From jam and pickles to spice blends, honey and handmade candles, glass jars still say quality on a shelf, and they can be reused by the customer. Jars are sold with or without lids, in cartons that hold 12 to 240 depending on the size. Send us the capacity, the lid type and what goes inside, and suppliers who deliver to your area quote you directly. The service is free and you are not obliged to buy.
Lug caps, screw caps and other closures
The lid decides whether the jar is right for your product. A twist-off lug cap seals with a short turn and is the standard for jam, pickles, sauces and baby food, usually with a button that pops when the vacuum is good. A continuous-thread screw cap suits spices, honey and dry goods and is easy to reopen. Cork-stopper and clip-top jars are popular for gifts and storage but are not suitable for hot-filled preserves.
Lids come in gold, silver, black and white, and lids for food should have a lining made for food contact. Always quote the jar and lid size together, such as a 63 mm or 82 mm lug cap, because they must match.
Jars for food: hot fill, canning and spices
Jam and preserves are filled hot, so the glass must handle thermal shock and the lid must seal as the contents cool. Ask for jars made for hot fill or canning, and do not reuse lug lids, as the seal weakens after the first use. For dry spices and teas, look at small 100 ml to 250 ml jars with a shaker insert or a sealed inner liner. Food jars should come with a declaration that the glass and lid are suitable for foodstuffs, and your food packaging supplier can add labels, shelf life dating and tamper bands.
Candle jars and decorative jars
Not every jar will survive hot wax. Candle makers should ask for heat-resistant, thick-walled jars with a flat base and no sharp internal shoulder, as thin glass can crack when a flame burns down. Straight-sided tumbler jars, amber jars and frosted jars are common choices, and they are often sold without lids so you can add a wooden or metal lid separately. Mention the wax type and wick size when you ask for a quote, because wide jars need larger wicks and burn hotter. Candles also sell better in gift packs, so ask about gift boxes sized to the jar.
Weight, breakage and delivery
Glass is heavy, so freight is a real part of the price. A pallet of 500 ml jars can weigh more than half a tonne, and a pallet of jars is usually cheaper per jar than loose cartons. Jars arrive on shrink-wrapped pallets with layer pads, or in cartons with cardboard dividers that stop glass touching glass. Check the delivery on arrival and report chips or cracks the same day. When you post finished jars to customers, pack each in bubble wrap or a moulded divider and a double wall carton.
What to include in your request
- Capacity in ml and the shape you want
- Lid type, size and colour
- Hot fill, canning, candle or dry goods
- Quantity and whether you want a full pallet
- Delivery address and when you need it
Glass Jars for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: jars with lids for honey, preserves and candles packed to post in padded cartons
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: lug cap jars for jam, pickles and sauces, and small screw-top jars for spices
- Shops and retail stores: decorative storage jars and candle jars for gift and homeware shelves
- Factories and manufacturers: bulk jars for sauces, relish and salsa filled on a small production line
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: jars on shrink-wrapped pallets with layer pads for distributors and fillers
- Households and offices moving: sturdy empty jars for storing screws, spices and small items during a move
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: jars for farm-stall honey, chutney, jam and dried herbs sold at markets
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: frosted and amber jars for body butter, balms and poured candles
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy glass jars and lids in small quantities?
Which glass jars are best for candles?
Are glass jars safe for food?
How do I stop jars from breaking in transit?
Glass Jars by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg