You can't make great candles without a great wick. Sure, you can make your own wicks with cotton string, but you'll spend a lot (like, a lot) of time braiding strands together to make it thick enough for your candle. If you decide to prime your wicks in wax or oil, it'll take even longer and turn into a messy process. It's much easier to pick up some ready-made wicks so that whenever you make candles, you'll have the wicks to match. To help you sort through all of the wicks out there, here are some of our favorites. They’ll help you make candles that burn beautifully. EricX Light 100-Piece Cotton Candle Wick Pre-Tabbed and Ready to GoThese pre-tabbed and pre-waxed candle wicks are super convenient.Best OverallFind on Amazon If you’re looking for a candle wick that’s ready to go, these ones from EricX are so convenient. You get 100 wicks that are pre-cut to 6 inches. If you’re making shorter candles, you can simply trim them down once your candle is finished. The wicks have also been pre-waxed and tabbed, so they are ready to put into a candle mold. You can use these with a variety of wax types, including paraffin, soy wax, and beeswax, so they’ll be perfect for all of your candlemaking experiments. Made from 100% cotton with a paraffin wax coating, these wicks burn cleanly. They don’t produce a toxic smell while they burn, and you won’t have to worry about them creating a lot of smoke. They really are a great option when you’re making candles. Pros Pre-tabbed and pre-waxed, so they are simple to use Set of 100, so you can make a lot of candles Nice diameter (2.5 mm) that produce a good flame Great price point per wick to help you keep your candlemaking hobby on a budget Cons There’s no sticker or other adhesive to keep the wick in place, so you’ll need to be careful when pouring to keep it centered. You might not need 100 wicks, so you may end up with a bunch of unused ones to store. BENBO 50 Pieces Smokeless Candle Wick No Black SmokeYou'll appreciate how cleanly these natural wooden wicks burn. Best Wooden WicksFind on Amazon If you prefer the burn and aesthetics of a wooden wick, you should give these ones from BENBO a try. They’re perfect for all types of candles, they work in almost any container, and they look great while they’re burning. In this set, you get 50 wicks that are 5.1 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. You also get 50 iron stands to keep your wicks steady, and 50 self-adhesive warning labels that you can apply to your candle container or lid. These provide instructions for burning candles safely so no fire is started. When you’re ready to make a candle with one of these wicks, make sure you take the time to soak it first. You’ll want to let it soak in oil for 5-10 minutes before you use it, or dip it in melted wax. Then, you simply slide the coated wick into one of the stands and place it in your container. When your candle is ready to light, you’ll appreciate how well these perform. You won’t have any black smoke to deal with. Pros Made from natural wood that burns easily, so you won’t have trouble lighting them Set of 50, so you can make plenty of candles Wide size that’s great for larger candles Cons You’ll want to use two wicks together for soy candles to ensure a proper burn The soaking step takes some time, so these aren’t as simple to use as ones that come pre-dipped EricX Light Beeswax Hemp Wick Cut to SizeNo matter what size candle you are making, you can cut the perfect length of wick off of this roll of hemp wick. It's been dipped in beeswax, too, so it burns nicely. Best Beeswax WicksFind on Amazon One drawback to buying pre-cut wicks is that you’re stuck with that length. If you prefer to make candles in a variety of sizes and shapes, you should purchase a roll of wick instead. This one from EricX is a superb option. It’s a 200-foot spool, so you’ll have plenty of length to work with. You can simply cut off the amount you need for each candle. This helps to prevent waste since you won’t be trimming off and discarding nearly as much as you do with pre-cut wicks. This roll of wick is made from 100% organic hemp. It’s been coated with natural beeswax, so you won’t have to take the time to do that yourself. The combination of hemp and beeswax produces a wick that burns slowly and doesn’t drip. It creates a lovely candle-burning experience. Pros Roll of wick that allows you to customize the length you need Pre-dipped to save you time and effort Made from natural and organic material so it’s better for you and the environment Cons This is only 1.0 mm thick, so it works best for small candles. If you want to put it in larger ones, it’s best to braid a few strands together. yeestone Candle Wicks Big Candles and Small CandlesThis set comes with 150 wicks in three different sizes for all of your candlemaking needs.Best Variety Find on Amazon These wicks are ready for you to put into candles of all sizes, making them perfect for candle makers who like to experiment. You get 150 total wicks in three different lengths: 3.5-inch, 5.9-inch, and 7.8-inch. No matter the length, each of these wicks come pre-waxed with a metal base to help them stay upright in your container. The wick itself is made from a cotton thread that burns well. For such high-quality wicks, you’d expect to pay a pretty penny, but these wicks have a great price point. You won’t spend a fortune on them, so you can help keep your candlemaking expenses down. They’re a great fit for beginner candlemakers. Pros 150 wicks to help you make a lot of candles Easy to cut, so you can quickly trim them down to size Packaged by size, so you won’t have to sift through them all to find the one you need Good variety of sizes that let you create tall and short candles, plus some in between Cons If you don’t plan on making different size candles, it’s probably better to purchase just the length you need so you won’t have so many unused ones. PremiumCraft Square Braid Cotton Candle Wick So ThickThis thick square cotton braid wick is uncoated, so you can cover it with whatever type of wax you prefer. Best UnprimedFind on Amazon Do you need a little bit thicker wick to help you make a larger candle? Check out this roll of square braid cotton wick from PremiumCraft. It’s size #6, so you can use it in candles up to six inches in diameter. To help you make plenty of beautiful candles, you’ll get 10 yards of wick in this package. The wick itself is made from 100% natural cotton, so you won’t have to deal with any lead or other toxic chemicals. In addition, cotton burns well, making it the perfect material to use for wicks. This wick roll is uncoated, so you get to coat it with whichever type of wax or oil you want. If you prefer to select your own materials, buying unprimed wicks is a good move. Just make sure you don’t skip the coating process; it helps the wick burn better. Pros Thicker wicks that work in bigger candles (up to 6 inches in diameter) 100% natural cotton for a clean burn Uncut wick roll so you can cut your own size for each candle Cons You’ll need to purchase tabs or stands separately so these don’t fall over when you make your candles. Frequently Asked Questions What type of candle wick should I buy? There are many different types of wicks on the market. When you’re making candles, you want to pick the correct one for your container and wax. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble with the burn. The absolutely best way to determine which wick your candle needs is to experiment. You want to see how the wick reacts with the wax, coloring, and fragrance you use. However, if you don’t want to buy several different types of wicks, here are a few recommendations. Cotton wicks are perfect for paraffin, soy, and beeswax candles. It’s a good all-purpose option that doesn’t mushroom when it burns. Wooden wicks are great for nearly any wax type, including palm wax. They give off a crackle when they burn, which is a nice touch. You can also find wicks that have a zinc core. These are best for paraffin wax candles. How long should my wick be? The size of the container will help you determine the best length for your wick. You’ll want to measure the length of your container and then add a little extra so you make sure it doesn’t get buried when you pour. Before you burn your candle, you’ll want to trim the wick to 1/8″ or 1/4″ above the top of your candle. This is the ideal length for a nice burn.