The best flameless candles are an essential for setting the mood in your room without setting it on fire too. After personally testing all these LED candle alternatives, I've curated this collection of the 12 most realistic alternatives to the real thing.
I was once an LED candle sceptic. After all, nothing beats the flicker and glow of one of the best scented candles, does it? To all my fellow sceptics, I can promise that the latest flameless candle technology is seriously impressive. The below candles will dance in the breeze, make your home feel cosy, and even feel a little waxy when you hold them. I've converted and impressed many a house guest with my flameless candle collection. All it takes is some careful selection.
As you know, not all candles are made equally, so I've been testing these out for years to make sure that they're the very best home buys around. I've selected thick pillar candles for chunky collections; taper candles for an elegant mantle; solar-powered candles for eco-conscious homes; as well as triple-wick, votives, tea lights, and more. Overall, the Lights4fun LED Battery Operated Pillar Candles tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, but there's plenty more on offer.
None of these will drizzle wax onto your table, set your hair on fire, or diffuse smoke and toxins into your air. They're pet-safe, child-safe, and accident-proof. Most importantly, they have my — a self-confessed candle snob's — approval too.
The best flameless candles to buy in 2024
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RRP: £19.99 | Remote or switch: Switch | Battery life: 600 hours
These three flameless candles are our pick for the best flameless candles overall. Why? Because the simple set ticks all our boxes, both looking the part and playing the part – plus, they're thoroughly realistic thanks to the TruGlow innovative technology which uses hand-poured real wax to create a perfect finish.
With a flickering flame, they look realistic wherever they are placed, and whether they are styled indoors or out – these are the ideal flameless candles to use inside storm lanterns.
RRP: From £49.64 | Remote or switch: Remote | Battery life: 500+ hours
Choose the Amagic Flameless Candles if you are searching for realistic flameless candles with a quiet luxury look about them. With already-burned faux wicks, these look convincingly real. Not only do these flameless candles have a unique melting effect, but they're also made of non-toxic unscented real wax which only adds to the authentic feel they bring to your home.
The Amagic candle comes in a set of two, for dotting around your home or even your patio since these are also designed for outdoor use. (However, they're not waterproof so bring them inside if it rains.)
RRP: £26.99 | Remote or switch: Both | Battery life: 600 hours
It is easy to see why these decorative shell candles are best-sellers on all sides of the globe. With a nod to the leading coastal interior design trend the embedded shell decorations make these candles worthy of displaying in their own right.
The incredibly true-to-life design is made using a combination of real wax and sea shells, which results in a beautifully imperfect finish that adds to the realism - they really do look like artisan candles you'd pick up in a gift store.
RRP: £29.99 set of 3 | Remote or switch: Switch | Battery life: Rechargable
This set of assorted-sized solar candles is a perfect budget garden idea to introduce mood lighting that recharges while it's outside catching rays – also a great sustainable garden idea to be more mindful of reducing waste.
The flameless illumination is ideal for flanking your best patio container plants safe in the knowledge that they 'flame' won't do any harm to your garden, all it will do is gently cast a glow thanks to the warm white bulbs that flicker just like real candlelight– to add to the realism, which the melted edges help to emulate.
RRP: £18.50 | Remote or switch: Switch | Battery life: N/A
Encased in a contemporary concrete vessel this flameless candle is ideal for dressing the garden, adding a glow to alfresco dining and generally creating an atmosphere after dark with ease - thanks to a 6-hour timer.
And while the flickering flame is not as impactful during daylight hours the simple concrete-effect ceramic pot is a stylish touch to add decoration to table tops and more.
The outdoor LED candles come in two sizes, this candle being the smallest with a larger version coming soon. (You can sign up for a notification on the arrival of that one on the website)
RRP: £39.99 set of 6 | Remote or switch: Switch | Battery life: 72 hours each
Sometimes all you need is a tealight and I think these flickering LED tealights are the best flameless tea lights you can buy thanks to the realistic shape and flame.
The set of six mini candles is made using Lights4fun's innovative TruGlow® technology that uses hand-poured real wax to mimic the appearance of the real thing.
Not only are they safe to use around children and pets, but they also won't scorch the lantern or votive they are placed in. I think they would look perfect dotted around a table or even placed around a room, and they make decorating for an event or a party easy.
