How to Measure Jars and Lids for the Perfect Match

Updated &#; February,

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Wide Mouth Jar. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

We often hear from folks who have some bottles and jars but need some new lids in order to re-use or re-purpose them. This post will provide guidance on how to measure glass jars and lids to determine what size lid the jar needs, or vice versa. This post primarily addresses how to measure a jar in order to determine it&#;s finish measurements. If you need help deciding which type of lid/jar combination may best suit your needs, you will want to check out A Guide to Commercial Canning Lids or How to Choose a Canning Lid. If you are planning to sell your product, we recommend Food Processing Resources to help you on your journey.

The specific measurements (all of them!) of the jar finish and of the lid finish matter. Be sure you are choosing a lid compatible with your jar by browsing from the &#;Accessories&#; tab of the jar in question. We link them in this way to avoid order errors. If you need to verify, be sure to contact our customer service team before ordering.

Different Jar Finishes

First, it&#;s important to know that these are the two primary types of containers and closures currently used in food packaging.

Continuous-thread (CT) is the Mason-style closure mechanism where the jar and lid are both threaded in one continuous bead around the entire circumference of the opening; also referred to as &#;screw-on&#;. The skirt (the part that comes down around the mouth of the jar) of these CT lids can vary. Generally, typical mason jars have a 70/450 finish and would require that size of lid. However, there is also a &#;short skirted&#; CT finish; with a 70/400 finish. We show examples of these later in the post.

Lug is the closure system where the container has multiple threads and the lid has an equal number of lugs or tabs that grip the corresponding threads; also known as &#;twist-off&#; closures.

Examples of Lug finish and CT finish Jars & Lids

How to Measure Jars and Lids

Measurements for jars and lids are almost always in millimeters (mm). Don&#;t have a metric ruler? You can use a standard ruler or tape measure and convert it to metrics. Whether your jar has a CT or lug finish, you will measure it in the same manner. The distance (mm) indicated in the image above is what you will measure.

If you don&#;t have a tool designed for this purpose, you can place some masking tape or some card stock to serve as a straight edge to take out the guesswork.

To measure lids (CT or lug), you&#;ll measure the diameter across the inside of the lid.

Once you know which size and whether or not it&#;s a lug or CT, you can move forward and choose the best lid for your process. Browse our selection of lids here.

We offer a variety of lids for many different uses. For example; We carry a CT metal closure that offers a shorter skirt/profile with F217 foam liner. This lid is ideal for candles, or bath & body products. It&#;s available in both 70/400 mm CT (which is a shorter profile lid) and 70/450 mm CT (a regular mouth style lid).

We do sell lids by the piece, however, our shipping is not subsidized by our product prices, so the cost of shipping of a few lids will seem quite disproportionate. So that we can properly track shipments once they leave our facility, we only ship UPS.

For more information, please visit Custom Wide Mouth Plastic Jar.

CAUTION&#;while we like to encourage responsible re-use of jars, we cannot recommend that you use jars of an unknown standard in your canning process.  Many jars are not designed to withstand the pressure canner process and you may end up with product loss or suffer personal injury. Some may not even be able to withstand water bath.  Please remember to keep the limits of your jars and/or lids in mind as you use them and re-use them.

*The specific measurements (all of them!) of the jar finish and of the lid finish matter. Be sure you are choosing a lid compatible with your jar by browsing from the &#;Accessories&#; tab of the jar in question. We link them in this way to avoid order errors. If you need to verify, be sure to contact our customer service team before ordering.

by Mary Nadeau &#; updated 11.10.23

Season Greetings, Mason Jar Fans!

It&#;s that time of year again &#; the most wonderful and&#; the most stressful! I personally see December as my annual Thank-Everyone-Athon! And if you&#;re like me, then you might be feeling stretched a little thin these days. I know that I end up burning the Yule log at both ends! There&#;s the decorating. And the baking. And the shopping&#;

If you&#;re like me, then you probably avoid the mall at all costs &#; it&#;s way too peopley out there! But you can still find the perfect gift for everyone on your list by sitting back, relaxing at home in your comfiest pants(no judgement here!), while sipping on some eggnog, and clicking your way to present nirvana!

Here at Mason Jar Lifestyle, we&#;ve got you covered! Whether you&#;re shopping on a budget or searching for just the right gift for someone special, we have something for EVERY ONE! We also offer FAST, FREE shipping on domestic orders over $49, PLUS you can request a personalized Season&#;s Greeting card with your message on it if we&#;re shipping directly to the recipient. Just add a &#;note&#; to your order when you check out.

If you need some guidance on the different materials and straw styles we offer, we put together a bunch of information in Reusable Straws & You to give you some guidance!

Not sure what size jar you have for gifting? We put together a blog post about figuring that out too! Check out our Comprehensive Size Guide Blog Post or drop us a line for help!

So let&#;s get started!

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