How Many Candles on a Menorah? Count, Candle Size and How to Light It

You need 44 candles for one menorah over all eight nights. On the first night you light two: one for the night and the shamash. Each night adds one more, so the eighth night takes nine.

Night by night, that is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The total is 44 because the candles burn down and each evening starts with a new set.

Boxes of Hanukkah candles are commonly packed with 44 or 45 candles for this reason. If more than one person in the house lights a menorah, multiply the count by the number of menorahs.

In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. The eight candle-lighting evenings run from December 4 through December 11.

Two of those evenings fall on a Friday. On a Friday the menorah is lit before sundown and before the Shabbat candles, so the candles have to last longer than on a weeknight. Many families use larger, longer-burning candles on those evenings. Check the burn time on the box, and check that those candles fit your menorah.

On Saturday, December 5, the candles are lit after nightfall, once Shabbat has ended.

The menorah used at Hanukkah has nine holders: eight in a row and one set apart, usually higher, for the shamash. This form is also called a hanukkiah.

The seven-branch menorah is a different object. It recalls the lamp of the ancient Temple and is a common Jewish symbol, but it does not have enough holders for Hanukkah. If you are buying a gift, count the cups before you order.

All the menorahs in our table have nine cups, with a raised center holder for the shamash.

Hanukkah candles are short and thin, made for the small cups on a menorah. Dinner tapers are usually too thick for those cups, so buy candles sold for Hanukkah.

Cup size varies. Our geometric menorah takes candles up to 0.3 in wide, and our polished aluminum menorah fits most Hanukkah candles. Hand-dipped and beeswax candles often run thicker than boxed ones, so measure the cup if you plan to use them.

Plan on buying candles separately, and have a box in the house before the first night.

Load from right to left, light from left to right. On the first night, set one candle in the far right cup and the shamash in its raised holder. Each evening, add the new candle in the next cup to the left.

Light the shamash first, then use it to light the other candles, starting with the newest one on the left. Set the shamash back in its holder when you finish.

Blessings are said before the candles are lit: three on the first night and two on the other nights. Customs differ between families and communities, so if yours does it another way, follow your own tradition.

Tradition places the menorah where it can be seen, in a front window or near the door. Wherever it goes, it needs a stable, level surface clear of curtains, papers and anything else that can catch fire.

Wax drips, so set the menorah on a tray or a sheet of foil. Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and do not leave the candles burning unattended.

A windowsill may be only a few inches deep. Measure it before you choose a menorah with a wide base.

Size. Our menorahs stand 8.5 to 9 in tall, which suits a table or a shelf. Check the width against the spot you have in mind.

Base. A menorah with nine lit candles has to stay steady, so look for a broad base that sits flat. A non-slip pad helps on a polished table: our geometric menorah has a rubber mat under its base.

Material. Our menorahs are metal. Polished finishes show fingerprints, so wipe them with a soft cloth.

Cleaning off wax. Let the wax harden first. Many people put a small metal menorah in the freezer for about an hour, then lift the brittle wax away with a fingernail or a soft cloth. A knife can scratch the finish.

Most orders arrive within about 8 business days, and Thanksgiving falls in between this year. To have a menorah for the first night on December 4, order by about November 18. That date is a target, not a guarantee. Ships to US addresses only.

Unused items can be returned within 30 days. Return shipping is on the buyer unless the item arrived damaged, defective or wrong.

All three are metal and have nine cups with a raised center holder.