Candle safety at home
On average, 20 home candle fires are reported in the United States every day. Almost all of them come down to a candle left alone or placed too close to something.
The rules
- Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.
- Blow them out when you leave the room, leave home or go to bed. Never leave a burning candle alone.
- Use stable holders, and put candles where they can't be knocked over easily.
- Don't use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms or other places where people sleep.
In a power outage
Use flashlights, not candles.
Rent your home? Get the free move-in safety checklist. Own or manage rentals? SaferResident gives every tenant a 20 minute course on this, built around your building.
Sources
- Candle Fire Safety, U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
- Safety with candles, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Updated October 1, 2026. General safety information. It doesn't replace your building's safety systems, local codes or your lease. In an emergency, call 911.