator ↓

Container shape

Round container diameter in

Measured at the height the label will sit, not at the base.

Square container width in

Square container depth in

Container height in

Label height you want in

Wrap overlap in

Where the two ends of the label meet.

Safe margin top and bottom in

Keeps the label clear of the rim and the base curve.

Reset

Results are estimates for general information only, always verify with a professional or official source before acting on them.

How to use the Candle Label Size Calculator

1 Enter Container shape
2 Enter Round container diameter (in), Measured at the height the label will sit, not at the base.
3 Enter Square container width (in)
4 Enter Square container depth (in)
5 Enter Container height (in)
6 Enter Label height you want (in)
7 Enter Wrap overlap (in), Where the two ends of the label meet.
8 Enter Safe margin top and bottom (in), Keeps the label clear of the rim and the base curve.
9 Press Calculate. You get Label length to order, Label height to order, Label length to order, Label height to order, Label area, and every intermediate step stays visible under "How is this calculated?"
10 Change one number at a time to see what moves the result, that is usually the most useful thing a calculator can tell you.

Worked examples

Real numbers run through this calculator. Open any example to load it into the form above and change it.

Eight ounce round jar

A 2.6 inch jar, 3.2 inches tall, with a 2 inch label and a half inch overlap.

You enter

Container shape: 1
Round container diameter: 2.60 in
Square container width: 3 in
Square container depth: 3 in
Container height: 3.20 in
Label height you want: 2 in
Wrap overlap: 0.50 in
Safe margin top and bottom: 0.25 in

You get

Label length to order: 8.67 in
Label height to order: 2.00 in
Label length to order: 220.17 mm
Label height to order: 50.80 mm
Label area: 17.34 sq in

Order roughly 8.7 by 2 inches, which is 220 by 51 millimetres.

Open this example in the calculator →

Square tin

A 3 by 3 inch tin only 2 inches tall, so the height is the limiting dimension.

You enter

Container shape: 2
Round container diameter: 2.60 in
Square container width: 3 in
Square container depth: 3 in
Container height: 2 in
Label height you want: 1.25 in
Wrap overlap: 0.38 in
Safe margin top and bottom: 0.25 in

You get

Label length to order: 12.38 in
Label height to order: 1.25 in
Label length to order: 314.33 mm
Label height to order: 31.75 mm
Label area: 15.47 sq in

The tallest label that fits is 1.5 inches, so a 1.25 inch label sits inside the safe margin.

Open this example in the calculator →

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Frequently asked questions

What size label fits a candle jar?

Measure around the jar at the height the label will sit, add the overlap, and keep the height at least a quarter of an inch clear of the rim and the base. A typical 8 ounce jar of about 2.6 inches diameter needs a label around 8.7 inches long including a half inch overlap, and about 2 inches tall. Check it with a paper mock up before ordering a print run.

How much overlap should a candle label have?

About a quarter to a half an inch is normal. Too little and the ends lift as the label settles or the container flexes, too much wastes label stock and can make the back look untidy. On a small tin a quarter inch is plenty; on a large jar, half an inch makes it far easier to line the ends up straight.

Should a candle label wrap all the way around?

Not necessarily. Many candles use a front label covering about a third of the circumference, which costs less and leaves the wax and the wick visible. If you do want a full wrap, the length is the whole circumference plus the overlap. Warning and ingredient information often needs its own back label, so plan for two labels if the front is a wrap.

How do I measure a container for a label?

Wrap a flexible tape or a strip of paper around the container at the height the label will sit, then measure it flat. A diameter taken across the base can be different from the diameter at the label height, because many jars taper and the shoulder is wider than the base. Measure at the label height, not at the widest point.