11 Types of Jars (With Names, Pictures & Uses)

There are many types of jars, and the right one depends on the contents, opening, material, capacity, and lid. This guide shows 11 common jar types with names, pictures, typical sizes, and practical uses—from Mason and canning jars to spice, candle, and cosmetic jars—so you can compare jar shapes before choosing a package.

Prefer to watch? This 4-minute video walks through all 11 jar types.

A jar is a rigid container with a comparatively wide opening, usually made from glass, plastic, ceramic, or metal. Its body, mouth, shoulder, liner, and lid determine how easily it can be filled, emptied, cleaned, labeled, and reused. A jar may hold food, dry goods, candles, creams, balms, masks, or other products.

Mason jars are reusable threaded glass jars used for storage, preserving, and gifting.

Common sizes: 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 oz; about 70 mm regular mouth or 86 mm wide mouth.
Best for: Preserves, pantry storage, gifting, and household reuse.
Not ideal for: Pumped cosmetics or precision dispensing.
Typical lid: Two-piece flat metal lid and screw band; see NCHFP guidance for canning.

Canning jars are glass jars selected for food preservation with a compatible closure and tested process.

Common sizes: 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, and 64 oz; half-pint through half-gallon references.
Best for: Home canning, preserves, sauces, pickles, and fruit.
Not ideal for: Decorative use without a tested preserving process.
Typical lid: Flat sealing disc plus reusable screw band.

Straight-sided jars have near-vertical walls that create a consistent panel for labels and decoration.

Common sizes: About 1/8–16 oz; 5–475 ml examples.
Best for: Wide labels, creams, candles, and samples.
Not ideal for: Projects built around faceting or a sculpted profile.
Typical lid: Screw cap, disc lid, or inner seal.

Paragon jars are tall, narrow glass jars that emphasize vertical shelf presence and visible contents.

Common sizes: 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 32 oz.
Best for: Sauces, preserves, condiments, and tall presentation.
Not ideal for: Thick creams or chunky contents needing a scoop.
Typical lid: Lug closure or screw cap.

Hexagon jars use six flat sides to create a distinctive silhouette and multiple label panels.

Common sizes: 1.5–9 oz; about 45–265 ml examples.
Best for: Honey, specialty foods, favors, and gifts.
Not ideal for: Large wraparound labels or maximum packing efficiency.
Typical lid: Lug cap or screw cap.

Weck and Kilner-style jars use a reusable clip or clamp closure with a gasket and removable lid.

Common sizes: 160, 200, 250, 500, 750 ml, and 1 L examples.
Best for: Reusable storage, preserves, display, and gift sets.
Not ideal for: Minimal-height packaging or a simple production closure.
Typical lid: Clip lid, gasket, and clamp.

Apothecary jars are display-led containers with rounded shoulders and a decorative or pharmacy-inspired profile.

Common sizes: About 50–2,000 ml examples.
Best for: Display, bath products, storage, and merchandising.
Not ideal for: Compact transport or controlled dosing.
Typical lid: Screw lid, cork, stopper, or decorative cap.

Economy round jars are simple cylindrical containers chosen for familiar handling and cost-conscious packaging.

Common sizes: 3/4, 4, 8, 16, and 32 oz examples; larger PET formats exist.
Best for: Everyday storage, dry goods, and simple fills.
Not ideal for: Premium differentiation based on a custom silhouette.
Typical lid: Continuous-thread screw cap.

Spice jars are small containers designed for herbs, spices, powders, and granular ingredients.

Common sizes: 2, 4, 8, and 16 oz.
Best for: Spices, herbs, powders, and granules.
Not ideal for: Thick products or fills needing a spoon.
Typical lid: Shaker top, sifter insert, or screw cap.

Candle jars are vessels selected around wax filling, wick placement, stability, heat use, and presentation.

Common sizes: 4, 8, and 16 oz examples.
Best for: Candles and home-fragrance presentation.
Not ideal for: Food or cosmetics without separate compatibility review.
Typical lid: Slip lid, screw lid, or decorative cover.

Cosmetic and cream jars are wide-opening packages for creams, balms, masks, scrubs, and skincare products.

Common sizes: 15, 30, and 50 g/ml; catalog range 5 g/10 ml to 960 ml.
Best for: Creams, balms, masks, scrubs, skincare, and refills.
Not ideal for: Narrow-mouth access or controlled dosing without a suitable pump.
Typical lid: Screw lid, inner disc, liner, or airless pump; compare cream jar formats.

Glass is transparent, rigid, and available in many profiles, from canning jars to cosmetic and candle vessels. It provides a visible product surface and a substantial hand feel, but weight and breakage need to be considered. Plastic jars can use PP, PET, PETG, or acrylic: PP is common in cosmetic packaging; PET and PETG support clear formats; acrylic can create a premium appearance. Material choice still depends on the formula and use, not only appearance.

