How Many Oz Is A Tea Light?

What is a Tea Light?

A tea light candle is a small, short candle in a small container that is commonly used for creating atmosphere, scent, and celebration. They are typically 1 to 1.5 inches tall, with burn times ranging from 3-6 hours.

Tea lights get their name from being originally used to keep tea warm in the 19th century. The small candles were placed under tea pots to maintain the water temperature. Today, tea lights are still used to keep food and drinks warm, but more commonly they are used decoratively to create mood lighting and provide fragrance indoors and outdoors.

Tea lights come in a wide variety of colors and scents to match any occasion or decor. Their small size makes them ideal for illuminating centerpieces, accent tables, walkways, and more. The portability also allows tea lights to be used in paper bags, jars, and floating candle holders for special events.

Standard Tea Light Sizes

Tea lights come in a few common standard sizes measured in ounces (oz). The most popular size is the 0.5 oz tea light, which contains about 14 grams of wax and burns for around 3-4 hours.

Some other standard tea light sizes include:

• 1 oz tea lights – contain about 28 grams of wax and burn for 6-8 hours
• 1.5 oz tea lights – contain about 42 grams of wax and burn for 8-10 hours
• 2 oz tea lights – contain about 57 grams of wax and burn for 10-12 hours

There can be some variance in tea light sizes between brands. The aluminum tins can range from about 1.5-2 inches wide and 0.5-1 inch tall. Generally, larger tea lights will burn longer while smaller ones are more compact in size.

When substituting tea lights in crafts or candle holders, be sure to check the size to find the best fit. The common 0.5 oz size is suitable for many tea light uses.

How Tea Lights Burn

Tea lights can burn for anywhere between 1 to 8 hours depending on the wax type and casing. The most common tea light burn time is between 3 to 4 hours. Here are some of the factors that determine tea light burn times:

Burn Time:

• Paraffin wax tea lights burn for around 3-4 hours on average (source: https://www.felinfach.com/pages/how-long-do-tealights-burn)
• Soy wax tea lights burn for 4-8 hours (source: https://flamestuff.com/do-tea-lights-burn-out-on-their-own-and-how-long-do-they-last/)
• Beeswax tea lights burn for 2-4 hours (source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-long-do-tea-lights-burn-faouzi-abdousalam?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_related-content-card)

Wax Pool Size:

• The wax pool size depends on the heat output and burn time. Longer burning tea lights will have a wider wax pool.
• Typically, the wax pool diameter is 1.5-2 inches.

Heat Output:

• Most tea lights emit around 12-15 BTUs of heat.
• Soy wax tea lights tend to emit more heat than paraffin wax.
• The metal versus glass casing doesn’t significantly impact heat output.

Tea Light Wax Types

Tea lights come in a variety of different wax types, each with their own properties and benefits.

Paraffin

Paraffin wax is the most common and inexpensive type of wax used for tea lights. It is a petroleum byproduct made from crude oil. Paraffin burns cleanly and provides a bright flame, making it ideal for tea lights. However, some avoid paraffin wax since it is not from a renewable resource.

Soy

Soy wax is a renewable and environmentally-friendly alternative to paraffin. It is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. Soy wax burns slower and melts at a lower temperature than paraffin. The natural scent can also provide a subtle fragrance. Soy tea lights are often preferred for their sustainability.

Beeswax

Beeswax is another natural wax option for tea lights, produced by honey bees. It has a lovely honey aroma when burning. Beeswax is biodegradable but burns more quickly than other waxes. Beeswax tea lights can be more expensive but appeal to those looking for natural ingredients.

Gel

Gel wax is made from a mixture of mineral oil and polymer resins. It allows vivid colors and scents to be infused into tea lights. Gel wax burns slowly and holds its shape as it melts. Gel tea lights are popular for their visual appeal and fragrance.

Uses for Tea Lights

Tea lights have many versatile uses beyond just lighting. Some popular uses include:

Home Decor

Tea lights can add ambiance and a decorative touch to any room. Put them in glass jars, lanterns, candles holders, or fill a bowl or tray with tea lights to create a warm glow. They’re an easy way to make your home feel cozy and inviting (The Candle Alchemist).

Aromatherapy

Essential oil tea lights allow you to fill your home with lovely scents. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to unscented tea lights and light them in your diffuser, lamp, or candle holder for a subtle aromatherapy experience.

Candles

Tea lights can be used as components in making larger candles. Melt down old candle wax, add wicks, and pour into containers with tea lights placed inside for an easy DIY candle (Linegohts Tea Lights).

Emergency Lighting

During power outages, tea lights provide needed light. Their small size allows them to be easily placed throughout a home to illuminate walkways and rooms.

