In brief
- A tealight holder is the part you keep for years, so we ranked shops on natural material, handwork and how long the holder lasts.
- #1 Gleemium: five pairs of hand-carved solid wood holders, $58 to $78 a pair, free delivery.
- #2 Australian Museum Shop: a hand-turned Banksia cone pair, $75.99.
- #3 Koh Living: glass-and-clay holders featuring Aboriginal artists' work, $34.95.
- #4 Oskar's Wooden Ark: Grimm's glass cups in wooden bases, from $5.50.
- #5 Nisbets: plain glass 6-packs, about $3.32 a holder, for events and cafes.
- Whatever you buy, keep the tealight in its metal cup.
The short answer
The best place to buy a tealight candle holder in Australia depends on what you want it made from. For natural, hand-carved wood with free delivery, choose Gleemium. For a native Australian material, choose the Australian Museum Shop's Banksia cone pair. For artist-designed glass, choose Koh Living. For cheap wood-and-glass cups, try Oskar's Wooden Ark. For dozens of plain holders for an event, try Nisbets.
How we scored the five shops
We gave each shop a score out of 5 in five areas: natural material, made by hand, built to last, value per holder and delivery. The first three get the most attention in this guide, because a holder is something you buy once and keep. On that lens Gleemium comes first. Other shops win on price and on Australian stories, and we say so below.
Disclosure: Gleemium publishes this blog. Every price comes from each shop's own website, checked on 26 October 2026 and linked below.
1. Gleemium: hand-carved solid wood, sold in pairs
| Material | Solid wood, carved by hand (5 of its 7 holders). Also an iron reindeer and an MDF heart. |
|---|---|
| Price | $58 to $78 a pair, so $29 to $39 a holder. Reindeer $54, heart $46. |
| Fits | Standard tealights |
| Delivery | Free, no minimum spend |
Why it ranks first: it is the only shop here where the whole holder is carved by hand from solid wood, a natural material that is grown, not made in a factory. Artisans carve each pair with traditional tools, so no two pairs match exactly. Choose from mandala, crescent moon, lotus, elephant and hamsa palm designs. Because they come in pairs, they look right on a mantel or a dining table straight away.
The honest catch: wood can burn, so the tealight must stay in its metal cup. Gleemium does not sell tealights. Stock is small, with one set of most designs on hand when we checked, and the heart holder is MDF, not solid wood.
Source: Gleemium tealight holders, checked 26 October 2026.
2. Australian Museum Shop: a native Banksia cone pair
| Material | Banksia grandis cone, hand-turned. Also glass-and-clay holders. |
|---|---|
| Price | Banksia pair $75.99. Glass-and-clay holders $39.99 each. |
| Size | Banksia holder 80 x 70 x 70 mm |
| Delivery | Cost set by weight, free over $75. Posted Monday to Wednesday, 5 to 7 working days. |
Why it ranks here: the Banksia pair is turned by hand from real native cones by artisan Anthony Turner. The candle sits just inside, so you see only the flame. It is the most Australian holder in this guide, and buying from the shop supports the Australian Museum.
The honest catch: there is only one natural design, and it costs about $38 a holder. A cone is plant material, so the cup rule applies here too. The glass-and-clay holders feature the same artists as Koh Living's range, at $39.99 against Koh's $34.95.
Source: Banksia tealight holder and glass-and-clay holder, checked 26 October 2026.
3. Koh Living: artist-designed glass and clay
| Material | Glass with a layer of clay |
|---|---|
| Price | $34.95 each, some on sale from $22.65. Buy 2 for 10% off, buy 4 for 20% off. |
| Reviews | About 1,100 reviews per design, averaging 4.96 out of 5 |
| Delivery | $9.95 flat, free over $99, sent the next business day |
Why it ranks here: Koh Living has the biggest range of story-led holders, made with Indigenous and Australian artists who are paid for each item sold. It is a member of the Indigenous Art Code. Glass will not burn, and the clay lets the flame glow through the artwork.
The honest catch: glass and clay are not the natural, grown look of wood or cone. If you are torn between the two styles, read our Gleemium vs Koh Living comparison.
Source: Koh Living tealight candle holders, checked 26 October 2026.
