These 18 DIY Christmas candle holders turn jars, glasses, logs, and tin cans you already have into the warmest part of your holiday decorating. Each one below links to a full tutorial from the maker who created it, so you can follow the exact steps. Most take under an hour, and a few cost almost nothing.
Before you pick a project, skim the safety note near the end of this post. A lit candle and dry holiday decor need some space between them.
A quick note on candle safety
Never leave a lit candle unattended, and keep every holder on a flat, heat-safe surface away from curtains, garlands, and other flammable decor. If a project wraps a candle in cinnamon sticks, pinecones, paper, or fabric, use a battery tea light instead of a real flame. You get the same glow with none of the worry, which matters most when kids or pets are around.
1. Frosted mason jar luminaries
Mod Podge and Epsom salt give plain mason jars a frosted, snowy finish that looks far more expensive than it is. A sprig of greenery and a red ribbon finish each jar, and a battery tea light does the glowing. This is the project to start with if you have never crafted before. Tutorial by Mod Podge Rocks.
2. Cricut Christmas mason jar candles
If you own a Cricut, this one is a natural fit. Vinyl Christmas shapes go on the jars first, then a coat of paint, then fake snow and a battery tea light. The maker includes nine free Christmas SVG shapes, so you can cut trees, snowflakes, and reindeer without drawing anything yourself. Tutorial by Angie Holden at The Country Chic Cottage.
3. Cranberry mason jar centerpiece
Fresh cranberries, water, and a floating tea light are all it takes. Line three or five jars down the middle of the table, tuck pinecones and greenery between them, and you have a centerpiece that costs a few dollars. Colored beads or Epsom salt snow work in place of cranberries if you want to reuse the jars year after year. Tutorial by The Frugal Farm Girl.
4. Wine glass ornament candle holders
Turn a wine glass upside down, tuck a Christmas ornament and a little fake snow inside, and set a candle on the base. That is the whole project, and it takes about 13 minutes. Use matching ornaments for a tidy set or mix them up so every holder is different. Tutorial by DIY & Crafts.
5. Bottle brush tree wine glass candle holders
A mini bottle brush tree, a dollar-store wine glass, and a wood slice come together as a little snow globe you can set anywhere. The glass gets a coat of Mod Podge and faux snow, the tree gets glued to the wood slice, and a candle sits on the base. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes. Tutorial by Food Wine Sunshine.
6. Glitter wire wine glass candles
Metallic glitter rope wound around an upside-down wine glass turns plain stemware into something that catches the light from across the room. Small ornaments and snowflakes go inside the glass, and an LED candle sits on the base. It is a good use for glasses that no longer match the rest of the set. Tutorial by Jane Lake at AllFreeCrafts.
7. Santa clay mould candle holders
Plain white porcelain candle holders get a new look from air-dry clay Santa castings, gold metallic paint, and a soft white glaze. The project starts with thrifted or inexpensive holders, so it is forgiving if you are trying clay moulds for the first time. The finished holders look like something from a gift shop. Tutorial by Weathered Wings.
8. Woodland clay candle holders
Air-dry clay, a cookie cutter, and paint are the core of this one. Roll the clay out, cut a disc for the base, wrap a strip around your candle to form the holder, and let it dry for a day or two before painting. The maker finishes hers with gold leaf and a matt lacquer seal. Make a few in different colors for a woodland table setting. Tutorial by Annie Sloan.
9. Recycled bottle Christmas tree candle holders
Empty glass soda bottles become little Christmas trees with green spray paint, scalloped tape, and dots of acrylic paint for ornaments. The bottles hold candles in their necks, and the whole project costs about a dollar in candles. It is a solid pick if you like upcycling and want a set that looks intentional rather than improvised. Tutorial by DIY Candy.
10. Scrap wood Christmas tree candle holder
Two leftover pieces of cedar, cut into a tree shape and joined at a right angle, make a backdrop for a mason jar candle. The maker built hers from scraps of an earlier project and finished it with a plaid ribbon and a twine bow. If you have a saw and a pile of offcuts, this is a free project. Tutorial by Scott at Saws on Skates.
11. Log taper candle holders
A branch at least three inches thick, a saw, and a spade bit are all this project needs. Slice the branch into holders of different heights, drill a hole in the center of each, and drop in a taper candle. The mix of heights looks good down the middle of a dinner table, and the project takes about 20 minutes once you have the branch. Tutorial by Homespun Seasonal Living.
