From homes to offices, commercial environments, events, and various industries, glass jars remain an essential item that never gets old. Whether you are a manufacturer, domestic worker, jar enthusiast, or entrepreneur your choice of glass jar influences your product preservation, appearance, and overall success.
Because we understand how overwhelming it can be when choosing a jar that fits among the various sizes, shapes and styles, we included 5 essential tips you can add to your checklist when picking jars to suit your various needs.
Summary Table for Ideas on Selecting Glass Jar Designs & Closures
Whether you are preserving small-batch marmalade, organising a pantry, or sourcing wholesale glass jars and bulk glass jars with lids for commercial distribution across the UK, matching your contents to a suitable design of glass jar and closure is essential for branding and visual appeal.
The reference table below outlines how common UK product applications pair with specific glass jar designs with lids, and types of closure:
|
Product |
Functional & Display Need |
Glass Jar Design |
Recommended Closure & Seal |
Practical Packaging Advantage |
|
Luxury Jams, Jellies & Honey |
High visual appeal; premium gifting. |
Orcio, square, & Hexagonal Jars |
Twist-Off Metal Jar Lids (Deep or Standard) |
Curved profiles/designs draw attention on farm shop shelves while twist-off lids create a hot-fill vacuum seal. |
|
Chutneys, Dips & Sauces |
Easy dipping; wide-mouth access for chunky foods. |
Squat & Food Dip Jars |
Acid-Resistant Twist-Off Metal Lids |
Low profile prevents tipping; wide neck permits easy scooping and effortless commercial filling. |
|
Spices, Dried Herbs & Favours |
Airtight dry storage; compact aesthetic. |
Small Round & Square Jars |
Natural Cork Stoppers or Metal Screw Lids |
Cork stoppers provide a rustic, airtight seal for herbs and bath salts, while square shapes pack tightly. |
|
Juices, Cordials & Oils |
Pourable liquid storage; leak-proof seal. |
Tall Round & Square Glass |
Aluminium Screw lids |
Pair your jars with matching wholesale glass bottles for a cohesive liquid and preserve product range. |
|
Bulk Pantry Storage & Confectionery |
Maximum volume; stackable kitchen storage. |
Large Storage & Mason Jars |
Two-Piece Canning Lids or Glass Stopper Lids |
Maximise pantry space with bulk glass jars with lids designed for long-term dry food protection. |
1. The Use Case
It’s necessary to answer some questions that clearly define what you will be using the jars for. This helps you determine the types of jars you will opt for. Consider the two factors below.
Customisation
Whether you are an entrepreneur, homemaker or manufacturer, consider your branding preference and choose the jar that fits your choice or design option. This could be a particular colour, size or shape, like our hexagonal or square jar.
Application
What function will the glass jar serve? Deciding this before getting a jar makes it easier to get the one that fits your needs. If you are considering packaging or preserving foods such as spices, seasonings or herbs, you can use an airtight glass jar with lids, which ensures the freshness of your products for a longer period.
2. The Size
From small containers to large ones for different packaging options, carefully analyse the quantity of your products and the size of containers it needs. When you ensure that it meets the required quantity of your products, it makes it easier to maintain consistency in your choice of the types of jars. Our diverse collection of glass jars from small to large sizes, are selected to fit individual needs, plus add elegance and style to your products.
3. The Style/Shape
Who wouldn’t want to make a statement with a beautiful jar standing with their proud product sitting pretty in there? When you select a type of glass jar, think about how it visually enhances your product. Shapes like Orcio jars, Hexagonal jars, and square jars are considered to be unique jar designs that offer charming aesthetics. When in need of something that fits for syrups, small candles, or honey, consider Hexagonal jars; in need of some vintage vibe, consider Orcio jars; but for a modern look, a square jar may be an excellent choice.
4. The Type of Glass
Every glass might not suit all your needs. With different types of jars made from different material compositions, it’s important to know which composition or properties of glass fit your products or needs. When considering glass jars for packaging or preserving food, consider their chemical resistance, durability, and clarity of the glass. Some common types of glass based on material composition include:
Soda-Lime Glass
Soda-lime glass is the most widely used glass composition for food jars, cosmetic jars, and general-purpose glass jars with lids. It's transparent, durable, cost-effective, and food-safe. The vast majority of glass jars sold by UK suppliers are made from soda-lime glass. It handles moderate heat well but is not designed for rapid temperature changes or sustained high heat.
