Are candles safe during a power outage?

They can be with care; NFPA says keep them 12 inches from anything that can burn and blow them out before sleep. Ready.gov recommends flashlights first.

How long do emergency candles burn?

UCO lists up to 15 hours in its lantern and 9 to 12 in open air; 100-hour candles are rated far longer.

What is a candle lantern?

An enclosure with a glass chimney that holds a candle; UCO's is aluminum and collapsible.

Should I use candles or flashlights?

Flashlights first, per Ready.gov; NFPA suggests flameless candles in the home.

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Emergency candles: a backup light that needs a careful hand

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

We research products from makers' specs, manuals and safety agencies; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Quick answer

Emergency candles give light with no batteries or charging, but they are an open flame. Ready.gov's power outage advice starts with a flashlight for every household member, and NFPA reports that candles start about 2% of reported home fires, often when something that can burn is too close. If you keep candles, use an enclosed candle lantern: UCO says its candles burn up to 15 hours inside its lantern versus 9 to 12 in open air. Keep them 12 inches from anything that can burn.

Candle options compared

Option	Burn time, per maker	Enclosure
UCO 15-Hour Candle in UCO lantern	Up to 15 hours	Glass chimney, aluminum body
UCO 15-Hour Candle in open air	9 to 12 hours	None
UCO Beeswax Candle	15 to 18 hours, per UCO's site	Made for UCO lanterns
Seed Armory 100-Hour Candles (12-pack)	Up to 1,200 hours total	Self-contained

Burn times are from UCO's and Augason Farms' product pages, checked October 2026; wind and temperature change real burn time, the makers note.

Types of emergency candles

Lantern candles: short, wide candles sized for candle lanterns; UCO says its white candles are designed for its lanterns and last longest inside them.
Beeswax: UCO describes its beeswax candles as natural and smokeless, at 15 to 18 hours; one Amazon listing we saw in October 2026 called them 12-hour candles, so check the rating on the package you buy.
Long-burning emergency candles: Seed Armory, sold by Augason Farms, lists 80-hour and 100-hour smokeless candles sold in 24- and 12-packs.
Flameless candles: battery LED candles give no flame at all, which NFPA suggests considering at home.
Use a sturdy holder: whatever candle you use, set it in a holder or lantern that will not tip.

Flashlight first, candle second

Ready.gov: its power outage checklist says to have flashlights for every household member.
NFPA: suggests thinking about flameless candles in the home.
Where candles fit: a long, steady room light when batteries are low, or a backup for the backup.
Better choices for most rooms: see our camping lantern and rechargeable headlamps guides.

What NFPA's numbers show

Share of fires: from 2020 to 2024, candles were the heat source in 2% of reported home fires, 2% of home fire deaths and 5% of home fire injuries.
Annual average: about 5,894 home structure fires, 63 civilian deaths and 532 injuries a year.
Too close: over half of candle fires started when something flammable, such as furniture, bedding, curtains, paper or clothing, was too close.
Unattended: 21% involved a candle left unattended, discarded or misused.
Bedrooms and sleep: 36% started in the bedroom, and sleep was a factor in 34% of candle fire deaths.
Daily scale: NFPA says an average of 20 home candle fires are reported each day, with Christmas the peak day.

Using candles safely in an outage

Twelve inches clear: NFPA says keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.
Blow them out before you leave the room or go to sleep, NFPA says.
Use an enclosure: a candle lantern with a glass chimney keeps the flame away from fabric and paper.
Stable, heat-safe surface, away from children, pets and drafts.
Never in a tent or near bedding; use battery lights there.
Smoke and CO alarms: keep them working; Ready.gov advises carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level for outages.

Planning burn time

Candle lantern: six UCO candles at up to 15 hours each is about 90 hours of light in the lantern.
Open air: the same six candles at 9 to 12 hours each is 54 to 72 hours.
Long-burning pack: Seed Armory's 12-pack of 100-hour candles adds up to 1,200 hours if burned one at a time, its maker says.
Realistic use: light one candle only in the room you are in, and only while you are awake and there.

Storing candles in a kit

Keep them cool: wax softens in heat, so store candles away from hot attics and car dashboards.
Pack lighting tools: matches or a lighter in a sealed bag; see our fire starter tools guide.
Collapse the lantern: UCO says its Original Candle Lantern is collapsible for packing.
Label the kit with the 12 inch rule as a reminder.

What to look for when you buy

Enclosed flame: UCO Original Candle Lantern

Best for: The safest way to use a candle during an outage

UCO lists a collapsible aluminum lantern with a windproof glass chimney, sold for more than 50 years, that includes a candle burning up to 15 hours inside the lantern.

Watch out: Still an open flame inside; keep 12 inches from anything that can burn and never leave it lit unattended.

See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)

Refills: UCO candles for candle lanterns

Best for: Spare candles for the UCO lantern

UCO lists its candles at up to 15 hours in its lantern and 9 to 12 hours in open air.

Watch out: Check the burn-time rating on the specific listing you buy.