12 of the best flameless candles - for safe spectacular ambience

These best flameless candles are safe, realistic, spectacular to look at, and long-lasting – what's not to love?

collage image of three of the best flameless candles including a concrete vessel, solar powered pillars and decorative shell candles
(Image credit: Cox & Cox | Lights4fun | Tamara Kelly)

The best flameless candles deliver on all the dramatic ambience of the real thing without the dangers of an open flame. These LED candle alternatives will flicker like the real thing, inside your home or at outdoor events.

Candles are one of the key ingredients to any romantic, cosy, and alluring tableau. The best scented candles will set the scene for a relaxing bath; thick pillar candles make your home feel cosy; and taper candles add elegance to any mantlepiece. What if I told you that you could enjoy all of these aspects of candles - and more - without worrying about open flames near your children, pets, and curtains? 

The best flameless candles do an incredible job of emulating the ambience of the real thing without running any of the risks that come with hot wax drizzling down you candle stems and smoke and toxins drifting into your air. I was once an LED candle sceptic, but I've been testing these flameless candles in my house and, if I wasn't the one turning them on and off, I think I could be fooled. They're some of the best home buys around.

Over years of testing, I've found that not every flameless candle is created equal, which is why I've put together this list. Overall, the Lights4fun LED Battery Operated Pillar Candles tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, because they're actually made from real wax. But I've also got options that you could use for a wedding tablescape, solar-powered candles for super eco-conscious readers, and then triple-wick candles, votives, tea lights, tapers, and the rest. All of these have my - a self-confessed candle snob's - approval.

The best flameless candles to buy in 2024

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How I tested the best flameless candles

Collection of the best flameless candles during testing

A selection of the best flameless candles in Tamara's home during testing

(Image credit: Tamara Kelly | Future)

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.

Flameless candles on a side table in a bathroom surrounded by plants

"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.

(Image credit: Future)

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.

Tamara Kelly
Lifestyle Editor

Tamara is a highly experienced homes and interiors journalist, with a career spanning 22 years. Now the Lifestyle Editor of womanandhome.com, she has spent the last 17 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, and it’s with these award-winning interiors teams that she gained a wealth of knowledge and honed her skills and passion for styling and writing about every aspect of lifestyle and interiors.

A true homes and interiors expert, Tamara has served as an ambassador for leading interior brands on multiple occasions, including appearing on Matalan’s The Show and presenting at top interior trend forecasting events such as the Autumn Fair and Spring Fair.

With contributions from