43 Actually Cool Menorahs (and Some Pretty Candles, Too)

Compact (just nine inches wide), customizable (the candleholders can be rearranged in the color order of your choosing), and easy to clean (just submerge it in boiling water to melt the wax). It can be used with both candles and oil, and is also available inmaroon.

I tried this one and was very impressed. It’s on the smaller side at just under six inches high, but there’s still something very substantial about it — maybe the enamel insets that give it some zhuzh? It’s relatively lightweight yet very sturdy, and the $40 price tag feels like an amazing deal considering how long I think it’ll last.

This affordable menorah is nearly a foot tall and is made of sturdy iron and aluminum with hammered details.

A simple, no-nonsense menorah, but with a touch of interest thanks to the hammered-aluminum finish.

On the traditional side, but the curved horn shape makes it a bit quirky, while the brass-plated iron makes it strong.

If you like a little levity with your candle lighting, this very well-made and fun-for-all-ages ceramic banana is a great buy — if not for your main menorah, then at least as a backup since the price is so reasonable. I tested it and found that all candles, no matter their size, were a bit wobbly in the holes, especially the shamash, but it was nothing a little melted wax couldn’t fix. There’s also a newmini-versionthat can only be used with smallbirthday candles.

This is technically a “travel” menorah, and it’s better than any others I came across. Most travel menorahs consist of nine coordinating yet individual candleholders that need to be set up before use — no big deal, but also an extra step that suddenly felt totally unnecessary as soon as I came across this foldable version. It’s a single hinged piece that folds closed, and it works with standard Hanukkah candles or oil. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a space- and cost-saving option; no travel required.

If you’d prefer something electric, this one is tiny (five-by-five-by-five inches) and powered either by batteries or a USB charge. It lights up like your standard menorah but also has options for blinking, rippling, and chasing lights effects.

It may not look like it from the photo, but the candles on this plastic LED menorah are removable so you can “light” a new one each night. The wood base houses RGB lighting that can be changed either via the included wireless remote or by tapping on the base itself. It’s rechargeable, but it also takes batteries in a pinch.

I couldn’t help but pull a few options for kids, too. My 4-year-old was instantly captivated by this toy menorah when I first unboxed it and proceeded to play with it all evening. It’s big and sturdy, and the felt “flames” are a nice touch. It’s recommended for kids ages 3 and up, though I think the chunkiness of the candles and sizable holes would make a good toy for younger kids and babies working on their fine motor skills.

I don’t have firsthand experience with this menorah, but I suspect it would have been an equally big hit with my daughter, especially because of the bright, happy colors.

The candles on this toy menorah are labeled with a number for each night, so little kids can practice their counting. It’s also stuffed, so babies can cuddle with it and chew on it.

The Super Smalls kit comes with a blank ceramic menorah, six paint colors (including iridescent sparkle), and, of course, a bunch of stick-on gems. My daughter has been working on hers for the past few days and truly cannot wait to light it up.

Not official LEGO merch, but perfect for LEGO-heads (of all ages) nonetheless. The entire kit contains 252 bricks and builds a menorah that’s nearly a foot tall.

This is on the smaller side (less than nine inches wide), but it’s made of solid glass, so it’sheavy. It’s also beautiful and gives the impression that your candles are sitting in a perfectly carved block of crystal-clear ice. And speaking of candles, all the versions I tested fit great (basically zero wobbling) thanks to the extra-deep holes.

This painted porcelain menorah also comes in amuted periwinkle-toned combo. Both colorways are very on brand for Kate Spade, which I’m not mad at.

This simple and somewhat customizable wooden menorah is handcrafted from your choice of wood (cherry, white ash, black walnut, or white oak), hand-lacquered, and inset with either polished silver or anodized black aluminum candleholders (again, your choice). It’s also priced incredibly right for such a truly artisanal piece.

