Jar Lid Size Chart: A Guide to Choosing the Right Lid

Choosing the correct lid is essential to ensure a proper seal, prevent leaks, and maintain product integrity. This is important for all industries that use jars, including food, cosmetics, and industrial applications. Jar lid sizing refers to the measurement system used to determine which lid will fit a specific jar opening. It is typically shown in millimeters and follows industry standards.

Whether you're packaging homemade jam or industrial chemicals, understanding jar lid sizes helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures your product performs as expected. In this article, you’ll learn how sizing works, why it’s important, the different types of lids, and how to choose the right lid for your jar.

Without the correctly-sized lid for your plastic jar or glass jar, your contents will not be sealed and protected. This can impact shelf life, product safety, branding, and presentation. It can also influence cost and inventory efficiency, as products will not be protected. Having a lid that fits helps to prevent leakage and contamination.

In regulated industries like pharmaceuticals or food production, using the wrong lid can even lead to compliance issues. A poor seal may allow air, moisture, or bacteria to enter, compromising the product. A properly sized lid enhances user experience; it opens smoothly, reseals securely, and supports your brand’s quality image.

This jar sizes chart with standard jar lid sizes can help you quickly identify which lid type matches your jar. The chart below focuses on neck sizes, specifically neck width, neck finish, thread details, and lid types of common jar lid sizes. While neck finish is key to selecting the right lid, it’s also helpful to understand how it relates to the overall jar size.

Most jars range in capacity from 8 oz. to 64 oz., and while the volume doesn’t directly determine the neck finish, certain jar sizes tend to pair with specific neck finishes. For example, smaller 8 oz. or 16 oz. jars often use 38-400 or 53-400 finishes, while larger 32 oz. or 64 oz. jars may use 70-450 or 89-400 finishes. This relationship helps guide lid selection based on both the jar’s capacity and its neck dimensions.

Different types of lids have their specific purpose and unique features. Selecting the right one depends on the product, branding, and the customer’s needs.

Plastic Continuous Thread Caps

Twist-on caps used for general-purpose sealing. Available in smooth or ribbed finishes. Ranging in neck finish from 13mm 13-425 to 120mm 120-400.

Child Resistant Caps (CRC)

Require a specific motion to open, ideal for pharmaceuticals and more. Available from 20mm 20-400 to 89mm 89-400.

Vented Caps

Allow pressure release, while providing a secure seal and preventing container bloating or leaking. Neck finishes range from 24mm 24-400 to 63mm 63-485.

Dome Caps

Rounded, sleek caps commonly used in beauty and skincare packaging. Available in 53mm 53-400 to 89mm 89-400 neck finishes.

Spice Caps

Feature flapper caps, side pour caps, and more, for dispensing seasonings and dry ingredients. Neck finish varies from 33mm 33-400 to 110mm 110-400.

Metal Caps for Glass Jars

Commonly used for food, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, and more.

Metal Continuous Thread Caps

Used for food canning and vacuum packing, as they provide an airtight seal. Available neck finishes include 20mm 20-400 to 89mm 89-400.

Twist-Off Lug Metal Caps

Designed for jars with lug finishes, requiring fewer turns to open and close. Neck finishes feature a four-digit format, ranging from 38mm 38-2000 to 82mm 82-2040, differing from the three-digit format used for continuous thread caps.

Start by identifying your jar’s neck width and finish. Once you know the neck finish, you can easily match it with compatible lids. When browning lids, ensure they have the same neck width and finish to securely package your product.

Here are a few tips to guide your selection:

1. Measure your jar accurately: If the information is not available in your product specification sheet, measure the jar opening and confirm the neck finish.

2. Know your product: Liquids may need lids with leak-proof liners, while powders, such as spices, might benefit from flip-top dispensing.

3. Consider the user: Will the lid be opened frequently? Is child safety a concern? Is the lid compatible with the container material (plastic/glass)?

4. Think about branding: The lid style, color, and ease of use can enhance shelf appeal and reinforce your brand identity.

5. Check liner compatibility: Foam, pressure-sensitive, and induction liners all affect sealing performance.

6. Test before committing: Request samples to ensure fit and function before placing an order. This helps to avoid wasted time and money on receiving lids that do not fit or work with your product. Even if two containers share the same neck finish, their thread style or depth may differ based on material, so it’s important to always confirm lid compatibility.

At The Cary Company, we understand how essential it is to have the correct lids for your jars when you need them. For convenience and easy ordering, our containers and caps are labeled with their neck width and finish. Browse glass jars and plastic jars for food, pharmaceutical, health, beauty, and industrial uses.

Our jars and lids meet strict quality standards for appearance, durability, and quality. For questions about our jars and lids or help in selecting the best ones for your product, contact our team of experts at 630.629.6600 or sales@thecarycompany.com.