12. Log tea light holder
A single log, drilled with a row of holes for tea lights, makes a centerpiece that runs the length of the table. The maker used a Forstner bit and spaced the holes a few inches apart, then styled the log with pine and holly clippings. Her own advice is worth following: use battery tea lights in a wood holder rather than real flames. Tutorial by My Repurposed Life.
13. Cinnamon stick tin can holders
Small recycled tin cans get wrapped in jute twine, then covered in cinnamon sticks glued one by one around the outside. A velvet ribbon bow finishes them. They are small enough for a mantel, a shelf, or a place setting, and the cinnamon gives off a faint scent when the tea light inside warms the can. Tutorial by The Ponds Farmhouse.
14. Cinnamon stick jar candle holder
This version glues cinnamon sticks around a rectangular candle jar instead of a tin can, so the candle inside stays visible through the gaps. The sticks are cut in half first, which keeps the jar from getting top-heavy. Tea lights work best here because they lift out easily once they burn down. Tutorial by DIY Adulation.
15. Icicle luminaries with snowy pinecones
Flour, water, and salt make the paste for these frosty jars. Paint icicle shapes onto mason jars with the paste, roll them in salt, and let them dry overnight. A snowy pinecone tied to each jar with cotton string finishes the look. The materials come straight from the kitchen, which makes this one of the cheapest projects on the list. Tutorial by Sew Historically.
16. Upside-down teacup candle holders
Thrifted teacups get a second life as candle stands. The maker drills a hole in the bottom of each cup with a diamond drill bit, fits a small metal candle holder insert inside, and turns the cup upside down. Check the cup stands straight when flipped before you buy it, since some wobble. The finished holders suit a vintage or cottage-style Christmas table. Tutorial by Songbird.
17. Paper bag luminaries
Paper lunch bags, a cookie cutter shape, and battery tea lights are all you need. Cut a Christmas tree or star out of the front of each bag, tape colored tissue paper behind the cutout, and drop a battery tea light inside. They are safe around kids and pets, which is the whole point, and they line a walkway or a table beautifully. Tutorial by Sunny Day Family.
18. Christmas tin can luminary
Fill a clean tin can with water and freeze it overnight so the can holds its shape, then hammer a Christmas tree, snowman, or gingerbread man pattern into the metal with a nail. Once the ice melts out, a votive candle goes inside and the pattern glows. Punch two holes near the top and add a wire handle if you want to hang it. Tutorial by Rachel Paxton at CraftBits.
How to style your candle holders
Group holders in odd numbers, three or five to a table, and mix heights so the light sits at different levels. A wood slice, a folded table runner, or a tray underneath pulls the group together and protects the table from wax and heat. Keep the tallest flames away from anything hanging above them, and leave enough space between holders that you can reach in to light and blow out each candle without knocking the next one over. If you are building a full Christmas table, our DIY Christmas garlands pair well with these holders along a mantel or down the center of the table.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest DIY Christmas candle holder to make?
The frosted mason jar luminaries and the paper bag luminaries are the simplest starting points. Both use supplies you probably have at home, take under an hour, and use battery tea lights, so there is no open flame to manage.
Can I use real candles in homemade candle holders?
Yes, in holders made from glass, metal, concrete, or clay, as long as the candle sits steady and the flame stays clear of anything flammable. For holders that include wood, paper, fabric, cinnamon sticks, or pinecones close to the flame, switch to battery tea lights. Never leave any lit candle unattended.
Are mason jars safe to use as candle holders?
Mason jars handle the heat of a tea light or votive well, and they are the most common jar used for this kind of project. Use a tea light or votive rather than a tall pillar, skip any jar with a crack or chip, and set the jar on a heat-safe surface.
What can I use instead of a real flame?
Battery-operated tea lights and votives are the simplest swap, and they come in warm white tones that look close to a real flame. Short fairy light strings inside a jar or bottle work too, and they run for hours without heat.
How do I keep cinnamon sticks and pinecones safe near candles?
Keep anything dry and flammable well away from the flame, and use LED candles whenever the decor touches or wraps around the holder. If you use a real candle, the flame should sit well above the rim of the holder with clear space around it.
Can I make these candle holders as gifts?
Yes. The clay holders, cinnamon stick jars, and tin can luminaries all make good gifts because they are small, sturdy, and easy to wrap. Make a pair rather than a single holder, and include a battery tea light so the gift is ready to use.
Keep the glow going
Pick one project from this list and make it this weekend, while the supplies are still easy to find and the tutorials are fresh in your mind. Once the candle holders are done, your table still needs the rest of the decorating. Our handmade Christmas ornaments use the same make-it-yourself approach, and they fill a tree the same way these holders fill a table.
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