Ceramic jars are opaque and tactile, so they can support a handmade, decorative, or premium presentation. They are usually chosen for the user experience and surface treatment rather than maximum transparency. Metal and aluminum jars are lightweight, opaque, and useful for selected balms, salves, candles, and travel formats. Before selecting any material, compare compatibility, closure fit, fill temperature, decoration, shipping, and the required user access.

A wide mouth makes it easier to fill, scoop, clean, or remove a thick product. A regular mouth can use less material around the opening and may suit liquids, dry goods, or products dispensed with a smaller tool; the correct finish is determined by the lid and use, not the name alone.

Straight-sided walls give labels and printed decoration a more consistent panel. Tapered or shouldered walls can improve grip or create a softer visual profile, but they may reduce the usable label area and change how the contents are removed.

Square jars create flat faces and a strong shelf block, while hexagon jars add faceted identity and multiple label panels. Both can make a product easier to recognize, but corners and facets should be checked against label placement, packing, and available fill volume.

Two-piece canning lids use a flat sealing disc with a separate screw band and are associated with tested home-canning systems. They should not be treated as interchangeable with any glass jar.

Continuous-thread screw caps turn onto matching threads and are common for food, dry goods, cosmetics, and general storage. They can be paired with liners, inner discs, or seals.

Lug or twist-off lids use short interrupted threads and are common on food and specialty glass jars. They can support a familiar opening action and a clean lid profile.

Clamp, clip, or bail lids use a hinge, wire, and gasket to create a reusable presentation. They suit Weck and Kilner-style storage but add parts and height.

Shaker, sifter, and dispensing closures control the flow of powders or granules. For a wider comparison, see this guide to different types of lids and caps for bottles.

Start with a jar and lid system that matches a tested preserving method. Confirm the capacity, mouth type, lid condition, headspace, and process guidance; NCHFP lists suitable jar and lid information for home canning.

Choose capacity and access around the ingredient: a wide mouth helps with scooping, while a shaker or sifter suits powders. Then compare label panel, closure seal, stacking, and cleaning.

Select a vessel around the wax, wick, fill, heat context, and presentation. A 4, 8, or 16 oz vessel may be a useful starting point, but the final choice needs product-specific testing.

Match the jar to formula texture, access, material, liner, decoration, and whether a standard or airless jar is needed. Material selection, formula compatibility, and decoration implications should be checked together. A filled sample validates fit and compatibility but cannot validate all production implications. Compare cosmetic jars and body butter jars; cream jar formats are linked above. For UKPACK cosmetic jars, the confirmed condition is MOQ 10,000 pcs and a 30–40 day lead time.

Common jar types include Mason, canning, straight-sided, Paragon, hexagon, Weck or Kilner-style, apothecary, economy round, spice, candle, and cosmetic and cream jars. The names describe a mix of body shape, closure system, end use, or market convention, so one jar may fit more than one category.

Mason jar is a broad name for a reusable threaded glass jar, while canning jar emphasizes use in food preservation. Many jars are both Mason and canning jars. The important checks are the tested process, capacity, mouth finish, lid system, headspace, and condition of the jar and closure.

Regular-mouth jars have a smaller opening and are often used for liquids, preserves, or general storage. Wide-mouth jars provide more room for filling, scooping, cleaning, or removing thick contents. The practical difference depends on the finish and matching lid; common reference dimensions are about 70 mm and 86 mm respectively.

A candle jar should match the wax, wick, fill level, heat behavior, wall, base stability, and lid. Straight-sided glass jars are common because they provide a consistent label panel, while other vessels may be selected for decoration. Capacity examples include 4, 8, and 16 oz, but the final vessel needs testing.

Cosmetic creams commonly use wide-opening PP, PETG, acrylic, or glass jars in sizes such as 15, 30, and 50 g/ml. Choose around formula texture, compatibility, access, liner, decoration, and dosing. If contamination control or controlled dispensing is important, compare a suitable airless jar with a conventional cream jar.

Neither is universally better. Glass gives transparency, rigidity, and a substantial feel, while PP, PET, PETG, and acrylic can reduce weight or support specific cosmetic designs. The decision should consider formula compatibility, impact risk, shipping, decoration, closure fit, recyclability claims, and how the user will open and empty the package.

Choose the lid with the jar finish and product action in mind. Canning uses a tested two-piece system; pantry jars may use screw or clamp lids; spice jars may need a sifter; creams may use a screw lid, inner disc, or pump. Check seal, liner, opening force, and cleaning together.

If you are comparing packaging for a new product, contact UKPACK with the product type, target capacity, preferred material, and intended use.