Learn Mason jar sizes by yourself and pick the right one for every purpose!

Mason jar sizes were one of those little details I never paid much attention to—until recently.
For the longest time, I thought there was only one standard size—like the ones my grandmother used. But as my passion for food storage, DIY projects, and homemade gifts grew, so did my need to understand these jars better. That curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of research, and now I can honestly say: I’ve become a bit of a Mason jar size expert!

Whether you’re planning to can summer vegetables, make overnight oats, or use them for rustic décor, knowing the right Mason jar size for the job makes all the difference. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the most common Mason jar sizes, explore their specific uses, and reveal smart tips to match jar types with your everyday needs. You’ll even learn about rare sizes like the 24 oz Ball jar, how many ounces fit in each type, and why wide-mouth jars have a cult following.

Understanding Mason Jar Sizes

What Are the Standard Mason Jar Sizes?

When it comes to mason jar sizes, knowing what you need can save time, space, and waste. The most common types of mason jars include half pint (8 oz), pint (16 oz), quart (32 oz), half-gallon (64 oz), and gallon (128 oz). Each size serves different storage, canning, or decorative purposes.
Mason jars come in a variety of sizes, each serving a unique purpose. The most common mason jar sizes include:

Each size supports a different task, whether you’re preserving produce or organizing dry goods. The variety in capacity lets you choose exactly what suits your kitchen, pantry, or DIY project.

Most mason jars are available in regular mouth or wide mouth. The regular mouth jars are narrower, great for liquids and pourable foods. On the other hand, wide mouth jars allow easy access for chunky contents, which is ideal for meal prep, layered salads, and even ice cream storage.

Comparison Table: Common Mason Jar Volumes and Their Uses

Understanding mason jar measurements and matching them to your needs is essential before making bulk purchases. From 8 oz jelly jars to 128 oz gallon jars, each option is designed for a specific task in the kitchen or beyond.

Gallon Mason Jars and Their Uses

What Fits in a Gallon Mason Jar?

A gallon mason jar is the biggest standard jar available for home use, holding 128 ounces (1 gallon) of liquid or dry contents. That’s four quarts, eight pints, or sixteen cups—making it ideal for storing in bulk. Because of its large capacity, a gallon mason jar is perfect for serious canning enthusiasts, homesteaders, or anyone looking to cut down on plastic storage.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can typically fit in a 1-gallon mason jar:

Due to their sheer size, gallon mason jars are often used in commercial kitchens, bulk food storage, brewing, and fermentation. Their wide mouth allows easy pouring and cleaning—especially when used for liquids or chunky solids.

Also, they typically come with plastic screw-top lids rather than two-piece metal bands, which makes them better for storage than traditional canning.

Creative and Practical Uses for Gallon Mason Jars

Besides their utility in the pantry, gallon mason jars are extremely versatile around the house. Here are some brilliant ways to use them:

1. Cold Brew Coffee & Tea

Make a week’s worth of cold brew by steeping coarse grounds in cold water overnight. Strain into smaller jars and enjoy fresh coffee daily without the cost of a coffee shop run.

2. Fermentation Station

From sauerkraut to kimchi and kombucha, a gallon jar provides ample room for bubbling bacteria and gas expansion. Just make sure you use a breathable lid or fermentation top.

3. Bulk Pantry Storage

Store rice, beans, flour, oats, and sugar in gallon mason jars. Their clear glass body makes it easy to monitor levels and cut down on unnecessary repurchases.

4. Laundry Room Organization

Use gallon jars for eco-living ideas like housing homemade laundry detergent, borax, or powdered soap. You can even attach chalkboard labels for a farmhouse touch.

5. Decor & Lighting

Fill with fairy lights, pinecones, or flowers for a rustic centerpiece. Add water and floating candles for a romantic glow at weddings or garden parties.

Check out sauces, butters & preserves tips that benefit from bulk prep and large-volume jars.

6. Craft or Toy Storage

Use gallon jars to organize crayons, LEGOs, sewing threads, or puzzle pieces. For classrooms or playrooms, these make an aesthetic and functional storage solution.

7. Pet Food Containers

Skip the plastic bins—use a gallon mason jar to store kibble or birdseed. They’re easier to clean, safer, and more durable.

Pro Tip: If you plan to use a gallon jar for liquid, always confirm that it’s made of tempered glass, especially for hot or boiling content.

Gallon jars may not be the first on your list, but for bulk storage fans or decorators, they’re among the most versatile mason jar sizes available.

Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars Explained

What Makes a Jar “Wide Mouth”?

A wide mouth quart mason jar refers to a 32-ounce glass jar with a broader opening—typically about 3.38 inches in diameter, compared to the standard 2.75 inches. This small difference makes a big impact when it comes to usability.

