Choosing Shabbat Candlesticks: Size, Materials, and Customs

Shabbat candlesticks should work comfortably in the place where you light every week. Before choosing a design, decide how many lights you use, whether you prefer candles or oil, and where the holders will stand. Then compare the materials, proportions, and care each set needs.

Quick checklist

• Start with your household's number of lights. Two is the usual custom; some families light more.
• Match the holders to the candles or oil cups. Ask for dimensions rather than relying on a photograph.
• Check the burn time. Choose candles or oil cups that will last through your Friday-night meal and into the night.
• Measure the space. Include the tray, branches, and clearance around the flames.
• Look for a stable base. Check the balance with the intended candles or inserts in place.
• Ask what the piece is made of. Distinguish sterling, plated, and weighted construction.
• Confirm care and replacement parts. Ask how to remove wax and where to get matching inserts or drip cups.

How many lights do you need?

One light fulfills the basic obligation. The usual custom is two, corresponding to zachor and shamor, remembering and keeping Shabbat.[1][2] A pair is therefore a natural starting point when buying a household's first set.

Many women add a light for each child; others follow a different fixed number or continue with two.[2] Follow your household's custom rather than choosing a number because a particular candelabra looks appealing.

If you expect to add lights, consider how that would work with the set you like:

• A candelabra, often called a leichter, groups several lights on one base.
• Separate holders let you arrange the lights to suit the space.
• A larger tray can leave room for additional holders later.

Ask whether matching single candlesticks are available, but don't assume they will remain available indefinitely. For a gift, check the recipient's custom and existing set before choosing the number of branches.

A girl's own candlestick

Some families have girls light their own candle before marriage; others do not.[3] If you are buying a first candlestick for a girl, ask a parent what the family does. Where the custom is to light one, a single holder can make a thoughtful gift.[4]

A set for someone living alone

The obligation to have Shabbat lights applies to men as well as women. A man living on his own needs to arrange lighting too.[1][5] A simple, sturdy pair can be just as useful a first-home gift for him.

Candles, tea lights, or oil?

Olive oil is preferred for Shabbat lighting, and suitable candles may also be used.[1] Buy holders that work with what you intend to light.

For candles, check the socket size. Bring a candle to the shop if possible, or measure its base. Ask how the seller recommends securing it. A candle should stand firmly rather than lean in a socket that is too wide.

For tea lights, check the recess and burn time. Confirm which size fits and whether the cup can be removed easily for cleaning. A holder's appearance tells you little about how long the tea light inside it will burn.

For oil, check the inserts. Ask which glass cups and wick holders fit, whether they are included, and how to order replacements. Check the assembled height and stability with the inserts in place. A set photographed with oil glasses may be sold without them.

Choose enough burning time

Choose candles or an oil supply that will last through the Friday-night meal and after dark. Lighting takes place before sunset, so account for the time between lighting and the meal as well as the meal itself. The OU's guidance describes the ideal as remaining lit until after the meal; Chabad also emphasizes continuing into the night while the household benefits from the light.[6][7]

Ask about the burn time of the specific candles or oil cups you plan to use. If your meal is late, short candles or small tea lights may be a poor match even if they fit the holders beautifully.

Use your local candle-lighting time when working out how long they need to last.[1] The practical purchase is a holder that takes enough candle or oil for your routine without an awkward or unstable adaptation.

Plan the place before the purchase

The dining room, where the lights can be enjoyed during the meal, is the usual place to start.[4][1] Measure the available width, depth, and height before ordering. For a multi-branch piece, check the full span rather than just the base diameter.

Allow space around the flames, away from curtains, shelves, and children's reach. Check that the base rests flat and that a tray does not introduce wobbling. A tall piece can look graceful on a sideboard yet feel intrusive on a small dining table.

If you are buying online, request the dimensions with the intended candles or oil cups fitted, or calculate their additional height yourself. A photograph taken without candles can understate the space needed in use.

What a tray does

A tray catches drips and helps protect the surface below. Check that it has enough room for all the holders and that the base of each sits securely inside any raised rim.

A tray can also be relevant to moving the setup on Shabbat, but buying one does not automatically make that permissible. Candlesticks generally remain muktzeh after the flames go out. Some arrangements involving a permitted item on the tray before Shabbat allow the tray to be moved after the flames have gone out; the type of tray and the details matter.[8][1]

If you need to clear the table on Shabbat, describe the proposed setup to your rabbi before buying. Otherwise, choose a place where the lights can remain undisturbed throughout Shabbat.