Borosilicate Glass
Borosilicate glass contains boron trioxide, which makes it handle temperature changes without cracking far better than soda-lime glass. It's a suitable choice for jars that will go from fridge-cold to hot contents, from freezer to ambient temperature, or for glassware used in ovens and laboratories. Borosilicate glass jars are typically more expensive than soda-lime.
Flint Glass
Flint glass is a highly clarified, high-transparency variant of soda-lime glass. It's used where maximum visual clarity matters: premium cosmetic packaging, display jars, and high-end food products where the contents need to be shown off to best effect.
Amber Glass
Amber glass blocks UV light, protecting light-sensitive contents from photodegradation. It's essential for products that degrade in light, essential oils, herbal tinctures, some cosmetic actives, and pharmaceutical products. Amber glass bottles and jars are the standard in the UK health, wellness, and natural beauty sectors for exactly this reason.
Conclusively, for standard food preservation, general household glass jars with lids, soda-lime glass is the right choice. For anything light-sensitive, choose amber. For anything involving rapid temperature changes (hot-fill to freezer, or use in the oven), choose borosilicate.
5. The Choice of Closure
The closure of your glass jar is an important factor. Think about your products, the function the jar will serve (for personal use or special events) and how you want to brand or customize it. Also, consider the closure’s compatibility with the jar, its reusability, and how easy it is to use. We have a variety of options you could consider from classic screw-top to decorative lids.
With these handy tips, you are well on your way to selecting the perfect type of glass jar for your next project. We are available to give you the helping hand you need. Check our collection of glass jars.
5 Key Questions to Answer When Choosing Glass Jars
|
Decision |
The Core Question |
Key Options |
|
1. Use case |
What will the jar contain and how will it be used? |
Food, cosmetics, candles, gifting, home organisation, retail |
|
2. Size |
How much does the jar need to hold? |
30ml-5L+ depending on product and portion |
|
3. Shape |
What jar profile suits the product and the market? |
Round, square, squat, orcio, hexagonal, cylindrical |
|
4. Glass type |
What properties does the glass need? |
Soda-lime, borosilicate, flint, amber, coloured |
|
5. Closure |
How does the jar need to be sealed and opened? |
Twist-off lid, deep-screw lid, cork stopper, clip-top, screw cap |
Buying Wholesale Glass Jars and Bulk Glass Jars with Lids in the UK
If you are a UK business scaling up production, switching from retail to wholesale glass jars is the most effective way to control costs and maintain consistency.
What to consider when ordering in bulk:
● Minimum order quantities: UK wholesalers typically start at either carton or pallet quantities, with pallet pricing for larger volumes.
● Complete sets: Ordering bulk glass jars with lids as a matched set eliminates the risk of incompatible neck finishes. A 66mm lid will not seal a 58mm jar.
● Sample first: Always request samples to test the weight, clarity, and seal quality before committing to a pallet of bulk glass jars.
● Storage Space: Ensure you have clean, dry storage space. Cardboard cartons of glass jars should be kept off concrete floors to prevent moisture damage.
At Southern Jar Company, we supply glass jars and matching jar lids to UK businesses of all sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different jar shapes?
The various types of glass jar shapes include round, square, orcio, cylindrical and hexagonal jars.
What are the common jar lid sizes?
The size of a jar lid is measured in millimetres and is determined by the diameter of the jar. Some of the common sizes are 43mm, 66mm and 82mm.
How many different categories of glass are there?
Glasses are commonly categorised based on properties and their composition, which include borosilicate glass, flint glass, soda-lime glass, and lead glass.
What is the most important thing to consider when buying glass jars?
Use case. Everything else: size, shape, glass type, and closure follow from understanding what the jar will contain, how it will be used, and who will use it. A jar for homemade jam may have different requirements from a jar for a face cream, a candle, or a dry goods pantry display. Start with the use case, and the other decisions become much more straightforward.
How do I know what lid size fits my glass jar?
Lid size is measured by the diameter of the jar's neck opening in millimetres. Measure the external diameter of the jar's opening, not the internal diameter. Common UK jar lid sizes include 43mm, 53mm, 63mm, 70mm, and 82mm. The product listing for any jar at Southern Jar Company specifies the compatible lid size, so you can order a jar and lid together without a fitting issue.