4. Oskar's Wooden Ark: Grimm's glass cups in wooden bases
| Material | Glass cup in a wooden base, made in Germany by Grimm's |
|---|---|
| Price | $5.50 each, $27.50 for 5, $50 for 10 |
| Best with | Grimm's celebration rings and beeswax tealights |
| Delivery | Free over $220. Sent within 24 hours. Pick-up in Adelaide. |
Why it ranks here: it is the cheapest way to get wood and glass together, and the glass cup keeps the flame away from the wood. Families who use Grimm's rings and nature tables will find these fit perfectly.
The honest catch: these are small, simple cups made to sit inside a ring, not a display piece on their own. Free delivery only starts at $220.
Source: Oskar's Wooden Ark, Grimm's tealight holders, checked 26 October 2026.
5. Nisbets: plain glass in bulk for events
| Material | Ridged soda-lime glass, 52 x 52 mm |
|---|---|
| Price | $19.90 for 6 (about $3.32 each), $17.90 a pack when you buy 4 or more |
| Fits | Standard 38 mm tealights |
| Delivery | Free next-day delivery on most products to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne metro (conditions apply). Click and collect, plus stores. |
Why it ranks here: if you need 60 holders for a wedding or a cafe, this is the lowest price per holder in this guide.
The honest catch: these are catering supplies, not decor. There is no handwork and nothing natural about the look.
Source: Nisbets Olympia glass holders and About Nisbets, checked 26 October 2026.
Pick by moment
| Your moment | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A mantel or shelf you style once and keep | Gleemium | Carved wooden pairs, free delivery |
| A gift with an Australian story | Australian Museum Shop or Koh Living | Native Banksia cone, or glass featuring Aboriginal artists' work |
| A kids' celebration ring or nature table | Oskar's Wooden Ark | Glass cups made for Grimm's rings |
| A wedding or cafe with many tables | Nisbets | About $3.32 a holder in 6-packs |
Material check: the safety rules change with the holder
- Wood and cone can burn. Always leave the tealight in its metal cup. Even Grimm's says to use flame-resistant inserts on wooden pieces (Oskar's Wooden Ark).
- Glass, clay and iron will not burn, but they get hot. Let them cool before you move them.
- Never leave a flame burning in an empty room, and keep candles away from curtains, children and pets. Fire and Rescue NSW says unattended candles cause many of the house fires it attends (Fire and Rescue NSW).
- Check the size. A standard tealight is 38 mm wide (Nisbets). Larger "maxi" tealights will not fit a standard holder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best material for a tealight holder?
It depends on your priority. Solid wood and Banksia cone are natural, handmade and last for years, but they need the tealight kept in its metal cup. Glass and clay cannot burn, so they are the easiest to use. Plain glass is the cheapest for events.
Are wooden tealight holders safe?
Yes, when you use them properly. Leave the tealight in its metal cup, use the size the holder is made for, put it on a stable surface and never leave it burning when you leave the room. For no flame at all, use LED tealights.
What size tealight fits a standard holder?
A standard tealight is about 38 mm wide. Gleemium, Nisbets and most decor holders are made for that size. Maxi and large tealights are wider and need a holder made for them.
Where can I buy tealight holders in Australia?
Gleemium sells hand-carved wooden pairs with free delivery. The Australian Museum Shop sells a Banksia cone pair. Koh Living sells glass-and-clay holders featuring Aboriginal artists' work. Oskar's Wooden Ark sells Grimm's wood-and-glass cups, and Nisbets sells glass holders in bulk.
Do I get the candles with the holder?
Usually not. Gleemium, Koh Living and Nisbets sell holders separately. Koh Living and Oskar's Wooden Ark also sell tealights. Our guide to tea light shops covers where to buy the candles.
Sources
- Gleemium: Tealight holders collection
- Australian Museum Shop: Banksia tealight candle holder (twin set), Tealight candle holder
- Koh Living: Tealight candle holders
- Oskar's Wooden Ark: Glass candle holders for tealights
- Nisbets: Olympia ridged glass tealight holders, About us
- Fire and Rescue NSW: Candle safety
Prices, stock and delivery were checked on 26 October 2026 and will change, so confirm on each shop's site before you buy. Gleemium publishes this blog and scores shops on natural material, handwork and durability. We have said plainly that wood can burn, that Gleemium does not sell candles, and that one of our holders is MDF.
