The main places to buy canning jars

You can buy canning jars at grocery stores, hardware stores, online retailers, and specialty canning suppliers. The most common choice is a grocery store or big-box retailer like Walmart or Target, where Ball and Kerr jars are usually stocked year-round in the canning aisle. Hardware stores like Ace Hardware and True Value carry similar brands and often have staff who know canning. Online options include Amazon, Walmart.com, and specialty sites like Lehman's, which stock a wider range of sizes and brands but add shipping time and cost.

Availability shifts with the season. Summer and early fall — peak canning months — mean full shelves and sometimes backorders when demand spikes. Winter and spring often have picked-over stock or gaps in popular sizes. If you're canning outside the main season, ordering online guarantees you'll find what you need without driving to multiple stores.

Key Takeaways

  • Ball and Kerr jars are the standard brands sold at grocery stores, hardware stores, and online retailers year-round.
  • Grocery stores and big-box retailers stock jars cheapest during peak canning season (June through September) and may run low in winter.
  • Specialty suppliers like Lehman's and Ace Hardware carry more sizes and brands but may cost more per jar.
  • Buying online guarantees availability but adds shipping costs and delays; local pickup at Walmart or Target avoids both.
  • Jars are reusable for years, so buying in bulk when prices are lowest saves money if you have storage space.

Grocery stores and supermarkets

Most grocery chains stock Ball and Kerr jars in the canning section, usually near baking supplies or in a seasonal aisle. Prices are competitive — typically $6 to $10 per dozen for quart jars — and you can inspect jars in person before buying. Chains like Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, and regional stores all carry them, though selection varies by location and time of year.

The downside is that popular sizes sell out during peak season. If you need pint jars in August, you may find only quarts left. Calling ahead saves a wasted trip. Some stores will hold jars if you ask, though policies vary.

Big-box retailers and warehouse clubs

Walmart and Target stock Ball jars year-round in the canning aisle, often at lower per-unit prices than grocery stores, especially if you buy a case. Target sometimes runs sales on canning supplies in late spring. Costco and Sam's Club occasionally carry bulk cases of jars at a discount, but selection is limited and timing is unpredictable — you may find them one month and not the next.

Walmart and Target both offer local pickup for online orders, which lets you avoid shipping costs and get jars the same day if stock is available nearby. Check the website first to see if your store has the size and quantity you need in stock.

Hardware stores

Ace Hardware, True Value, and local independent hardware stores carry Ball and Kerr jars and often stock them longer into the season than grocery stores do. Staff at hardware stores are usually familiar with canning and can answer questions about jar sizes, lids, and equipment. Prices are similar to grocery stores, sometimes slightly higher.

The real advantage is service. If you're unsure what size jar you need or how many, a hardware store employee can help you think it through. Some hardware stores will special-order jars if they don't have your size in stock.

Online retailers

Amazon, Walmart.com, and Target.com all ship canning jars, though shipping costs add $5 to $15 per order depending on weight and distance. Delivery usually takes three to seven days. Specialty sites like Lehman's, Homesteading Family, and Backwoods Home Magazine's store carry a wider range of brands — including Weck jars, Bormioli Rocco, and older styles — but prices are higher and shipping is slower.

Online shopping makes sense if you live far from stores, need an unusual size, or want to compare prices across sellers without leaving home. For standard Ball quart jars, local pickup at Walmart or Target is usually cheaper and faster than shipping.

Specialty canning suppliers

Stores that focus on canning, preserving, and homesteading — like Lehman's, Backwoods Home, and regional suppliers — stock a full range of jar sizes, brands, and related equipment in one place. They often have staff with deep canning knowledge and sell hard-to-find items like Weck jars, specialty lids, and vintage-style jars. Prices are higher than big-box stores, but selection is much broader.

These suppliers are worth visiting if you want to try a different jar brand, need multiple sizes for different recipes, or want information on what equipment to buy. Many also sell online with shipping, though costs add up quickly for heavy items like jars.

Timing and cost considerations

Canning jar prices are lowest during peak season — June through August — when competition is highest and stores run promotions. A dozen quart jars might cost $6 to $8 in summer but $9 to $12 in winter. Buying in bulk when prices are low saves money if you have storage space and plan to can regularly.

New jars cost roughly the same whether you buy them in bulk or one dozen at a time, so the main savings come from shopping during sales. Jars are reusable for decades if you care for them properly, so buying extra when they're cheap is a reasonable strategy if you have room to store them.

Lids and bands wear out and need replacing each season, but jars themselves last indefinitely. Used jars from thrift stores, estate sales, or online marketplaces cost less but require inspection for chips or cracks before use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any glass jar for canning, or do I need special canning jars?

You need jars designed for canning — they have a special rim that holds lids tight during processing and cooling. Regular glass jars like pasta sauce jars don't seal properly and can fail during storage. Canning jars are inexpensive enough that using the right ones is worth it.

What's the difference between Ball and Kerr jars?

Both are reliable brands made for home canning and work identically. Ball is more widely available and usually slightly cheaper. Kerr jars are equally good and often easier to find in certain regions. Pick whichever is in stock and costs less — the difference in performance is negligible.

Should I buy jars with lids and bands included?

Jars usually come without lids or bands. You buy those separately — lids are single-use and bands are reusable. Some retailers sell starter kits with jars, lids, and bands together, which can be convenient if you're new to canning, but buying them separately is usually cheaper if you already have bands from previous seasons.

Is it cheaper to buy jars online or in a store?

In-store prices are usually lower because you avoid shipping costs. Walmart and Target often have the best per-jar prices at $6 to $8 per dozen. Online shopping makes sense only if your local stores are out of stock or you need specialty brands. Local pickup at Walmart or Target gives you the best of both — online selection with no shipping cost.

Where can I find used canning jars?

Thrift stores, estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist often have used jars at $1 to $3 each. Inspect them carefully for chips on the rim, cracks, or cloudiness inside. Jars with damaged rims won't seal properly. Used jars are a good deal if you find them in good condition, but new jars during sales are sometimes cheaper than hunting for used ones.