Best Mason Jars for Canning
The best mason jars for canning are tempered glass in a size that matches your recipe, with a two-piece flat lid and band. Ball and Kerr are the trusted standards; choose wide-mouth for chunky foods and regular-mouth for pourable ones.
Top picks
Ball Wide Mouth Quart 32oz. Glass Mason Jar with Lids and
Pickles & batches
Trusted wide-mouth quart jars that are easy to fill and clean, tempered for processing.
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Ball Regular Mouth Pint 16oz. Glass Mason Jar with Lids an
Jam, salsa, sauces
Regular-mouth pint jars at a lower price, ideal for pourable foods.
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Ball Half Pint (8 oz.) Regular Mouth Glass Mason Jars w/ C
Jam & gifting
Half-pint jars sized so each is used up quickly once opened.
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Canning jars must be made for processing: tempered glass, a sealing rim, and a two-piece flat lid and band. Match the size to the recipe, half-pint for jam, pint for pickles and sauces, quart for larger batches. Wide-mouth is easier to fill and clean; regular-mouth costs a little less.
How the picks compare
The Ball wide-mouth quart is the versatile default; the Ball regular-mouth pint suits pourable foods; the Ball half-pint is sized for jam. All are trusted, tested canning jars.
Related guides
Canning Jars, Lids & Tools Database
ComparisonWide Mouth vs Regular Mouth Mason Jars
ComparisonReusable vs Standard Canning Lids
ComparisonBall vs Kerr Mason Jars
Frequently asked questions
What jars are safe for home canning?
Jars made for canning, like Ball or Kerr mason jars, in tempered glass with a two-piece flat lid and band. Avoid reusing commercial food jars, which are not made to process.
What size mason jar should I use?
Half-pint for jam and jelly, pint for pickles and sauces, quart for larger batches. Choose sizes you will finish reasonably quickly once opened.