RRP: £24.99 | Remote or switch: Remote | Battery life: 15-20 days
Fanna taper candles are the best flameless candles, if you want something that's more of a candlestick shape or candles that will go in a candelabra. These tapered candles give off a warm glow, making them perfect for bestowing on your dinner table, or even on a windowsill.
With a unique, real wax construction, they are also environmentally friendly and non-toxic, too. You can pick them up in white, ivory, cream, brown, blue, and birch. I think they would make for the ideal table centrepiece, whether for a special occasion dinner party, or a wedding.
RRP: £29.99 | Remote or switch: Remote | Battery life: 600 hours
The more wicks on a candle, the more luxurious it looks in a home. Not only is this large candle statement-worthy but it's also made of real ivory wax that's impressively thick. This is essentially a real candle without the real flame.
Three-wick candles normally cost a lot more than average-size candles, and without the need to replace this one every few months after it burns away, you'll be sure to get your money's worth. With a flickering flame on each wick, this candle looks like it has just been lit, with faux melted wax pools surrounding each burnt wick.
RRP: £44.99 | Remote or switch: Switch | Battery life: Up to 1,000 hours
Perfect if you're decorating for a garden party or looking for things to bring your outdoor living room ideas to life, this LED candle is designed especially to withstand the elements outdoors. More than merely waterproof, the candle is also windproof and sun-proof, making it the best overall outdoor flameless candle that is built to withstand the elements and all unpredictable weather.
And because the candle is specially made to be left outside it is also safe to clean too. I tried wiping the candle with a soft, dry cloth to remove any watermarks and it worked well.
RRP: £15.99 | Remote or switch: Remote | Battery life: 300+ hours
The YIWER flameless candles are great if you are on a smaller budget. They have a real wax outer, to make them look as realistic as possible, and have more than 18,000 reviews and an impressive 4.6-star rating. They are ivory in colour, as opposed to plain white, and each one has a dancing wick to make them seem very realistic while in action. They are perfect for placing atop a table during an intimate dinner—or inside a candle holder.
You can control these flameless candles using a remote control, to make them flicker or to adjust their brightness. And you can even set them on a timer from two hours to up to nine hours, which is handy for more lively parties, or day-long events.
RRP: £28.99 | Remote or switch: Both | Battery life: N/A
This set of reflective glass votives from Wayfair pleasantly surprised me in real life, the look was rather more striking than I anticipated. The set comes with a remote control that allows you to switch the candles on and off in sync, from the other side of the room even. Of course, you can control them individually with a switch, if you don't wish to light all three at once.
The remote enables you to set a timer up to eight hours – which automatically switches off after the selected time. There's also the option to dim the lights or turn them up brighter, opt for static light or choose flicker candlelight.
RRP: £22 | Remote or switch: Switch | Battery life: 200 hours
Sleek and simple, you can always rely on The White Company for a classic home essential. Of all the flameless candles that I tested, this is the one that tricked my family into thinking it was the real thing. I put this down to the real wax outer and warm ivory shade, but there are lots of other little touches that enhance the authenticity. For example, the candle will flicker and glow irregularly, just like real candlelight.
Don't just take my word for it. One customer loved this so much that she bought twenty candles to go around the whole house (they really are that good!). Plenty of other happy customers commented on the handy timer, which automatically switches off after 5 hours and then it'll switch back on after another 19 hours.
How I tested the best flameless candles
A selection of the best flameless candles in Tamara's home during testing
I selected the below flameless candles in order to share products within a range of different prices, from budget options to more expensive, luxe flameless candles.
To determine the best flameless candles I judged each product against the following criteria:
- Realism and overall look: how realistic do the candles look? Is their appearance subtle or striking? If a candle gets a spot in this guide, it has to fool me and my house guests that it is like the real thing. Some candles sit the flame on a fine wire, so that it moves with the breeze in the house. Others have erratic flickering, whichever it is, it needs to look good.
- Price tag: Is there good value for money? Can you buy the candles in bulk? I don't mind making an investment in a candle if it's made from real wax and it has a good battery life, but they're both conditions that I always factor in when thinking about value for money.
- How they are operated: Is the candle operated by a switch or remote? Some types of flameless candles, such as tapers, need to be remote operated, because it's inconvenient to have to switch them on and off. Other candles will give you more options.
