What Are Standard Mason Jar Sizes?

Mason jars have a long history in America. The jars were invented in 1858 by John L. Mason, who patented a machine that could cut threads into lids, allowing the jars to be sealed.[1] His invention created a simple and effective way to preserve fruits, vegetables, jams, juices, and other foods. While Mason’s design made him famous, he did not become wealthy from it.[2]

Today, Mason jars remain a popular household item. They come in a range of standard sizes, allowing people to store and preserve a variety of foods. Some of the most common Mason jar sizes include wide mouth quarts and pints, regular mouth quarts and pints, half-pint jars, and 4 oz jelly jars. Mason jars are also frequently used for DIY projects, crafts, decor, and gifts.

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/heres-why-mason-jars-are-called-mason-jars_n_55fc11dbe4b00310edf6a2a7

[2] https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/news/a39351/mason-jar-facts/

Regular Mouth Jars

Regular mouth Mason jars have an opening diameter of 2.25 inches and are one of the most common sizes of jars.¹ The most popular regular mouth Mason jar sizes are 8 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz.²

Regular mouth Mason jars are commonly used for canning jams, jellies, preserves, and sauces. Their narrower opening makes them suitable for thick, spoonable contents that won’t splash out as easily. The 8 oz size is good for individual servings of jam or jelly. The larger 16 oz and 32 oz sizes allow you to can large batches of preserves at once.

Wide Mouth Jars

Wide mouth mason jars are a popular option for canning, storage, and crafts. They are characterized by a wider opening than regular mouth jars. Wide mouth jars come in several standard sizes:

Common wide mouth sizes include:

• 8 oz
• 16 oz
• 32 oz

The wide mouths on these jars make them easier to fill and clean compared to regular mouth mason jars. Their wide openings allow you to easily fit spoons and other kitchen utensils inside them. This makes them ideal for canning chunky foods like stewed tomatoes or salsa.

According to Ball, wide mouth jars are available with both regular and decorative wooden lids, perfect for dry storage or displaying around the home.

Jumbo Jars

Jumbo jars are extra large Mason jars designed for preserving or storing large batches of food. The most common jumbo jar sizes are 64 oz (1/2 gallon) and 128 oz (1 gallon).

The 64 oz jumbo jar holds approximately 4 cups of solid ingredients or 8 cups of liquid. It’s a great size for large batches of jam, salsa, pasta sauce, or other foods you want to prepare in bulk and stock up on. The wide mouth opening makes it easy to spoon ingredients into the jar or remove them later.

The massive 128 oz jumbo jar holds about 8 cups of solids or 16 cups of liquids. It’s essentially a one gallon glass jar, perfect for extra large batches of pickles, sauces, apple butter, and more. This supersized jar allows you to do some serious canning and preserving. The wide mouth opening provides ample room for adding ingredients and getting food in and out.

Jumbo jars are designed with canning and long term food storage in mind. They typically feature the classic Mason jar screw top lid with a dome and removable band. This creates a vacuum seal for safely storing your homemade creations. The durable glass and lid ensure the jar can withstand pressure and temperature changes during canning.

Half Pint Jars

The half pint jar size holds approximately 4 oz. These small jars are good for making jams, sauces, and preserves in small batches. The half pint is a versatile size that can hold a single serving of jam or sauce. This size is also convenient for gifts and sampler packs.

According to research, “half pint Mason jar size should be considered for data supporting vertical transport analyses in the absence of sleeve partitions.” (EPA)

Quarter Pint Jars

Quarter pint jars are the smallest of the standard Mason jar sizes, holding just 2 oz. These miniature jars are perfect for dressings, sauces, spice mixes, and other small-batch canning projects where just a little bit is needed. Their two ounce capacity makes them ideal for gift-giving as well. You can create an assortment of quarter pint jars filled with unique sauces, jams, dressings, etc. to give as a gift basket. Though tiny, these cute jars pack a lot of charm and functionality.

Jelly Jars

Jelly jars are a unique type of mason jar. They have a shorter, wider shape than regular mason jars. The most common jelly jar sizes are 4 oz and 8 oz.

The 4 oz jelly jars are about 3 inches tall with a 2.5 inch diameter. They are best suited for jams, jellies, sauces, dressings, and other condiments. The short, wide shape allows them to fit nicely on refrigerator doors.

The 8 oz jelly jars are around 3.5 inches tall with a 3 inch diameter. They have a little more capacity than the 4 oz size. The 8 oz jelly jars work well for larger batches of jelly, jam, condiments, and sauces.

Jelly jars make great gifts when filled with homemade preserves or sauces. Their unique shape stands out on the shelves. The shorter height also makes them easier to fill, especially with hot jams and jellies straight from the stove.

Mason Jar Lids

Mason jars come with two types of lids to match their mouths – regular and wide mouth lids. The lids have two components – the flat metal lid that sits on top of the jar, and a separate metal screw band that screws onto the jar to hold the lid in place.

The flat metal lids are coated with a sealing compound around the outer edge. When heated during canning, this compound softens to create an airtight seal as it hardens again when cooled. The flat lid has a rubberized inner lining that adheres to the rim of the glass jar for a tight seal.

The screw bands help hold the flat lid in place while the jar cools after processing. Once cooled and sealed, the bands can be removed for storage or left on for extra protection. The bands can be reused many times over.

Popular Brands

When it comes to mason jars, there are a few major brands that dominate the market:

Ball

Ball is one of the most popular and widely available mason jar brands. They offer a variety of sizes in both regular and wide mouth options. Ball jars come in clear, as well as colored and painted options. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ball experienced unprecedented demand for their jars as more people started canning and preserving food at home (https://www.delish.com/food-news/a34345878/mason-jar-shortage-2020/).

Kerr

Kerr is another leading mason jar manufacturer, also experiencing huge demand during 2020 per experts (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/experts-theres-mason-jar-shortage-155600124.html). Like Ball, they offer clear and colored jars in various sizes.

Golden Harvest

Golden Harvest offers a budget-friendly option for mason jars in standard sizes. Their jars are comparable in quality and design to name brands.

Anchor Hocking

Anchor Hocking is best known for their glass bakeware, but they also manufacture a variety of mason jars. Their jars come in unique shapes like hexagons and elongated cylinders.

Conclusion

Mason jars come in a variety of sizes to suit different storage and preserving needs. The most common sizes are the half pint, pint, quart, and half gallon. The smallest half pint jars are best for jams, jellies, and sauces. Pint jars are ideal for canning fruits and vegetables. Quart jars are good for larger batches of sauces, soups, and bulk dry goods. Half gallon jars are best for large batches of pickles and fermented foods.

Mason jars make excellent reusable containers for food storage. Their airtight lids keep food fresh and prevent spills. Mason jars are microwave and dishwasher safe. They can go straight from freezer to hot water bath for canning. Mason jars come in clear and colored glass to block light for sensitive ingredients. Overall, mason jars are versatile, durable, reusable, and keep food fresh for storage.