Materials and construction

Sterling silver

Sterling silver contains at least 92.5% silver. Look for a clear description of fineness, such as “925” or “sterling,” and ask about the maker and marks.[9] A British hallmark includes the sponsor's mark, fineness, and assay-office mark; a simple fineness stamp gives less information.[10]

Ask separately whether the candlesticks are hollow, filled, or weighted. Fineness describes the silver alloy; it does not answer how the whole piece is constructed. If the seller quotes a weight, find out what it includes. Ask how the construction affects cleaning and repair.

Silver-plated and other metals

Silver-plated pieces have silver over another material and should be described accordingly.[9] Ask what the underlying metal is and how to care for the finish. Compare the construction and maintenance with the sterling options rather than judging only by the shine.

For brass or other finished metals, ask whether there is a lacquer or coating and which cleaning products are suitable. Get care instructions for the particular piece.

Glass, crystal, and ceramic

Check that the piece is intended to hold a flame and the type of candle or oil insert you will use. Look at the base, the fit of the holder, and how easily the piece could be knocked. On an older set, inspect for chips, cracks, or previous repairs before using it.

Wax, cleaning, and replacement parts

Ask for the maker's care instructions before trying heat, freezing, soaking, or polish. A method suitable for one construction may not suit a weighted base, an adhesive joint, or a decorative finish.

For its own silver and plated candelabras, Christofle recommends gently lifting wax with a fingernail or plastic scraper and describes a brief freezer method for stubborn deposits.[11] Treat that as guidance for those products, rather than a universal method for every pair of candlesticks.

Drip cups and suitable inserts can reduce cleanup. Find out whether they are removable, how to clean them, and whether replacements are available. For an antique or a repaired piece, consult a silversmith before attempting unfamiliar cleaning methods.

Gifts and travel sets

For a wedding gift, ask the couple or family what is already being purchased. Confirm the preferred number of lights, material, and available space. A tray, an additional matching holder, or an agreed contribution toward a larger set may be more useful than a second pair.

If you want engraving, approve the spelling and placement before work begins. Ask about the delivery date and whether personalization changes the return policy.

For travel, prioritize a stable setup that packs securely. Check the destination's rules before relying on a flame: hotels and hospitals may prohibit candles. If flames are not allowed, ask your rabbi in advance about an appropriate electric alternative; don't assume a decorative battery candle serves the same purpose.[12][1]

Where to buy Shabbat candlesticks

Local Judaica stores let you compare scale, balance, and candle fit in person. Silver specialists are useful for questions about construction, marks, repairs, and matching pieces. Designers and studios offer other materials and forms; ask the same practical questions about stability and inserts.

Browse our Shabbat candlesticks category, or find stores near you. Stores are chosen editorially; affiliate relationships do not affect inclusion or order.

FAQ

Do I need two candlesticks? Two is the usual custom; one light fulfills the basic obligation. Some households light more. Buy for the custom you follow.[1]

Can I use oil in candle holders? Ask the seller which oil cups or inserts fit the particular holders. Check the assembled height, balance, and oil capacity before ordering.

Can I move the tray once the candles go out? Not automatically. Permitted arrangements depend on preparation before Shabbat and the details of the setup. If moving it is important, settle the arrangement with your rabbi in advance.[1]

What matters most in a gift set? The right number of lights, a style the recipient likes, and holders that fit their candles or oil cups and the place where they light. Confirm those before choosing engraving or accessories.

Sources

1. Halachipedia, "Shabbat Candles"
2. Chabad.org, "Why Light Two (or More) Shabbat Candles?"
3. OU Torah, "Who Lights Shabbat Candles? (Part 2)" (Torat Imecha Shabbos, Rabbi Eli Ozarowski)
4. Chabad.org, "15 Shabbat Candle Facts Every Jewish Woman (and Man) Should Know"
5. Chabad.org, "Does a single man light Shabbat candles?"
6. OU Kosher Halacha Yomis, "Hadlakas Neiros: Duration" (OU Torah)
7. Chabad.org, "How Long Should Shabbat Candles Burn?"
8. Din Online, "Removing Candelabra from Table Shabbos Morning"
9. Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School), "16 CFR § 23.5: Misrepresentation as to silver content"
10. Assay Office London, "What is a Hallmark?"
11. Christofle, "How To Clean and Remove Wax from your Candlelabras and Candle Holders"
12. Chabad.org, "Are lighting candles the only way one can fulfill the mitzvah of Shabbat light?"