What's better than enjoying the flickering flames bringing light into the darkness while resting in a beautiful candle holder? Candles can set the mood, but your choice of candle holder determines the atmosphere of the venue, whether it's a wedding reception, a romantic date or a casual dinner party at home.
In this article, our buying guide and ranking will help you decide between lantern or birdcage styles, ceramic, glass, crystal or steel, and whether a vintage or chic candlestick set suits your space. We've got a range of bestselling candle holders on our list by brands like Garden Mile and George Home for tealights, votives and pillars, all of which you can easily purchase from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Candle Holders
John Lewis & Partners
Enter the World of Zen With This Golden Brass Holder
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We can all agree that candles on the dinner table elevate the mood, but an appropriate candle holder will take the atmosphere to the next level! In this buying guide, we'll show you how to buy your perfect candle holder based on the type of candle, the materials, the style, and more.
Candles come in many different varieties, so you'll always be able to find one that perfectly matches the occasion. The problem is deciding between them all! In this section, we'll introduce you to three types of candles to help you find the one that suits you the best. Then, you can purchase the appropriate candle holder accordingly.
Tealights are small, lightweight and take up almost no space, yet they can instantly set the mood wherever they're placed, whether that's a wedding venue, on the side of the bath while you have some me-time or to accompany a meditation session as you wind down your day.
They're also usually an inexpensive choice, so you can buy them in bulk and never have to worry about going over your budget, which is especially handy if you're planning to use tealights for your wedding. They can be easily transported too!
With a built-in metal holder, you'll never have to worry that a tealight's burning wax will ruin your surface or candle holder, and they're easily disposed of once you're done. Lastly, tealights have a typical burning time of 3 to 5 hours, which is not the longest, but just about right for a nice dinner date.
Long and slender, taper candles are a classic and elegant choice that add dimension to tabletops. With an average of 10 hours burn time, you can reuse the same candles for a couple of evenings, or even more if you invest in good quality ones.
Unlike tealight candles, taper candles do not come with a metal container to catch the melted wax. So even if you purchase special 'dripless' taper candles, there is a high chance the wax could still drip off and stain your surfaces if it's not completely vertical, which is caused by the candle burning unevenly.
If you really want to avoid the stress of dripping candles, go after beeswax tapers as beeswax is naturally dripless!
Pillar candles have a significantly larger diameter than other candle types, and, depending on the height of the candle, they can have a burning time of up to 50 or 60 hours. You'll barely ever need to replace them!
Another speciality of this type of candle is that it can be used directly on heat-resistant surfaces, as the melted wax will drip inwards rather than down the side of the candle. Or, of course, you can also place them in a candle holder to add some extra personality to your dinner table setup.
Finally, always remember to never leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from children to avoid unwanted accidents!
It's always best to double-check the number of candle holders per order as they can come as singles, as a pair or even in a set of three or more. This information will also allow you to keep a better eye on your budget, especially if you're considering buying in bulk for a special occasion.
Pairs of identical candle holders will create good symmetry when placed on either side of a table, mantelpiece or similar, whereas a group of candles can make an eye-catching display when arranged together inside or out.
However many you think you'll need, it's just a case of going for the balance of quality and quantity that suits your own needs.
You don't want to find yourself disappointed after realising the candle holders you've ordered are too big or small for your dinner table right at the last minute. That's why we always emphasise the importance of measuring the dimensions of a product!
It'll only take you a few seconds to get the job done and you'll be guaranteed that your candle holders harmonise perfectly with your table or properly fit on the shelf, side table, or other surface you want to place them on. You might even be able to squeeze in a few more!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Lewis & Partners Brass Hammered Tealight Holder | ![]() | Enter the World of Zen With This Golden Brass Holder | |
2 | Sziqiqi Geometric Candlestick Holder | ![]() | The Best Design for Chic and Minimalistic Home Décor | |
3 | Maison & White Cage Candle Holders | ![]() | The Cosiness That Every Household Needs | |
4 | JHY Design Vintage Style Lantern Candle Holder | ![]() | Essentials for a Romantic Wedding | |
5 | George Home House Shaped Tealight Holders | ![]() | Enjoy Cute Scandinavian Port Buildings at Home | |
6 | John Lewis & Partners Henley Lantern, Small | ![]() | A Must-Have Decoration for Summer Evenings in the Garden | |
7 | Simpa Black Gothic Wood Carved Candle Holder | ![]() | A Gothic-Style Holder That Will Suit Almost Any Home | |
8 | Garden Mile Stag Head Candle Holder | ![]() | A Stunning Dining Table Centerpiece That's an Ornament in Itself | |
9 | John Lewis & Partners Rose Quartz Crystal Tealight Holder | ![]() | Practice Self-Love With Rose Quartz Crystal |
We knew this product would be our top pick the moment we saw it! The attention-drawing yet calming golden colour is timeless, and we don't think there is a better product than this to bring you into the world of Zen. Light up your favourite scented tealight, and off you go to the land of no worries.
