UPDATE!
We’ve taken an even deeper look into the difference between regular mouth and wide mouth Mason jars – PLUS added details about all the different sizes and shapes of jars too in our new blog post!
Hey there, Mason jar fans!
Today we’re doing a deep-dive into one of the questions that we are most
often asked – What is the difference between a wide mouth and a regular mouth Mason jar? Let me start by saying this: one of the greatest things about Mason jars is that there are only two lid sizes: again, regular mouth and wide mouth. This means that any regular mouth lid will fit on any regular mouth Mason jar, and any wide mouth lid will fit on any wide mouth Mason jar.
For instance, if you like regular mouth jars and you have kiddos, you can give them their milk in a regular mouth 8 oz. jar with a straw lid at breakfast. You could then wash off that very lid and stick it right on your regular mouth 16 oz. jar and take a smoothie with you to work.
Back to the question, though. What is the difference between these two lid sizes?
Wide Mouth Jars:
These jars are heralded for their ability to accommodate larger items such as pickles, beets, whole fruits, etc. They are believed to be easier to clean since you can usually fit an entire sponge or hand inside.
This attribute, in and of itself, is enough to sell Mason jar enthusiasts on the wide mouth jar. But did you know that the wide Mouth jar is specially designed for stacking? With its flat, wide bottom (I feel you there, wide mouth!) and an equally large top opening, this jar is ideal when space is at a premium, whether being used for storage or for canned goods.
*Editor’s Note: We realize that stacking canned goods is a polarizing topic. We will be sharing our thoughts on this at a later date!
Regular Mouth Jars:
Most people know and love this more traditional/familiar Mason Jar shape. A regular mouth jar is tapered at both the top and bottom and has a narrower mouth than its cousin, the wide mouth.
Many users prefer this type of jar for jellies, salsas, and sauces. They are also great for holding smaller, loose items, such as spices, thumbtacks, or bobby pins as the smaller mouth facilitates the pouring out of the contents.
Regular mouth jars can be slightly more difficult to clean, depending on the consistency of their contents (nut butters, for example), and thus slightly less user-friendly.
Also, due to their tapered tops/bottoms, they do not stack very well and tend to wobble or tip. This may not be an issue for you, but it is something to consider when choosing which jars to use for your specific needs.
For those of you that are visual learners, check out this gem of a video by Maggie from 2015. Mason Jar Lifestyle was just getting started and she gives you the run-down on the types of jars, specifically wide mouth vs. regular mouth, and accompanying products that MJL offers. This video is an oldie, but a goodie, much like Mason jars (regardless of mouth size) themselves! Enjoy the info and the video and then drop us a line to let us know your preference in jar type.
Also, be sure to join us on our new Facebook Community – Living the Mason Jar Lifestyle. We have thousands of members and we’re loving the conversations and sharing going on over there. We’d love to have you there with us! Until next time, keep on keeping on with the Mason Jar Lifestyle!
Michelle Kettleborough is a life-loving, Denver-based writer and mother-of-two. She has just recently embarked on the Mason jar lifestyle. Keep up with her chronicles here.
Hi Mari,
I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your lids. Are they Ball or Kerr brand Mason jars? Did you purchase the accessories from us? Please email us at contact@masonjarlifestyle.com for more assistance.
thanks, Mary
The wide tops I purchased keep coming off after I put them on tight. They just lift off. Please advise what I am doing wrong. Otherwise, if they don’t fit properly I will need to return.
You don’t mention the importance of the differences in height and diameter of same-volume regular and wide mouth jars.
Regular mouth pints are 5" high and I measured 2.78" inside diameter at midooint. Wide mouth pints are 4 5/8" high and 3" inside diameter. If you use those numbers to calc. volume you get 31.8 cu.in for regular mouth (sure to be smaller because of smaller top and 30.3 cu.in. for wide mouth pints. Since a true pint is 28.9 cu.in. those numbers are in the right ball park.
I can jam 7 thin 3-4" long, picked-early Mini-Me cukes in a regular mouth pint jar. They make fantastic garlic dill whole pickles as I’ve just learned this week.
But, if the wide mouth is 4 5/8" inches tall vs 5" for regular mouth, that means I may have to cut some short to fit in the shorter jar.. Making up for that, the cross sectional area of the wide mouth is 16.5% more than the regular mouth at midpoint. 7 whole cukes x 1.165 = 8.2.
So I can get an additional cuke or maybe two into a wide mouth pint vs a regular mouth pint.
I have a 2nd batch of cuke plants growth that should give me a good harvest in late Sept. well into October. They will become small whole pickles in wide mouth jars!