Ball vs Kerr Mason Jars
These are the two best-known canning-jar names in the United States, and the short answer is they are very close.
Same maker, same standards
Ball and Kerr are both produced by the same parent company and meet the same manufacturing and safety standards. For canning purposes, a Ball jar and a Kerr jar of the same size and mouth perform identically.
Interchangeable lids
Their flat lids and screw bands are interchangeable by mouth size, so a wide-mouth Ball lid fits a wide-mouth Kerr jar and vice versa. That makes mixing the two brands easy.
What actually differs
Differences come down to jar styling and embossing, occasional shapes, and regional availability and price. Choose whichever is cheaper or looks the way you like; both are safe, tested canning jars.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a real difference between Ball and Kerr jars?
Not for canning. They are made by the same company to the same standards, so they perform identically. Differences are mostly styling, availability and price.
Are Ball and Kerr lids interchangeable?
Yes, by mouth size. Wide-mouth lids and bands fit either brand’s wide-mouth jars, and the same is true for regular-mouth, so you can mix them freely.