The batteries may prove to be a large expense. I've been picking them up on ebay. Have you looked at Goodwill or other thrift shops for them? I normally spot them for 1.38 a piece.

I have been picking them up on ebay. I've spent a lot more than 20.00 on them :~/

I have seen the clear bulb candles pretty cheap at Michaels and Joanne's both battery and plug versions. I have the plugins, but I did purchase one battery operated one last year because there wasn't an outlet available in that window. Two AA batteries don't last very long in those candles, I got rid of it and ran a long extension cord.
Good Luck.

I have the one with cords because like Judie said, those batteries don't last very long.

Can't you just put different colored bulds in it ( clear)

for my 1st house I splurged and got the real nice wax like old fashioned candles. I got some really great orangey colored wax flickering bulbs. How cool will this be I thought?! Then I went outside, looked at my house from across the parking lot & it looked like some weird crazy ritual was going on in my house. I took the bulbs back the next day & got white wax bulbs.

Have you ever seen Sillites, I've been hoping to use them in my new (under construction home). They eliminate the need for cords, as you plug directly into a receptacle in the window sill. They can also be wired to a switch so that they can be turned off/on with the flick of a switch. Now that we are moving along in our project, it may be something we need to cut from the budget. I love the concept, but it is quite an expense. I think the receptacles were @ $20.00 ea. and the candles start at $35.00 ea. I have 33 windows.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sillites

I bought some at Michael's -- they were very inexpensive.

They have cords, because I don't want to buy batteries.

They are light activated, so they come on automatically when it gets dark, which I REALLY like. I don't have to run around turning them on and off.

They have the ones with cords and clear bulbs at dollar store's like Dollar Tree stores a buck each, nice brass base, got them in my windows, short cords but that's why they make extension cords.

We built a home this year and I'd always wanted the candles in the windows too. One thing you homebuilders might think about is asking them to make sure there's an outlet at every window. I had to explain to the builder why I didn't want one centered between the windows, I wanted it right by or under the window so I could easily plug in the candle. I'm not about to go through that many batteries. I also had the upstairs dormer window outlets switched to a downstairs switch so I can control it without going upstairs.

After all that planning, which I'm still glad I did, I bought candles that come on automatically at dark. Great idea in theory but then the "eye" has to point out or the room light will make it go out. And with the eye pointing out I can't turn on my porch lights without just one of the candles going out...grrrrr. Something so simple can become complex. Now I'm threatening to tie a sock around the bottom of that one so I can turn on my porch light...lol.

Anyway, just some things to consider. And motherof3, I think you can find the regular plug in kind pretty easily for not much money. Here's one type at the place I bought mine for $2.99 each. They have the cordless at this site for $1.99.

Here is a link that might be useful: window candles

Has anyone tried the auto on/off LED types with batteries? I just ordered some from L.L. Bean but they haven't arrived yet. I was planning to use rechargeable batteries, but now I'm wondering about how often I'll be charging them!

Those sillites are a great idea! And I thought I was clever when I had them put outlets directly under (or as close as possible to) all the windows in the house I built.

It sounds like your realistic flame candles might be very nice...if you're unhappy with the look after a bit is it possible to change out the bulbs?

I bought some battery ones last year. They light was very faint and I could barely see them from the road. After doing some shopping it seemed that all the battery candles had pretty much the same wattage. So, no Christmas candles for me.

Thank you for responding so quickly. After reading everyone's responses, I have turned my candles off and am going to return them tomorrow...I hope I still have my receipt! I'll keep shopping and look at the candles you all recommended. I'm not going to bother at how to change the bulb out. They are LED wireless candles. The 2 batteries were supposed to last 50 hours. The candles automatically stayed on for 8 hrs, turn off for 16, and then come back on to repeat the cycle. The bulb strength seemed fine. Just wish they had white bulbs! Happy holidays everyone and thanks again.

Motherof3