Some people call them mason jars while others call them canning jars or Ball jars but they do all come in an array of different shapes and sizes. To decide which type of mason jar you need for which projects, you will need to learn the different types of sizes of mason jars.
The two main ways that mason jars are classified are by capacity or mouth diameter. Mouth diameter is considered to be either regular or wide mouth. Mason jars in each of the different size categories are available in a variety of shapes and colors.
Many have brand names and images labeled on them while others are plain and have smooth sides. For craft projects that I do, I like the Mason jars with smooth sides that are plain so I can paint them and change them up or put items inside of them that I want others to be able to see.
For example, as part of my office Easter décor, I filled a Mason jar with pages from a book that I cut up since it has a writer’s theme two it along with the Easter theme.
Mason jars get their name from the man who patented them in 1858, John Landis Mason. They are molded glass jars that are popular with people who can fruits and vegetables since they can be heated and are great for preserving food.
There are a variety of other ways that mason jars can be used, depending on the size and how wide the mouth of each one is. Mason jars are great for a multitude of things.
I remember as a little girl watching my mom, my aunt, and my grandmother can green beans fresh from the garden, pickled eggs, little round potatoes, beets, radishes, and so much more period they also spent hours making spaghetti sauce, salsa, in a variety of other sauces to can and be used over the winter months.
I remember the big boiling pot of water on the stove with the Canning rack on top as the cans heated up to be sealed properly. It was a great part of my childhood, but now I just use mason jars for storage and for different crafts since I do not can food myself.
Mason jars are very versatile and can be used for so many things. The different sizes and shapes of the jars offer even more options on what they can be used for at home, work, or in the kitchen.
Glass jars with metal lids are still used all the time in the home Canning process but have been replaced in many homes with the 10 cans and plastic containers of food you can just purchase at the grocery store.
Many people like me up for convenience overgrowing a garden on your own and then preserving and canning but others still enjoy the process very much. It is just not my thing but some people even still opt to use the Ball mason jars with the type of lid that you sat on top of the jar and then place the metal ring around.
The metal ring has rubber underneath or wax which makes the sealing process better during the home Canning process so that the food inside can be preserved properly and safe to eat when you are ready for it.
Mason jars look great after they are painted with acrylic paint and you can use them in your crafting or art in a multitude of ways. They also can be used for desk storage in your office.
For instance, the four-ounce jars are great for keeping smaller items such as paper clips. The larger jars and taller ones are great for holding pens, scissors, and other items. Mason jars are very versatile and still serve a great purpose in our world today.
Below is a list of all of the different sizes and shapes of mason jars and some ideas on how each can be used first for storage, crafting, and other things.
Related: Repurposing and Up-cycling Common Household Items | Preserving Food Through Fermentation | Ultimate Guide to Canning | Mason Jar Dessert Recipes | Types of Canning | How to Store Blueberries
4 oz. / quarter-pint and 4 oz jelly jars
These are the smallest version of mason jars, and they are great for storing spices, small items such as beads or small marbles. And like the name of the jelly jar insinuates, these are great for making, canning, preserving, and storing jelly and jams.
8 oz. / half-pint
The wide mouth half-pint 8 oz. mason jar is great as a canning jar since you can store larger vegetables in them, such as beets and whole tomatoes. The quilted regular Mason jar as well as the smooth version are great for canning.
They fit into a canning rack and are great for preserving a variety of vegetables and fruits. They are also good for Jelly and jams parent the smaller version with the wide mouth is great for not only dips and sauces, but for storing facial cleanser, moisturizer, and even hand sanitizing liquid soap.
12 oz. / Three-quarters pint
Like most Mason jars, the quilted crystal regular mouth jar comes with a lid that screws off and works well for pressure canning. There’s plenty of room in this jar to store a lot of vegetables, spaghetti sauces, and salsa.
