What a Votive Candle Box Actually Needs to Do
A votive candle box holds a short, wide votive, usually 2 to 3 inches across, on its own or in a set. Votives are not tealights or jar candles, and the box has to match. Most votives burn inside a small glass holder, and that glass is the heavy, breakable part. A box sized only for the wax lets the holder shift, so we size the box and insert around the filled holder, not the candle alone.Â
Stock That Suits a Glass Votive
Match the stock to weight and to where the box travels. A filled glass votive is heavier than it looks, so thin stock bows and loses its shape.
- Kraft: unbleached, recyclable, Blue Box accepted nationwide. Best for handmade and small-batch votives where the natural look carries the brand.
- Cardboard (SBS, 12pt to 24pt): smooth coated face for sharp print and gradients. The retail shelf standard.
- Rigid greyboard: wrapped in printed paper for a firm, premium feel on gift and wedding sets.
- E-flute corrugated: fluted liner for direct shipping by Canada Post or Purolator, and for heavier multi-candle sets.
Tell us the filled weight and whether the box ships or sits on a shelf, and we will name the stock. That advice is free.
Inserts Keep the Glass From Moving
Votives usually sell in sets, so the insert does the real work. A holder insert gives each holder its own pocket, so nothing rattles, rubs or chips against the next candle. We cut foam, paperboard or moulded pulp inserts to your holder size, with a snug fit that still lets a buyer lift the candle out clean. For a single votive, a kraft liner or a scored base pad keeps one holder centred. Loose candles in an empty box are the top reason votive packaging arrives damaged, so see our packaging inserts options for cavity and tray layouts.
Custom Box Styles for Votives
- Tuck-end: clean front panel, the retail standard for a single votive.
- Two-piece lid and base: a firm reveal for gift and wedding sets.
- Sleeve and tray: printed sleeve over a seated tray, good for multi-candle sets.
- Die-cut window: PET or acetate panel so the votive shows without opening. Ask for a plant-based PLA panel to keep the box recyclable.
- Display boxes: open-top counter units for spa, gift shop and market retail.
- Rigid magnetic closure: for premium and limited runs.
Subscription mailer: locking closure and insert for the ecommerce unboxing.
Running tealights next to your votives? See our tea light candle boxes for tray-style sets.
Custom Sizing: Measure the Filled Holder
Give us L x W x H in inches or millimetres, measured on the filled glass holder, not the loose wax. Sizes that come through this shop most often:
- 2" x 2" x 2.5" (standard single votive in glass)
- 3" x 3" x 3.5" (wide votive or scented pour)
- 6.5" x 2.25" x 2.25" (three-candle set, in line)
- 6.5" x 6.5" x 2.5" (four-candle gift set, two by two)
None of these are limits. They are just the repeat orders. Unsure of your size? Mail a sample to Wellington St and we will measure it for you.
Printing, Colour and Finishing
Offset litho suits volume runs, and digital suits short runs and seasonal variants with no plate charge. Give us your Pantone number and we run it as a spot ink rather than mixing it in CMYK, so the box matches your labels and candle tins. Matte reads calm, gloss lifts colour, and soft touch is the finish people keep handling. Spot UV on a logo, foil stamping and embossing suit gift and wedding lines. One honest note: lamination is a plastic film, so if your brand claim is compostable, take uncoated kraft or a water-based aqueous coating instead.
Eco Votive Boxes and Canadian Recycling
Canadian buyers turn the box over and read it. Our kraft, CCNB and recycled stocks are accepted in municipal Blue Box streams nationwide, with FSC-certified board and soy-based inks on request. Laminated board is contested at many Canadian facilities, so if curbside recycling is part of your claim, go uncoated. Keep claims specific and defensible, like "100% recycled paper, Blue Box accepted." Full material list on our eco-friendly boxes.
Why Choose ICB Canada
ICB Canada is a custom packaging manufacturer, and votive brands in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary order from us for a few plain reasons:
- Low order size, as low as 100 boxes, with wholesale discounts on larger runs.
- Free shipping across Canada and a 10 to 12 business day standard turnaround, with a rush option when you need it sooner.
- Free design support and free 3D digital mock-ups before printing.
- No die or plate charges, no setup fees, and no hidden cost.
- 24/7 live chat and after-sales support.
Ready to order? Request a quote and our team will size the box, insert and stock to your votive.