Low, long, and surprisingly sturdy considering how thin and twisty it is. It’s made of stainless steel, and the candleholders, while on the wider side, are also quite deep, so all the candles I tested stayed up on their own.

This one is hand-forged wrought iron, so I imagine it’s quite sturdy. I also really like the juxtaposition between the heaviness of the iron and the delicate silhouette of the tulip candle cups, which, speaking of sturdy, can be gently pressed or pinched to secure your candles as needed. There’s also atallversion.

If the Mad Hatter’s tea party ever turns into a Hanukkah celebration, this is the menorah they’ll use — thoughthis oneis also a nice option. And for the Queen of Hearts,this extremely ornate versionis perfect.

So basic, but this electric one is identical to the menorah that was put up in the lobby of my building each year throughout my childhood. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, so I felt compelled to include it.

That said, if this had been my building’s electric menorah, I would have probably found the holidays even more exciting.

This very sophisticated-looking electric menorah is battery powered only, but it also features a timer function (on for six hours, off for 18) for power conservation. At 17.5 inches tall, it also makes a striking (and much safer) centerpiece for any holiday dinners.

This ultramodern Art Deco–ish menorah is made from hand-poured terrazzo concrete and is actuallyverycool. It’s important to note that concrete is porous, so it’s recommended to use dripless beeswax candles in the same color family as your menorah (it comes in blue, white, and black), unless you want a contrasting waxy patina to build up over time. (I actually like that idea, but to each their own.)

Williams Sonoma calls it “an heirloom-quality piece.” Having seen it in person, I can wholeheartedly agree: It’s really beautiful, probably the most traditional-looking menorah on this whole list (the elegantly branched shape is inspired by the Tree of Life), and is also extremely well made (of solid brass with either a silver- or gold-plated finish). In short, it’s an easy one to pass down.

This hand-painted aluminum menorah looks like what I assume the Care Bears would have if they celebrated Hanukkah. With the possible exception of my daughter’s room, it doesn’t really work with any of my décor. Nonetheless, I find it incredibly eye-catching and joy inducing and would happily use it to light my candles. The years of colorful wax buildup will only add to its appeal over time.

This simple yet severe-looking menorah is made of a single solid piece of cast iron, has a built-in drip tray, and is heavy enough to be used as a weapon. It’s also part of the permanent collections of the Memorial Art Gallery, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art; part of a previousStrategist Judaica roundup; and now has a permanent place on my mantle for at least eight nights out of the year.

This banana is pricier than my other banana pick, but it’s also made of stainless steel rather than ceramic. It comes in both powder-coated (yellow) and polished (silver) versions and intravel sizes.

Brooklyn-based ceramicistJulia Elsasmakes a variety of beautifully abstract menorahs, but I’m most drawn to this tubular, Pollock-y splatter one. Each one is hand-built and hand-painted in Elsas’s Brooklyn studio, so no two are exactly alike. Elsas also takes requests for custom pieces via email (hello@juliaelsas.com).

The soul of a traditional menorah, but with a modern, almost space-age exterior. Aesthetics aside,it’s also not “traditional” because, as a few reviewers have pointed out, the arced arrangement of the candles means it’s not a kosher menorah — to be granted that status, all of the candles (with the exception of the shamash) need to be level with one another. While this detail is absolutely worth pointing out, whether it dictates which menorah you purchase is entirely subjective.

Designed byLeadoff Studiosfor Modern Mensch, this the fanciest bagel I’ve ever seen and also one of my favorite menorahs on this list. It’s punny but not obnoxiously so (some people may not even recognize the inspiration for the shape unless it’s pointed out to them), compact, and attractively sleek, and its very minimalist look means it can actually be kept on display all year — just remove the candles and wipe off the wax, and you’ve got a lovely little bookend.

This is quite possibly the most beautiful menorah I’ve ever seen close up. It’s made of fused glass that’s flecked with flowers. The candle cups are hand-painted, and the imperfect organic shape gives the whole thing a wonderfully weird playfulness that the brand (rightly) describes as Gaudí-esque. Whatever it is, I’m totally in love.