Wide mouth jars are easier to:

• Fill with large or awkward contents like pickles, salad layers, or even soups with chunks.
• Clean, especially with a sponge or by hand, making them ideal for regular reuse.
• Scoop out food or dry goods without needing a funnel or narrow utensils.

The quart size (32 oz) hits the sweet spot for meal prep, refrigerator storage, and pantry organizing, while the wide mouth design adds convenience for both prep and access.

Wide mouth quart jars are especially favored by those doing layered meals like mason jar salads, no-cook meals, or even overnight oats. Plus, if you’re freezing or storing foods that expand, the wide mouth offers more breathing room.

Best Uses for Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars

The wide mouth design offers far more than just an easier-to-clean advantage—it enhances how you store, cook, and serve.

1. Layered Mason Jar Salads

The wide opening makes it simple to stack ingredients in layers:

• Dressing at the bottom
• Crunchy vegetables next
• Protein like chicken or beans
• Leafy greens on top

To eat, just shake or pour into a bowl.

Check out no-cook mason jar meals for full meal prep ideas using wide mouth jars.

2. Overnight Oats & Breakfasts

These jars are ideal for pre-making oats with fruits, nuts, and milk. Just seal, chill, and enjoy in the morning.

3. Smoothies & Beverages

Store your morning green juice or protein shake in a wide mouth jar. The mouth size allows easy drinking or adding ice cubes and thick smoothies.

4. Canning Larger Items

For people preserving chunky salsas, pickles, or cut fruits like peach halves, wide mouth jars are a game-changer.

5. Freezer Meals

Since wide mouth jars don’t taper at the top, they freeze better without creating pressure points that can crack the glass.

Pro Tip: Always leave at least 1″ of headspace in your jar before freezing to prevent cracking.

6. Soups and Stews

Wide mouth jars accommodate hearty ingredients without overflow. Use them to store leftover chili, chicken noodle soup, or stew portions.

7. Flour, Sugar & Dry Storage

Easier to scoop from and less mess when pouring in, wide mouth quart mason jars are superior for pantry storage of dry goods.

If you’re comparing different mason jar sizes for everyday use, the wide mouth quart stands out for its usability and cleaning ease. Discover great ideas like decorations using mason jars where wide mouths make room for fairy lights, candles, or seasonal items.

How Many Ounces Are in a Mason Jar?

Mason Jar Sizes in Ounces (With Conversion Table)

Understanding mason jar sizes in ounces is key whether you’re canning, organizing, or meal prepping. Since jars are often sold by volume but used by weight (or vice versa), having a quick reference to mason jar measurements helps avoid waste or overflow.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of standard mason jar sizes in ounces:

Knowing how many ounces fit into different mason jar sizes is also important when preparing recipes, storing liquids, or converting metric measurements. Many people find the 24 oz mason jar particularly useful for meal-sized portions, but these are now harder to find.

Whether you’re working with small spice jars or oversized fermentation containers, matching the right jar size by ounce is critical to efficiency in the kitchen or workshop.

Choosing the Right Size by Fluid Ounces

When choosing among different mason jar sizes, don’t just think about capacity—consider the mouth size and shape, too. A 16 oz wide mouth jar is easier to scoop from than a regular mouth version, even if both hold the same fluid volume.

Here’s a quick guide:

• Under 8 oz: Ideal for gifting, condiments, or small crafts
• 8–16 oz: Perfect for individual servings or single-use prep
• 24–32 oz: Great for layered salads, soups, or bulk pantry storage
• 64–128 oz: Designed for serious storage, fermentation, or DIY décor

Discover great ideas like layered no-cook treats in mason jars for practical uses of 16–32 oz sizes.

And when storing liquids, always allow for headspace:

• 1/4” for refrigerated items
• 1/2” for hot-fill canning
• 1” or more for freezing (to prevent breakage)

Also, be aware that vintage mason jar sizes may not follow modern ounce measurements exactly. Always check embossed markings on older jars.

Pro Tip: When purchasing online, always verify the fluid ounce capacity—some brands list “capacity” but fail to distinguish between full to brim vs. safe fill volume.

If you’re ever unsure, use a kitchen scale to test actual volume before using a jar for critical storage or canning.

The Mystery of 24 oz Ball Jars

Why 24 oz Mason Jars Were Popular

Among all mason jar sizes, the 24 oz Ball mason jar stood out as the “just right” option—larger than a pint but smaller than a quart. For many, it was the perfect jar for things like:

• Leftovers that didn’t quite fit in a pint
• Storing smoothies, soups, or cold brews
• Meal prepping hearty salads or noodle bowls
• Fermenting small-batch veggies or kimchi

This size also appealed to minimalists who wanted fewer jars without sacrificing volume. With fewer jars to fill, clean, and store, the 24 oz jar was a convenient in-between that worked especially well in kitchens with limited space.

