Skip to content
Become an Affiliate Partner. Get in touch today
Become an Affiliate Partner. Get in touch today
100 Hour Candle vs 150 Hour — Power Outages Prep.

100 Hour Candle vs 150 Hour — Power Outages Prep.

If you've been researching emergency candles, you've almost certainly come across Sterno's 100-hour liquid paraffin candle. It's the category benchmark — reliable, widely available, and recommended by emergency preparedness guides across the USA and Canada. For years, 100 hours was simply what a long-burn emergency candle meant.

In 2026, that's no longer the ceiling. Caterpax has developed a 150-hour emergency liquid candle that burns 50 hours longer than Sterno's equivalent. For anyone who takes emergency preparedness seriously — or who needs long-lasting, clean candlelight for events — that difference matters.

Feature Caterpax Wick Fuel Sterno Gel Fuel
Burn time options 150 hours per candle 100 hours per candle
Burn time advantage +50 hours (50% longer) Category benchmark
Fuel type Liquid paraffin Liquid paraffin
Smoke / odour Smokeless and odourless Smokeless and odourless
Indoor safe Yes Yes
Pack options 4-pack, 6-pack, 8-pack Various
Best for Extended emergencies, long events Emergency prep
Next article Best Sterno Alternatives for Catering & Buffets (2026)

Leave a comment

* Required fields

What Makes the Sterno 100 Hour Candle Good

It's worth being honest about this. Sterno's 100-hour emergency candle is a genuinely solid product and a legitimate choice for emergency kits. Here's what it does well.

  • 100 hours of light: A single candle provides over four days of continuous burn time. For most household power outages, that's more than enough.
  • Indoor safe: Clean-burning enough to use in a well-ventilated room without the hazard of heavy fumes or smoke.
  • Trusted brand: Sterno has been in the heating and fuel space for over a century. There's real credibility behind the product.

    So why are more emergency preparedness buyers looking beyond Sterno in 2026? Because 100 hours is no longer the longest you can get — and in an emergency, longer is always better.

The Caterpax 150 Hour Emergency Candle

Caterpax's emergency candle uses the same clean-burning liquid paraffin technology as Sterno's — smokeless, odourless, and safe for indoor use. But we engineered it to burn for 150 hours.

What 50 Extra Hours Actually Means

In a prolonged power outage or major weather event, each extra hour of candle burn is a meaningful reserve. Here's what the numbers look like in practice:

• Sterno 100hr candle: Provides light for approximately 4 days and 4 hours of continuous burn.

• Caterpax 150hr candle: Provides light for 6 days and 6 hours of continuous burn — two full additional days per candle.

Multiply that across a 4, 6, or 8-pack and the difference in
your emergency reserve is substantial. A Caterpax 6-pack delivers 900 hours of emergency light. The Sterno equivalent delivers 600 hours. For households in hurricane zones, winter storm areas, or anywhere with frequent grid outages, that gap is not theoretical.

Which Pack Size Is Right for You?

  • 4-Pack (600 hours total): Right for most households keeping an emergency kit stocked. Four candles gives you over 25 days of continuous light — enough for any realistic power outage scenario with candles to spare.
  • 6-Pack (900 hours total): Suits larger households, families with children or elderly relatives who need reliable light, or anyone in a high-risk area for extended outages. Winter storm and hurricane preparedness essential.
  • 8-Pack (1,200 hours total): Built for serious preppers, community organisations, businesses with backup light requirements, or anyone who wants to be comprehensively stocked without reordering for years.

The Complete Guest Count Calculator

If you've been researching emergency candles, you've almost certainly come across Sterno's 100-hour liquid paraffin candle. It's the category benchmark — reliable, widely available, and recommended by emergency preparedness guides across the USA and Canada. For years, 100 hours was simply what a long-burn emergency candle meant.

In 2026, that's no longer the ceiling. Caterpax has developed a 150-hour emergency liquid candle that burns 50 hours longer than Sterno's equivalent. For anyone who takes emergency preparedness seriously — or who needs long-lasting, clean candlelight for events — that difference matters.

Feature Caterpax Wick Fuel Sterno Gel Fuel
Burn time options 150 hours per candle 100 hours per candle
Burn time advantage +50 hours (50% longer) Category benchmark
Fuel type Liquid paraffin Liquid paraffin
Smoke / odour Smokeless and odourless Smokeless and odourless
Indoor safe Yes Yes
Pack options 4-pack, 6-pack, 8-pack Various
Best for Extended emergencies, long events Emergency prep
150-hour liquid candle on a table with decorative elements and a close-up of the candle.

Keep Every Guest Happy from the First Plate to the Last

Hot food at a buffet comes down to three things: the right equipment, the right fuel, and the right setup sequence. A Caterpax chafing set gives you the first two in one box — the racks, pans, trays, lids, utensils, and 4-hour wick fuel cans you need for any event. Follow the setup steps above and every dish stays at serving temperature for the full duration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Caterpax wick fuel safe to use indoors?

Yes. Caterpax wick fuel burns cleanly with minimal fumes, making it suitable for indoor use in well-ventilated spaces — restaurants, banquet halls, and home dining rooms.

Can I use Caterpax fuel in my existing chafing racks?

Yes. Caterpax fuel cans are designed to work with all standard wire chafing racks, including full-size 21x13" setups from any brand.

What is the difference between wick fuel and gel fuel?

Gel fuel (like Sterno's classic cans) burns as an open ethanol flame and gets very hot on the outside. Wick fuel burns through a wick, producing a steadier, more controlled heat with a cooler can surface and a resealable cap.

Does Caterpax offer bulk pricing for caterers?

Yes. Caterpax offers 15-pack and 30-pack options on 2-hour cans and 12-pack and 24-pack options on 6-hour cans, all at volume-friendly pricing. B2B enquiries are welcome via the website.

Compare products

{"one"=>"Select 2 or 3 items to compare", "other"=>"{{ count }} of 3 items selected"}

Select first item to compare

Select second item to compare

Select third item to compare

Compare