- Level of lighting: What sort of light do they give off and what is the ambiance that they create like? I generally look for more glow than glare, but if these are going to light-up your outside patio, you might want them to be a bit brighter than some tea lights.
- Special functions: Can each one be put on a timer, for example? Or dimmed to the user's preference depending on the time of day? These are often features of more premium options, so I let this inform when I'm taking about value for money.
- Battery life: How long does the candle last? This relies on the batteries and their lives, but the solar powered option is a different ball game all together. It's important that these last longer than real candles and that they look good across the whole of their battery life. I always recommend buying rechargeable batteries, because these are better for the environment.
What is a flameless candle?
A flameless candle is a battery-operated candle that has no real flame, also known as an LED candle. Most, if not all of the best flameless candles feature a life-like flickering light that emulates the look of a real flame to create exactly the same ambience of a traditional candle.
The main purpose of a flameless candle is to avoid a naked flame in any environment where it could be deemed dangerous. You can position a flameless candle next to items in a household, such as fabrics and foliage, that might otherwise pose a fire hazard were you to use a real candle with a flame. Flameless candles also offer a longer 'burn' time because they can be left on for hours, meaning they are also more practical for longer use.
"I love having a candlelit bath but am often nervous about where to place real candles to avoid them burning or scorching surrounding items, but with my flameless candles there is zero worry." – Tamara Kelly, lifestyle editor.
FAQs
Are flameless candles toxic?
No, flameless candles are not toxic in any way and are safer to use than normal candles that require a firelight. They also don't let off any smoke, so offer a cleaner way to get the candle effect. Also, since they are unscented, flameless candles don't emit any artificial—and potentially toxic—chemicals that can be sometimes used to fragrance candles into the air. These factors make them ideal for use around babies, children and pets.
They're also a good option for those who suffer from migraines, which strong smells can often make worse, or people who suffer from fragrance sensitivities. If you want to fragrance your home but are wary of toxin risks associated with scented candles, you can also see our list of the best essential oils and the best essential oil diffusers.
What are the benefits of flameless candles?
I could write a long list of the benefits of flameless candles. Some of them include:
- Safe around children and pets: As opposed to real candles that require a firelight, flameless candles have no flame so don't run the risk of burning or injuring people, especially pets and children. They also don't give off any smoke so they're not harmful to ingest, nor do they contain artificial fragrances.
- Eco-friendly: Typically the best flameless candles have a long battery life, so you can reuse them again and again, unlike new candles. With flameless candles, you'll only need to buy one (or a set), every few years, cutting down on waste.
- No wax drip: Unlike even the best aromatherapy candles, flameless candles don't drip wax, so they won't ruin a surface, tablecloth—or even clothing.
- Good on a budget: Flameless candles won't ever need replacing unless they break. They will need their batteries changed, but other than that they should be good to use for years to come.
“LED candles are the ultimate accessory when it comes to decorating your home, especially throughout the winter months,” says Lights4Fun’s director of products, Amy Mason. “Safe for both children and pets, the hyper-realistic flameless candles cast a warm ambient glow throughout your home. Choose from an assortment of sizes, colours, and designs and simply style along the dining table, windowsills and side tables to achieve the perfect cosy display.”
How do flameless candles work?
Flameless candles, otherwise know as LED candles, work by battery power or solar power to emit an artificial flame. They are cool to the touch and safe, unlike real candles that provide a flicker flame that is a hazard in comparison.
Can you leave flameless candles on all night?
Yes, you can leave flameless candles on all night, though I suggest putting yours on a timer if you're likely to forget to switch them off. Leaving one of these candles on all night will run their battery low and waste energy, but popping them on a timer will help conserve their battery life.
"An optional timer function allows the candles to illuminate for 6 hours at the same time each evening, before automatically switching off," explains Amy, "and with a battery life of 200 hours, they’ll continue to provide a warm welcome home."
How long do flameless candles last?
There's no fixed lifespan for flameless candles, just as there isn't for real candles too. It'll generally be a combination of influences, from how bright the light is, the batteries that you use, and the quality of your candle. The cheapest, smallest candles will last for at least 100 hours, these will be models such as tea lights. Bigger, pillar candles can last up to 600 hours, so you're definitely getting value for money. Especially since, as soon as you replace the batteries, you get the same life all over again. That's why these are often seen as a more eco-conscious investment.
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