The 7 Best Hanukkah Candles of 2024

Ner Mitzvah Handmade Beeswax Chanukah Candles on a blue background — Better Homes & Gardens / Alli Waataja

The holidays are quickly approaching and if you’re celebrating Hanukkah this year, it may be time to start shopping for a menorah or dusting off the one you already have. No menorah is complete, of course, without the perfect Hanukkah candles that make the Festival of Lights such an illuminating and significant holiday.

To find the best Hanukkah candles, we researched a variety of top-rated products and considered them based on their burn time, wax type, the number of candles in a set, and other factors. We also reached out to Kristen Kreider, managing director of business operations of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Store, for her insight on what to look for when choosing the best Hanukkah candles for your menorah.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Ner Mitzvah Handmade Dripless Chanukah Candles at Amazon ($10)

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Best Budget:

The Dreidel Company Deluxe Tapered Hanukkah Candles at Amazon ($10)

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Best Splurge:

Via Maris Hanukkah Candles at West Elm ($60)

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Best Large Set:

Rite Lite Hanukkah Candles at Amazon ($19)

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Best Multicolor:

Rite Lite Beeswax Hanukkah Candles at Amazon ($27)

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Best Dripless:

Majestic Giftware Blue & White Safed Hanukkah Candles at Shoptheweitzman.org (See Price)

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Best Beeswax:

Ner Mitzvah Handmade Beeswax Chanukah Candles at Amazon ($14)

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Best Overall

Amazon

View On Amazon $10

If you’re looking for reliable, effective, and dripless candles for your menorah, the Ner Mitzvah Handmade Dripless Chanukah Candles are the best Hanukkah candles. This set includes 45 candles, each with a white top that fades into a cornflower blue bottom. Plus, there’s a subtle design wrapped around them for an added decorative touch.

The candles are made of paraffin wax and are designed to be dripless, so your menorah will stay clean throughout the holiday. Plus, the unscented candles have a 1-hour burn time, so you’ll be able to enjoy the warmth in your home a bit longer than some other options allow.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 45 | Burn Time: 1 hour | Wax Type: Paraffin wax

Best Budget

Amazon

View On Amazon $10 View On Dreidelcompany.com

If your Hanukkah budget is reserved for a new menorah or a bigger holiday dinner, then you’ll love these Hanukkah candles from The Dreidel Company. With this set, you’ll get 45 candles to last you through all eight nights.

The candles are available in five color options, like multicolor pastel, blue and white, and rainbow, so you can add a more festive touch to your celebrations. Each candle has a burn time of just over 30 minutes, and although they aren’t dripless, we think these candles are a great option for those on a holiday budget.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 45 | Burn Time: 30 minutes | Wax Type: Not listed

Best Splurge

West Elm

View On West Elm $60 View On Via-maris.com

Although Hanukkah candles may not seem like a splurge-worthy item, we think these elegant candles, made by Jewish-owned brand Via Maris, are well worth the price tag. For starters, the candles have a lower-drip paraffin wax, which can be easily and gently scraped off once it has hardened.

The candles are offered in four muted primary colors: pale sand yellow, a bold midnight blue, terracotta clay red, and off white. Plus, they have a chic yet subtle fluted design with a ribbed texture.

Although you would have to buy individual sets to mix and match colors (which would be an even bigger splurge), we think these are some of the best Hanukkah candles to give your menorah and entire home a contemporary touch.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 45 | Burn Time: 1 hour | Wax Type: Paraffin wax

Best Large Set

Amazon

View On Amazon $19

Most Hanukkah candle sets come with 45 candles but if you want enough candles to light two menorahs or want to give some extra candles to a family member, this Rite Lite Chanukah Candles Value Pack is for you. The set includes 90 candles, so you’ll have more than enough to celebrate the holiday.

We like that these candles burn clean and bright for up to 30 minutes. Plus, they’re available in blue and white and multicolored pastels, so you can choose which suits your celebration style best.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 90 | Burn Time: 30 minutes | Wax Type: Not listed

Best Multicolor

Rite Lite Multi-color Hand-dipped Beeswax Hanukkah Candles

Amazon

View On Amazon $27 View On Thejewishmuseum.org

It may be easy to find Hanukkah candles in shades of blue and white, but if you’re looking for something more vibrant and unique, we love the Rite Lite Beeswax Hanukkah Candles. With six festive colors and an ombre look, these candles add color and dimension to your windowsill or table.

