Cotton candy is a favorite past time at carnivals and fairs. The process of sugar turning into delicious threads of candy is magic until you know how it’s actually done. You can’t make cotton candy without a cotton candy machine. However, once you have the machine, it’s very easy to create cotton candy. There are various kinds of cotton candy machines available, from miniature cotton candy machines, to commercial grade machines. Read this guide to find which type is right for you.

Cotton candy originates from floss sugar or granulated sugar mixed with Flossine. To create cotton candy, sugar is melted into liquid form and then spun by the cotton candy machine. The machine precisely spins the sugar liquid, forcing it through tiny holes; as the sugar enters the holes, the shape is changed and the sugar liquid cools down into solid form. These sugar strings collect at the bottom, later to be collected and served as a delicious snack.

People usually assume making cotton candy is both messy and difficult. But this is not true; creating cotton candy is easy if you have the right equipment and a bit of training. You just have to remember, it’s the machine that creates the candy, not you.

Many people want to purchase a cotton candy machine, usually for use in areas that attract a large number of people (fairs, carnival, festivals, large events, sports arenas, etc). It can be challenging for someone to pick out the right type of cotton candy machine – there are different types of cotton candy machines to choose from, and each comes in a variety of shapes and colors. In this guide, I’ll break down cotton candy machines into three main categories: budget cotton candy machines, and commercial cotton candy machines. Additionally, these categories have different technologies.

Home Cotton Candy Machines

These are a relatively new invention and available in some specialty stores. The home cotton candy machine (also called table top cotton candy machines) is basically a miniature version of the professional grade machines. They are often made plastic and can easily sit on of a counter or table, taking up as much room as does a blender. Home cotton candy makers won’t deliver the output of the bigger machines. However, they are a blast to entertain the kids with or provide a quick snack to a small family. You can purchase these in specialty stores of online at places like ebay. They are MUCH cheaper then the commercial candy machines.

Use: single households

Entry Level / Budget Cotton Candy Machines

Budget or entry level cotton candy machines are able to produce between one and three cotton candy servings per minute, depending on the model. The standard size when measuring cotton candy is about once ounce. Entry level to Mid level cotton candy machines are quite popular for small to mid sized events such as rental stores, ball parks (little league), school events, and other places that do not require continuous cotton candy production.

Entry level cotton candy machines are great for small events because they are typically smaller in size then their high production brethren and, of course, they are cheaper to buy. You can expect years of use of one of these machines. Budget cotton candy machines is perhaps a misnomer. All cotton candy machines are specialized commercial equipment, designed to serve many people. Budget just means that these are  the basic “starting” cotton candy machines. For small to mid sized events (up to a few thousand people), they will suffice.

Use: small/mid-sized events, schools, fund raisers, clubs, etc.

Commercial Cotton Candy Machines

If you require constant production of cotton candy, you should consider a commercial cotton candy machine. These high output cotton candy machines can be survive the rigors of constant use while producing far more servings of cotton candy than the low output cotton candy machines. High output cotton candy makers are used by professional operators. These are the machines you typically see in fairs, amusement parks, and sports stadiums.

When you require high outputs of candy in a very short period, these are the machines that you will need. Commercial grade cotton candy machines product over 4 servings of cotton candy a minute. The electrical requirements vary from brand to brand and model to model so make sure you know your electrical setup before ordering a high output machine.

Use: large events – fairs, carnivals, festivals, sports arenas, amusement parks.

Now a couple other points to consider. Cotton candy machines have different types of technology. Some of the newer technology uses a tubular style heating element instead of the classic heat ribbons. These are slightly more efficient on energy, product more cotton candy per minute, won’t clog up, and are much easier to clean then the ribbon varieties. If you can afford the increased cost, these are the machines to purchase.

There are also some machines that have the addition of a handle (called a Lock n Go cotton candy machine), so you can easily transport the machine by hand.

There are also various cotton candy accessories you can purchase, such as the traditional carnival cotton candy cart you see in amusement parts, etc. A cotton candy machine often accompanies a popcorn machine -- so consider getting a popcorn maker as well, if you are purchasing one for

If you lack the funds to buy a new cotton candy machine, you could opt to buy a used cotton candy machine from eBay or rent a cotton candy machine. Make sure to look at the various cotton candy machine brands before buying -- you need to know exactly what you will use the machine for, then use this knowledge to purchase the best cotton candy machine for your needs.