Many customers agreed this product brings warmth and glows especially well in dim rooms as the inside of the holder reflects the candle flame beautifully. A very affordable product by John Lewis, you deserve to have a few of these laying around the house.
While this product comes in four different colours, we think this matte-gold shade encapsulates its most appealing feature the best – that it is both a candle holder and stylish addition to your home décor. Plus, the geometric lines created by the metal wires not only give extra chicness but also extra stability.
Even if you run out of candles, this pair of candlesticks instantly blends into your home's design and no will ever notice its true function. Fitting into any household easily and with an affordable price, we think this would be a great first set of candle holders.
These might appear to be ordinary-looking birdcage candle holders, but we promise this style is exactly what you need to create a cosy atmosphere in your space. Place them in a dim room and you'll soon realise how soothing it is to watch the flickering flames reflect the shadow of the candle holder.
The set comes as a slightly differently-sized pair, so they'd look lovely sat together or apart. As a bonus, this product is not limited to holding candles and could be used for other purposes too – you could place your mini greenhouse plants inside to create a modern piece of home decoration, or even use them for arts and crafts!
With their vintage, rustic style, simple white colour and delicate, detailed decorations throughout the design, we think these lanterns are the perfect fit for a fairytale wedding. Plus, as they weigh just 430 grams, you can easily hang them up to make the venue extra romantic.
They're also made with tempered glass, which is four times stronger than normal glass and can withstand high temperatures, so they'll last beyond the big day too. You can pair these lantern candle holder with tealights, short pillar candles or even flameless ones as you prefer.
Who doesn't love the iconic architecture found alongside the Scandinavian ports? This set of three candleholders resemble those buildings and will surely brighten your mood, especially when travel is off the cards. Place them side by side, and all that's left to do is to light them all up and watch the fire gently flicker.
You wouldn't believe you can purchase these hygge-inspired tealight holders from Asda – in fact, you can always add them to your basket while you're ordering your weekly shop! We think this trio would make a perfect gift too.
This product is for those who have a garden as we think it's the perfect pick to set the mood during summer evenings spent outside. Enjoy reading a book with a drink, or a chilled time with your friends accompanied by the sunset and the burning candle within this lantern.
With such a simple design, this product might not be everyone's cup of tea, and you may need to buy more than one to achieve the right look which will soon add up. Still, if you want something minimalist, this classy product will add a subtle style to your garden or even your living room.
We understand that not everyone is a fan of gothic-style accessories, but we promise this product will suit any home! The curved feminine lines and all-black colour will make this holder blend well with any furniture, and of course, any colour of candle wax too!
This matching pair of candlesticks are really well-priced too, with many reviewers praising their solid build and impressive size. They're made from painted wood, so, again, just be sure to replace the candle before it burns out to the base of the holder.
Don't worry, no animals were harmed during the making of this product! An extraordinarily-detailed stag head that looks just like a vintage ornament, this candelabra can hold a total of 4 candles on its antlers – perfect for those who want a beautiful piece of home décor with actual practicality.
This holder is surprisingly lightweight as it's made with resin rather than metal, so it's easy to carry around the house and very affordable, too. But since resin is highly flammable, make sure to always keep an eye on the candle so it doesn't burn too close to the holder.
That said, the benefits of crystals are not scientifically proven and are more likely to provide comfort to one's mentality instead. Though this is a gorgeous-looking holder, just be aware that the colour and even the size will vary between each piece as it's made from a natural material. That will make each one truly unique, though!
If you're already planning to get candle holders for your dinner party, you're probably also looking to purchase a few candles to go with them! We've rounded up a selection of flameless, non-toxic and even DIY candles to match up with your choice of candle holder.
We sure we've convinced you to get at least one of these gorgeous candle holders, even if you didn't plan to! As long as you're being extra cautious while handling the candles, you deserve to sit back and enjoy your new purchase.
Author: Angina Chow
No. 1: John Lewis & Partners|Brass Hammered Tealight Holder
No. 2: Sziqiqi|Geometric Candlestick Holder
No. 3: Maison & White|Cage Candle Holders
No. 4: JHY Design|Vintage Style Lantern Candle Holder
No. 5: George Home|House Shaped Tealight Holders
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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