Another amazing menorah, and further proof that Susan Alexandra makes some of the best Judaica around (in addition to all of her other offerings). This one is inspired by thebead mazesof our collective childhoods and is made from trade beads strung on wire, twisted into a sloopy, roller-coaster-like shape, and attached to a glass base. The beads don’t move up and down, but they do spin around, which adds to the fun.

This Scandinavian-inspired menorah is made from solid stainless steel and looks like set of sleek silver antlers.

Absolutely gorgeous and made entirely of relatively thin glass, so I’m terrified I’ll break it, but I still can’t help but want it in my home. It comes in five color combinations, all of which are absolutely stunning. The only real caveat is that it only accommodatesoil candles, which I’ve never used but know are much pricier than your average wax candles. Still, it’s probably worth it for the sake of seeing this menorah all aglow.

Tiny but mighty, Menorah No. 1 is made of solid stainless steel and consists of two interfacing pieces that are rotated once on each of the eight nights, with each turn creating space for an additional candle.

Tchotchke is a New York–based brand on a mission to infuse some actual fun into the historically formal world of Judaica — and it is nailing it with this whimsical little bubble menorah. It’s carved from a solid block of aluminum and hand-polished to create a reflective surface that really comes to life under a flickering candle flame. This aluminum style also comes in aniridescent finishand some more affordable (just $118) but equally beautifulceramic versions. Regardless of which style you go with, their sculptural quality means this is another menorah that can be kept on year-round display.

CeramicistInna Olshanskyhand-crafts a variety of fantastical animal menorahs (among many other things), but this bull is my favorite because it reminds me of a Chagall painting. It’s also another menorah that doubles as a stand-alone sculpture for continuous display.

The top slab of this austere aluminum menorah rotates to reveal a new candle hole for each night. There’s also a Menorah 2.0, the only difference being a brushed (rather than polished) aluminum finish.

The colorful, curved arms of this menorah-as-modern-art are made from semi-translucent poly resin and can be spun individually to create countless configurations, each one presenting a unique blend of color and light.

Another inspired menorah from graphic artist Yoni Alter, this one is designed to look like a drop of oil and symbolizes endless light. It’s also yet another menorah that looks great sitting on (or, in this case, dripping off) the mantle any time of year.

As basic (and classic) as it gets.

If these candles don’t live up to their “dripless” designation, I’m totally fine with it — I think the bright colors would look great melted onto any menorah.

These ombré candles have a slight sheen and a birthday-party vibe.

A cute “twist” on the traditional Hanukkah candle.

While not drip-free, these richly colored candles (there are five colors to choose from) are made from paraffin wax, which drips much less and is easier to clean than your standard candle.

These are textured and taller than average (six inches), and they looked lovely in every menorah I tested.

Of course Susan Alexandra makes a fabulous candle.

Beeswax candles hand-dipped in a dramatic Roman bronze. I suspect they’ll be even more striking when lit.

If your candles wobble in your menorah, you can melt their bottoms before putting them in, or you can use this dedicated candle wax. Just a thin layer is strong enough to keep even standard-size candles from tipping, and, unlike melted wax, is also easy to remove once the candle has burned out.

Some menorahs are sized for candles, some work with candles or oil, and others are oil only. For the latter two, these prefilled cups should do the trick. They come in four different sizes (XS-L), and each box has 44 cups — just enough to get you through all eight nights.

This sculptural-looking lighter ignites your wicks (and anything else you want to set ablaze) with an electric current rather than an actual flame. It’s rechargeable and has an on/off safety switch. I’ve had mine for about a month and have used it for the fireplace, to light all kinds of incense, and to quickly jump-start my stove when the pilot light goes out.

If you prefer a more traditional lighter, you can zhuzh it up for the holidays with this amazing gemstone case.

Matches are also perfectly fine, of course, and here’s a fun set.