Safety Tips for Tea Lights

Tea lights can be very enjoyable to use, but it’s important to follow some basic safety tips when burning them:

• Always supervise tea lights when they are burning. Never leave them unattended.
• Use non-flammable, fireproof holders like glass or metal to contain tea lights. This prevents accidental fires if the tea light tips over.
• Allow tea lights to completely cool before disposing of them. The wax can remain hot and flammable even after the flame goes out.

According to the HERC Oven Safety Tips, it’s important that a candle burns properly so that the wick length remains matched to the amount of wax. This prevents issues like tunneling that can make tea lights unstable and prone to tipping over.

With some simple precautions, tea lights can be used safely for lighting, ambiance and craft projects.

Tea Light History

Tea lights have an interesting history originating in East Asia. They were first used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies as a source of gentle light and warmth (http://candlemakinghelp.com.au/index.php/easyblog/interesting-facts-about-tea-light-candles). The small candles were placed throughout the tea room to provide illumination and help keep the tea warm. Tea lights are still used in this way in modern Japanese tea ceremonies to honor tradition.

Over time, the convenience and charming glow of tea lights made them popular worldwide. In Europe and America during the 1960s-70s, tea lights became a common household item often used for decorative purposes (http://candlemakinghelp.com.au/index.php/easyblog/interesting-facts-about-tea-light-candles). The growth of tea light popularity led to the development of many sizes, shapes, colors, and scents. Now there is great variety in tea light styles to suit different preferences and needs.

From their origins in historic East Asian tea culture to their current ubiquity around the world, tea lights have proven to be a versatile and well-loved candle variety. Their gentle, intimate glow continues to add beauty, warmth, and charm to a multitude of settings.

Buying Tea Lights

Tea lights can be purchased from a variety of stores both online and in person. Some places where you can buy tea lights include:

Craft Stores – Major craft stores like Michaels, Joann Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby have a selection of tea lights in different colors, shapes, and scents. Tea lights are commonly used in craft projects so these stores cater to crafters.

Home Goods Stores – Stores like Target, Walmart, IKEA, and Bed Bath and Beyond also sell tea lights, often in multi-packs for cheap. The selection may be more limited than specialty stores.

Candle Stores – Dedicated candle shops, both local and online, will have a wide variety of tea lights to choose from. You can find unique scents, styles, colors, and shapes here. Prices may be slightly higher than big box stores.

Online Retailers – Amazon, eBay, Etsy sellers, and independent candle sites allow you to easily buy tea lights in bulk. This can be cheaper than in-store options. Be aware of shipping costs for heavy items like candles.

When selecting tea lights, consider the color, scent, burn time, quantity, shape (round, square, etc), and price. Tea lights typically range from $0.25-$3.00 each depending on these factors. Buying in bulk brings the per-unit price down significantly.

Tea Light Crafts and Projects

Tea lights can be used in a variety of fun and creative craft projects. Here are some of the most popular tea light craft ideas:

Jar luminaries made from mason jars or glass jars make beautiful decorations and centerpieces. Simply place a tea light in a glass jar and surround it with decorative material like glitter, beads, seashells etc. Refer to this idea on https://www.pinterest.com/inkblotdoodles/flameless-tea-light-crafts/ for inspiration.

Tea lights can also be used to create gorgeous centerpieces. Arrange multiple tea lights in glass bowls, vases or candle holders. Surround them with flowers, beads, or other embellishments. The candles will provide a soft glow to highlight the decor. Get ideas from https://www.pinterest.com/shagan44/tealight-crafts/.

Melted art with tea lights is another unique project. Allow colored wax crayons or candles to melt over a canvas to create abstract designs. Place tea lights underneath the canvas to melt the wax. Learn more about this melted crayon art here.

Tea Light Alternatives

While traditional wax tea lights are common, there are various alternatives if you’re looking for other options.

Other small candles can substitute tea lights in applications where an open flame is still desired. Votive candles, tapers, and birthday candles all burn similarly to tea lights while coming in a range of sizes, shapes, scents, and colors. Decorative mini jar candles are another candle variety that can sometimes be used in place of tea lights.

For situations where a real flame is not feasible or desired, LED tea lights provide the flickering glow of a candle without the fire danger. LED tea lights contain small batteries within and illuminate an LED that flickers realistically like a burning wick. They come in both reusable and disposable options. Many can be turned on and off or set on timers. LED tea lights are flameless, smokeless, dripless, and safe to leave unattended.

In some cases, flameless wax melts or scented oils can provide ambient lighting and fragrance without any flames at all. These alternatives allow enjoyment of the scent and ambience of candles without the need to monitor an open flame source.