Ball’s 24 oz jars typically came in a wide mouth format, making them ideal for pouring and spooning out contents. That made them perfect for both functional food storage and rustic display in the pantry.

However, despite their usefulness, the 24 oz jars are now rarely found in stores—leaving many wondering what happened.

What Happened to the 24 oz Mason Jars?

So why are 24 oz mason jars suddenly so hard to find?

The short answer: Ball discontinued their 24 oz size in many regions due to low demand, manufacturing efficiency, and the dominance of the more standard 16 oz and 32 oz jars in retail.

Let’s break it down:

1. Manufacturing & Distribution Costs

Ball (and other glass manufacturers) streamline production by focusing on high-volume products like 16 oz and 32 oz jars. Creating a size that sits between two major SKUs adds complexity and cost.

2. Retail Shelf Space

Grocery and hardware stores stock jars based on popularity. The 24 oz size, being less known, often didn’t sell as fast—making it less attractive for retailers to stock.

3. Consumer Habits

Most recipes and home canning guides are based around pint (16 oz) or quart (32 oz) sizes. Fewer recipe conversions meant fewer reasons for shoppers to choose 24 oz.

Still, home chefs and canners haven’t forgotten the value of in-between mason jar sizes. The 24 oz version remains a fan-favorite on secondhand marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Etsy.

Pro Tip: If you’re lucky, you can still score unused 24 oz mason jars at estate sales, community swaps, or local canning clubs.

4. Reusable Alternatives

Some enthusiasts have shifted toward reusing commercial 24 oz glass jars (like pasta sauce jars) with compatible canning lids, although these aren’t always food-safe for re-canning.

Don’t miss our mason jar preservation tips to adapt your recipes to available jar sizes.

1/2 Gallon Mason Jars – Big and Useful

1/2 Gallon Mason Jar Dimensions and Capacity

The ½ gallon mason jar, with a capacity of 64 ounces, is one of the most versatile large-size jars in the mason jar family. As with all mason jar sizes, this one fills a specific need—storing large batches without being as bulky as the full gallon (128 oz) jar.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Volume: 64 fluid ounces = 8 cups = 2 quarts = 1/2 gallon
• Height: ~9.25 inches
• Diameter: ~4 inches (varies slightly by brand)
• Mouth types: Available in both regular and wide mouth formats
• Brands: Ball, Kerr, Anchor Hocking

If you’re trying to balance functionality with compact size, the 64 oz mason jar is the sweet spot. It fits easily into most refrigerator doors, kitchen cabinets, or open pantry shelves—unlike full gallon jars that often require special placement.

In terms of mason jar measurements, this size is ideal when you need bulk, but not too much.

Best Storage Ideas for 64 oz Mason Jars

The ½ gallon size offers flexibility across kitchen, home, and garden uses. Below are some of the best ways to use these mason jar sizes in daily life.

1. Cold Brew & Tea Infusions

Store your weekly cold brew in a 64 oz mason jar and pour as needed. Or steep multiple servings of herbal tea, cucumber water, or fruit infusions.

2. Dry Goods & Baking Supplies

They’re excellent for storing:

• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Oats
• Pasta
• Cereal

Their see-through design also reduces duplicate buying and food waste.

3. Bulk Fermentation Projects

Whether it’s sauerkraut, kimchi, or sourdough starter, the 64 oz size provides plenty of room for fermenting without risking overflow. Just remember to allow space for gas expansion.

Check out our tips for fermentation-safe mason jars to ensure safe and clean fermentation.

4. Salad and Meal Storage

Need to prep multiple meals in one go? A ½ gallon mason jar lets you layer ingredients for multi-day lunches or family-style servings.

5. Bathroom & Craft Room Organization

Use these jars to store:

• Bath salts
• Homemade laundry detergent
• Paint brushes
• Yarn
• Cotton balls

Label the jars for quick, clean visual access—great for minimalists and crafters alike.

6. Decor and Seasonal Displays

Fill a ½ gallon mason jar with pinecones, fairy lights, or mini pumpkins for stunning table centerpieces that rotate with the season.

Specialty Mason Jar Sizes and Rare Finds

Mini Mason Jars (4 oz to 12 oz)

Not all mason jar sizes are large. In fact, smaller jars are highly practical for niche uses, gifting, and portion control. The most common mini mason jar sizes include:

Smaller mason jar sizes are ideal when:

• You’re canning high-sugar recipes like jam (which go a long way).
• You want to reduce waste by serving individual portions.
• You’re crafting gifts or personalized meal prep jars.

They also serve well in craft rooms and offices—think buttons, glitter, paper clips, or beads. Their compact nature means they fit easily in drawers, organizers, or as part of display trays.