We also like that each one is hand-dipped and made of natural beeswax. Plus they are biodegradable, petroleum-free, and hypo-allergenic. The set includes 45 candles, each of which has a 1-hour burn time.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 45 | Burn Time: 1 hour | Wax Type: Beeswax

Best Dripless

Weitzman

View On Shoptheweitzman.org View On Thejewishmuseum.org

If you want to avoid cleaning your menorah after each use, these candles by Majestic Giftware are the best Hanukkah candles for the holiday. We like the elegant and classic look of these blue and white candles, which are a little taller than most Hanukkah candles but will fit most menorahs.

Best of all, we like that they burn bright and clean for about an hour and are dripless to keep your menorah and the surface it’s on clean and wax-free. Although they’re not available in other colors, we think these are the best dripless Hanukkah candles that will also illuminate your home for the holiday.

Not only are these candles the best dripless candles on our list, but they are also hand-dipped in the ancient city of Safed, Israel, offering a nice touch to the set.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 45 | Burn Time: 1 hour | Wax Type: Not listed

Best Beeswax

Amazon

View On Amazon $14

If you’re looking for a paraffin wax alternative to put in your menorah, we recommend the Ner Mitzvah Handmade Beeswax Chanukah Candles. Made of 100% pure beeswax with cotton wicks, these candles have an amber tone that will add a warm glow to your home. However, they’re also available in a multicolor set if you prefer some variety.

While they’re not completely dripless, we like that they offer a clean burn for approximately one hour. Plus, the set includes 45 candles and is less expensive than other options, so you can stock up on them for celebrations to come.

Product Details: Number of Candles: 45 | Burn Time: 1 hour | Wax Type: Beeswax

The Bottom Line

Overall, the best Hanukkah candles are the Ner Mitzvah Handmade Dripless Chanukah Candles for their classic color and design, dripless feature, and affordable price.

What to Know About Hanukkah Candles Before Shopping

Number of Candles

According to Kreider, the best Hanukkah candles come in packs of 45 to last all eight nights of Hanukkah. Since the menorah has spaces for nine candles, a set of 45 is more than enough to last the entire holiday with some to spare.

Burn Time

Since you’re not supposed to extinguish Hanukkah candles yourself, the burn time is an important detail to consider. Since most Hanukkah candles are on the smaller side, they will typically burn between 30 minutes and one hour, which also makes them safer to burn out on their own, says Kreider.

Wax Type

Kreider recommends opting for Hanukkah candles that are labeled dripless and made from high-quality paraffin or beeswax. A lead-free cotton wick will also help prevent smoke and prevent the candles from burning too fast.

Your Questions, Answered

How do you light Hanukkah candles?

Kreider says to first start with the shamash, or the ninth candle. The shamash is separate or distinct from the other candles, sitting higher or lower than the others, or separated by a space or position in the menorah.

“It is used to light the other eight candles, beginning on the right, lighting one candle the first night, and increasing candles by one each night,” she says. “After each candle is lit, the shamash is returned to its original position.”

How many Hanukkah candles do you need?

According to Kreider, you will need 45 candles if you plan to light your menorah on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Nearly every Hanukkah candle set comes with 45 candles, although you may find some with double that amount, which is enough for two menorahs.

Should you extinguish Hanukkah candles?

Regular candles can be blown out or snuffed, but Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished and should be left to burn out on their own.

“In Jewish candle-lighting rituals for Shabbat and Hanukkah, it is customary to allow the candles to self-extinguish,” says Kreider. “The burn time for most menorah candles is between 30 and 60 minutes.”

Who We Are

This article was written by L. Daniela Alvarez, a contributing writer for Better Homes & Gardens with three years of experience specifically writing lifestyle content and product reviews for a variety of publications. For this article, Daniela spent several hours researching the best Hanukkah candles, keeping in mind the material, burn time, and number of candles included. She also consulted Kristen Kreider, managing director of business operations of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Store.