Wide Mouth vs Regular Mouth Mason Jars: Which Is Better?
Neither type is always better. Wide-mouth Mason jars are easier to fill, empty, and clean, especially when canning whole or chunky foods. Regular-mouth jars work well for pourable foods such as jams, jellies, sauces, and liquids, and their narrower shape may let you fit more jars in some canners.
My choice depends on what I am canning. I like the convenience of wide-mouth jars, but regular-mouth pints make better use of the space in my All American 930. It holds 19 regular-mouth pint jars but only 16 wide-mouth pints.
Wide Mouth vs Regular Mouth Mason Jars: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Wide Mouth | Regular Mouth |
|---|---|---|
| Clear jar opening | About 3 inches | About 2-3/8 inches |
| Best suited for | Whole or halved foods, pickles, bulky foods | Jams, jellies, sauces and pourable foods |
| Filling and emptying | Easier | A funnel is more helpful |
| Cleaning | Usually easier because of straighter sides | Shoulder can make cleaning harder |
| Canner capacity | Often fewer pints | Often more pints |
| Lids and bands | Requires wide-mouth size | Requires regular-mouth size |
| Cost | Compare current cost per jar or lid | Compare current cost per jar or lid |
Cost of Jars and Replacement Lids
A quick Amazon price check showed that Ball Regular Mouth jars cost less than the Wide Mouth version. The same was true for replacement lids, giving Regular Mouth the advantage on price.
At the time of this price check, Regular Mouth lids cost about 42 cents each when purchased in a package of 72. Wide Mouth lids cost about 62 cents each in the same quantity. The added convenience of Wide Mouth jars comes at a noticeably higher price, which may or may not matter to you.
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→ 72 Regular Mouth Ball Lids
→ 72 Wide Mouth Ball Lids
What Is the Difference Between the Two Mouth Sizes?
The main difference is the diameter and shape of the jar opening. A Ball Regular Mouth Mason jar has a clear opening of about 2-3/8 inches, while a Wide Mouth jar has a clear opening of about 3 inches. By “clear opening,” I mean the unobstructed inside diameter where food passes through, not the wider outside diameter of the threads, lid, or band.
Regular Mouth jars narrow near the top and have a noticeable shoulder below the opening. Wide Mouth jars have straighter sides and little or no shoulder, which makes them easier to fill, empty, and clean.
The two sizes also require different lids and screw bands. Regular Mouth and Wide Mouth lids are not interchangeable. You must use the lid and band made for the specific mouth size of the jar.
Filling, Emptying, and Cleaning
I find that I do not need a canning funnel as often when filling Wide Mouth jars. The larger opening makes it easier to add whole, chunky, or bulky foods.
Wide Mouth jars are also generally easier to clean because their sides are fairly straight. Regular Mouth jars have a curved shoulder near the top, which can make some foods more difficult to remove.
Pressure-Canner Capacity
Regular Mouth pint jars may also make better use of the available space inside a pressure canner. The exact capacity depends on the canner model, jar size, jar shape, and how the jars are arranged.
My All American Model 930 pressure canner holds 19 Regular Mouth pint jars but only 16 Wide Mouth pints. With quart jars, however, it holds 14 jars regardless of mouth size.
👉 All American Pressure Canner Best Features
My first pressure canner was the 23-quart Presto Model 01781 (Amazon). It holds up to 20 Regular Mouth pint jars or 16 Wide Mouth pint jars when double-decked. It holds seven quart jars with either mouth size.
Depending on the canner, jar shape, and whether you are processing pints or quarts, the capacity difference will vary. Generally speaking, however, Regular Mouth pint jars have the advantage when maximizing the number of jars in a batch.
Which Mouth Size Do I Prefer?
Personally, I prefer Wide Mouth jars for most of my canning. They are especially convenient when I am canning chicken or beef because the food is easier to place inside and remove later. Their straighter sides also make cleanup easier.
Regular Mouth jars still have advantages. They generally cost less, work well for pourable foods, and may allow more pint jars to fit in a canner.
So you home canners out there, which size do you prefer?
I’ve read that wide mouth lids are more prone to sealing failure, but I’ve never had that problem. I prefer wide mouth primarily because we use them in the freezer, which you can’t do with the regular. they are also easier to clean. We are stocked with both metal lids and Tattler lids and only use metal lids in the freezer.
Yes wide mouth are easier to fill, empty, and clean; however an initial purchase of jars finds widemouth a bit more expensive than regular jars. I still use Gem jars which are a size in between regular and wide. I was fortunate to find a supplier of the rubber gaskets used with the Gem jar glass lid. I have preferences for what I use in each jar as indicated above.