Pro Tip: Pair 4 oz jars with custom tags for party favors or handmade gifts. They’re cute, cost-effective, and instantly memorable.

Antique and Discontinued Mason Jar Sizes

Vintage and discontinued mason jar sizes are incredibly popular among collectors, decorators, and homesteaders who love old-world functionality.

Here are a few examples:

1. 24 oz Ball Jars (Discontinued)

As we covered in Part 5, this in-between size was once ideal for medium storage, but is now difficult to find. They’re often sold secondhand and prized for their practicality.

2. Atlas and Kerr 28 oz Jars

Slightly taller than the typical quart jar, these were popular for soup storage and dry goods, but have largely faded from store shelves.

3. Vintage Blue and Amber Glass Jars

From the early 1900s, some antique mason jar sizes came in colored glass for UV protection. Today, they’re sought after for decor and display more than food preservation.

4. Square or Uniquely Shaped Jars

Some companies experimented with octagonal, square, or short, wide shapes. These were limited-run and make beautiful centerpiece containers.

If you’re into décor or historical collecting, identifying these rare mason jar sizes is part of the fun. Look for:

• Embossed logos (like “Ball Perfect Mason” or “Atlas Strong Shoulder”)
• Patent dates (often on the base)
• Color variations
• Mold seams and hand-blown indicators

Looking for inspiration? Try our visual DIY guide to old and new jars for distinguishing between collectible and functional jars.

Even the smallest and rarest mason jar sizes have their place in the modern home. From gifting to gourmet food, vintage-style storage, or crafting, these specialty jars offer personality and performance beyond what standard sizes can provide.

Mason Jar Brands and Their Size Variants

Ball vs. Kerr vs. Anchor Hocking: Comparing Mason Jar Sizes

When choosing the right mason jar sizes, the brand matters more than you might think. While the jars may look similar at a glance, subtle differences in design, durability, and size availability can affect your experience—especially for canning, storing, or decorating.

Let’s compare three of the top U.S. brands:

*Note: Ball’s 24 oz jars have been largely discontinued but are still available secondhand.

All three brands manufacture jars with standardized lid threading, which means regular and wide mouth lids are interchangeable between them—an important detail for canners or those buying in bulk.

How to Identify Jar Volume by Markings and Logos

If you’re using secondhand or inherited jars, the exact mason jar size may not be immediately obvious. But there are several tricks for figuring out what you’ve got:

1. Check the Embossed Logo

• Ball Perfect Mason: The logo style can help date the jar and confirm the brand.
• Kerr Self Sealing: Often embossed on both sides with raised measurements.

2. Look for Volume Markings

Most modern mason jars have:

• Measurement lines along the sides (in oz, cups, or ml)
• A raised fill line marked “½”, “1”, “2” for pints and quarts
• Base codes (numbers or letters) for identifying mold dates

3. Weigh the Jar

While not precise, weight can help:

• 16 oz standard jars weigh ~9.5 oz empty
• 32 oz jars weigh ~1.3 lbs empty

For antique or decorative jars with no markings, use a liquid measuring cup to test how many ounces the jar can safely hold—never trust visual estimation alone.

Pro Tip: Some vintage jars have shrunken volume due to thicker glass walls. A “quart” jar from 1920 may only hold ~28 oz of liquid.

Check out our guide to identifying vintage mason jars to determine age and usability.

When choosing the best brand and size, it’s not just about looks—it’s about compatibility, safety, and durability. Whether you’re building a modern pantry or decorating with a rustic twist, understanding mason jar sizes by brand gives you the flexibility to mix and match with confidence.

Mason Jar Sizes for Every Need

When it comes to mason jar sizes, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re cooking, organizing, or decorating, each size serves a unique purpose. Choosing the wrong jar can lead to waste, spoilage, or frustration—while the right size streamlines your workflow and keeps your kitchen or home running smoothly.

Let’s break down which mason jar sizes are best for food storage, DIY decor, beverages, and more.

Food Storage: Meal Prep, Leftovers, and Pantry Goods

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for matching your ingredients to the correct jar size:

Using the right mason jar size ensures better freshness, less spoilage, and more organized pantry space.

Don’t miss our sauces & preserves guide for jar-to-recipe pairings.

DIY Projects & Home Decor

Mason jar sizes are just as useful outside the kitchen. Use different volumes for crafting, storage, and seasonal decor.

Decor tip: Mix multiple mason jar sizes in groupings of three for a balanced visual layout. This adds charm without clutter.

Drinks, Smoothies & Infusions

Mason jars aren’t just for food—they’re an eco-friendly, stylish way to enjoy drinks at home or on the go.

Pro Tip: Choose wide mouth jars for beverages—they’re easier to clean and fill with ice or fruit.

🫙 “Wait… there’s more than one size?”