Ball Regular Mouth 8 oz Mason Jars vs Kerr Wide Mouth Half-Pint Mason Jars

Both are 8 oz glass canning jars in 12-count sets, and both brands are owned by Newell and made to the same USDA-tested sealing standard. The real split is mouth size: Ball's regular mouth suits jams, jellies, sauces and syrups, while Kerr's wide mouth is easier to fill and empty with whole fruit, pickles and chunky vegetables, and easier to clean. Owners of both report decades of reuse and few seal failures when bands and lids are handled properly. Buy the mouth that matches what you preserve most.

• Choose the Ball regular mouth set if you mostly can jams, jellies, salsas and syrups, or want the classic narrow profile for crafts, favors and decor.
• Choose the Kerr wide mouth set if you can whole fruit, pickles or chunky vegetables, or want a jar that is easier to fill, empty and scrub by hand.