Mason Jars
Pantry & Food Storage · 9 specs
Direct Answer
Mason canning jars are standardized by opening diameter into Regular Mouth (70 mm / 2.75") and Wide Mouth (86 mm / 3.38"), with capacities ranging from 4 oz jelly jars to 64 oz half-gallons adhering to strict USDA headspace specifications.
Source: USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning / Ball & Kerr Manufacturing Specs · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Governing Standards | USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning / Ball-Kerr Specifications |
| Regular Mouth Diameter | 70 mm (2.75 inches) outer thread diameter | Classic shoulder profile |
| Wide Mouth Diameter | 86 mm (3.38 inches) outer thread diameter | Straight sides for freezing |
| Quarter-Pint (4 oz) | 118 ml | Regular Mouth | Jellies, jams, baby food, spices |
| Half-Pint (8 oz) | 237 ml | Regular & Wide Mouth | Preserves, sauces, dressings |
| Pint (16 oz) | 473 ml | Regular & Wide Mouth | Salsas, pickles, pie fillings |
| Pint & Half (24 oz) | 710 ml | Wide Mouth | Asparagus, long vegetables, drinks |
| Quart (32 oz) | 946 ml | Regular & Wide Mouth | Tomatoes, broths, whole fruits |
| Half-Gallon (64 oz) | 1,892 ml | Wide Mouth only | Juices, dry storage (not for boiling water bath) |
Mason Jar Mouth & Capacity Matrix
| Jar Volume Label | Volume (Fluid Oz) | Volume (Metric) | Mouth Style | Canning Headspace Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 oz (Quarter-Pint) | 4 fl oz | 118 ml | Regular Mouth (70 mm) | 1/4 inch (6 mm) headspace |
| 8 oz (Half-Pint) | 8 fl oz | 237 ml | Regular / Wide Mouth | 1/4 inch (6 mm) for jams & jellies |
| 16 oz (Pint) | 16 fl oz | 473 ml | Regular / Wide Mouth | 1/2 inch (12 mm) for pickles & fruit |
| 24 oz (Pint & Half) | 24 fl oz | 710 ml | Wide Mouth (86 mm) | 1/2 inch (12 mm) headspace |
| 32 oz (Quart) | 32 fl oz | 946 ml | Regular / Wide Mouth | 1/2" to 1" (25 mm) for pressure canning |
| 64 oz (Half-Gallon) | 64 fl oz | 1,892 ml | Wide Mouth (86 mm) | 1 inch (25 mm) headspace |