Wide Mouth Storage Jar
The white mouth storage jar can be used for a multitude of things because it is so large. You can eat right out of it since it has a wide mouth that you can stick your hand down in so it is great for keeping things like nuts and candy.
It is also great for storing some items in your bathroom, for example, such as cotton balls and Q-tips.
16 oz. Mason Jars
Elite Regular Jar
This jar is also known as a sharing jar. It is easy to can and preserves food in then share it with your family and friends. It is large enough to store liquid food items, including drink mixes and yes, Moonshine.
Wide Mouth Storage Jar
The 16-ounce wide-mouth storage jar is great for storing large fruits or vegetables, including beets. It is a very popular jar to use by people who love pickled eggs or who are canning large pickles or peppers.
Smooth sided regular mouth jar
This jar also holds 16 ounces it is great for storing jams and jellies as well as other items around your house, including nails and screws.
24-ounce jars/pint-and-a-half
Wide mouth jar
The 24-ounce wide mouth jar can hold a lot of larger fruit and vegetables that you want to preserve or other larger items around your home. This is a popular jar that owners of reptiles keep life crickets in after cutting holes in the lid.
28 oz. / pint-and-three-quarters
32 oz. / quart
This jar holds 32 ounces, so it will hold a lot of food that you are Canning or a whole package of hair ties, or a whole bag of cotton balls. It is a great storage item to have it your house and with the wide mouth, it’s super easy to take things out quickly.
Regular mouth jar
This is a great jar for keeping leftover chili or other soups inside since it will hold an entire quart of delicious goodness.
40 OZ. Two-And-A-Half Pints-1.25 Quart-1183 mL-5 US Cups
Elite Wide Mouth Jar
The Elite wide mouth jar is part of the Elite Collection of Ball Mason jars that came out in 2016. The wide mouth allows for easier pouring and canning of thicker jams and jellies, including preserves that contain pieces of fruit.
The 1.25 quart size wide mouth storage jar offers an easier solution to pouring fruits and vegetables into the jar that are whole or in large pieces, such as peach slices, apple slices, and cherry tomatoes.
48 oz. Three Pints-1.5 Quart-1420 mL-6 US Cups
Elite Wide Mouth Jam Jar
The wide mouth of the jam jar makes it easy to not only pour and save jam but also preserves with whole pieces of fruit, vegetables, and other items that would be difficult to pour into a regular mouth jar.
Wide Mouth Storage Jar
The wide mouth storage jar boasts 48 ounces that you can store an array of items in that are larger and would be difficult to put into a regular mouth jar.
These jars come in colored glass and are more durable and vintage-looking than regular ones that are not of the Elite Collection and they can be placed into the freezer so you can freeze food items but be sure to only fill to the freeze line so they do not crack.
64 oz.-Four Pints-2 Quarts-1893 mL-8 US Cups
Elite Wide Mouth
This wide mouth jam jar is part of the Elite Collection so it has a vintage Mason jar look and features colored glass. It is great for jam, of course, but also for storing your moisturizers or other lotions.
Wide Mouth Storage Jar
This jar is great for canning and storing a multitude of items and different foods, including apple butter and preserves.
Regular Mouth Jam Jar
This size jam jar makes it easy to store jam that will last all year long. It’s large and easy to use.
Wide Mouth Storage Jar
These jars boast the ability to accommodate larger items, including beets and even whole pickles. The clip-style lid closure allows you to easily take these jars on the go with you to other people’s houses or even on a picnic or vacation.
128 Oz. Eights Pints-One Gallon-Four Quarts-3785 mL-16 US cups
Both the Elite Wide Mouth Jam Jar and the Regular Mouth Jam Jar in the 128 oz. size is perfect for canning large amounts of jams, jellies, and sauces, including tartar sauce.
The taller wide-mouth storage jars in the same large size are great for canning and storing salsa with chunks of vegetables, whole vegetables and fruits, and even other household items, such as nuts, bolts, and screws.
