- Best glass jar: Little Giant 16 oz glass skep jars, airtight metal lids, 12-pack.
- Best squeeze bottle: Mann Lake CN530 12 oz bears, PETE plastic, 24-pack.
- Best made-in-USA bear: Nakpunar 8 fl oz bears that hold 12 oz of honey by weight, with heat-seal liners.
- Honey jar sizes usually mean honey weight, not liquid volume: a "12 oz" bear holds about 8 to 9 fl oz. Label net weight accordingly and check your state's rules.
The best honey jars protect your honey, look good on a market table and match the size you put on your label. Glass looks premium and is easy to reuse; plastic squeeze bottles are light, shatter-resistant and easy to pour from. Pack size matters too, because you'll fill dozens at a time.
We compared ten jars and bottles from seven brands by listed capacity (and whether that means honey weight or fluid ounces), material, lid and pack count. We also cover the USDA fill recommendation and where to find honey labeling rules.
Our picks
Little Giant 16 oz Glass Skep Honey Jars, 12 Pack
- Size
- 16 oz
- Count
- 12
- Material
- Glass
- Lid
- Airtight metal lid
Little Giant's glass skep jars come 12 to a pack in a 16 oz size, shaped like a traditional straw skep, with airtight metal lids. Clear glass shows off color, and the skep shape signals "local honey" at a glance. The listing doesn't say whether 16 oz is honey weight or fluid ounces; most honey jars mean honey weight, but confirm with a test fill before labeling.
Best for: farmers market and gift jars
Skip if: you need shatter-proof containers
- Classic skep shape
- Airtight metal lids
- Clear glass
- Weight vs volume not stated
- Heavier to ship
- 12-pack only
Mann Lake CN530 12 oz Squeeze Honey Bears, 24 Pack
- Size
- 12 oz
- Count
- 24
- Material
- PETE plastic
- Lid
- Yellow flip-top
Mann Lake's CN530 is the classic 12 oz squeeze bear in clear PETE plastic with a yellow flip top, 24 to a pack, measuring 6 x 2-1/2 x 2-1/4 in. Bears are the format many buyers expect for everyday honey, and plastic travels well.
Best for: everyday honey for markets and repeat buyers
Skip if: you want a premium glass look
- 24-pack
- PETE plastic, flip top
- From a long-running bee supplier
- Weight vs volume wording not in listing
- Plastic look
- Flip tops can get sticky
Mann Lake CN235 1 lb Inverted Squeeze Jars, 24 Pack
- Size
- 1 lb
- Count
- 24
- Material
- PETE plastic
- Lid
- 38 mm valve closure
Mann Lake's CN235 inverted queenline squeeze jar holds 1 lb, in PETE plastic with a 2 in valve closure and yellow 38 mm flip top, 24 per pack. The inverted design stands on its cap so honey is always at the opening, and the valve limits drips. A 1 lb size is the simplest unit for pricing.
Best for: 1 lb honey sales with no-drip dispensing
Skip if: you prefer glass
- 1 lb capacity
- Valve closure, no-drip
- 24-pack
- Plastic
- Inverted jars need shelf space
- Not resealable like a screw jar
Nakpunar 8 oz Honey Bear Bottles, Made in USA, 18
- Size
- 8 fl oz (12 oz honey)
- Count
- 18
- Material
- PET plastic
- Lid
- Yellow flip-top, heat-seal liner
Nakpunar's bears are 8 fl oz PET bottles that hold about 12 oz of honey by weight, with yellow flip-top caps; both bottle and cap are made in the USA. Each cap has a LIFT 'N' PEEL heat-seal liner for freshness and tamper evidence. At 2.6 x 5.9 in, they fit standard bear labels.
Best for: sellers who want tamper-evident seals
Skip if: you need a large pack count
- Made in USA
- Heat-seal liners
- Clear weight vs volume info
- 18-pack
- Heat sealing needs an induction sealer or careful method
- Plastic
Nakpunar 16 oz Muth Glass Honey Jars with Cork, 12
- Size
- 16 oz (1 lb)
- Count
- 12
- Material
- Glass
- Lid
- Cork stopper
Nakpunar's 16 oz muth bottles are a reproduction of the 1800s Muth honey jar, 12 per pack with corks. The listing states that 16 oz is the honey weight, not fluid ounces, and gives a size of 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 x 6-3/4 in without the cork. The embossed side shows the honey weight.
Best for: premium and gift honey
Skip if: you want a no-drip or screw lid
- Holds 16 oz (1 lb) honey by weight
- Embossed weight
- Classic look
- Cork isn't airtight like a lid
- Glass weight for shipping
- 12-pack
RetroPak 4 oz Muth Honey Jars with Cork, 36 Pack
- Size
- 4 oz honey (2.67 fl oz)
- Count
- 36
- Material
- Glass
- Lid
- Cork stopper
RetroPak's mini muth jars hold 4 oz of honey by weight (113 g, 2.67 fl oz), 36 per pack with food-safe corks. They measure 1.6 x 1.6 x 4.3 in without cork and the glass is dishwasher safe. Small jars are good for sample sizes, wedding favors and tasting flights of different honeys.
Best for: samplers, favors and tasting sets
Skip if: you sell mostly 1 lb jars
- Weight and volume both listed
- 36-pack
- Dishwasher-safe glass
- Hand-wash corks
- Small size takes longer to fill
- Glass breakage risk
Bekith 12 oz Glass Honey Bear Jars, 12 Pack
- Size
- 12 oz (honey net weight)
- Count
- 12
- Material
- Glass
- Lid
- Silver metal lids
Bekith's glass bears hold 12 oz of honey by net weight (9 fl oz maximum capacity), 3 in wide x 5 in high, with silver lids, 12 per pack. A glass bear keeps the familiar shape but feels more premium than plastic.
Best for: gift honey and premium bears
Skip if: you need squeeze dispensing
- Weight and volume both listed
- Glass, reusable
- Silver lids
- Not squeezable
- 12-pack
- Heavier than plastic
Patelai 9.5 oz Glass Tilted Bear Honey Jars, 24 Pack
- Size
- 9.5 oz
- Count
- 24
- Material
- Glass
- Lid
- Gold lids
Patelai's tilted bear jars are glass with gold lids, 24 to a pack, in a 9.5 oz size. The listing describes food-grade clear glass but doesn't say whether 9.5 oz is volume or honey weight, so test-fill before labeling.
Best for: decorative jars and favors
Skip if: you need clearly stated net weight
- 24-pack
- Gold lids
- Distinctive shape
- Weight vs volume not stated
- Unusual size for pricing
- Glass weight
Little Giant 12 oz Plastic Honey Bear Bottles, 12 Pack
- Size
- 12 oz
- Count
- 12
- Material
- Clear plastic
- Lid
- Yellow flip-top
Little Giant's plastic bears are 12 oz BPA-free PETE bottles with yellow flip tops and a built-in freshness and safety seal, 12 per pack. A smaller pack is handy if you're bottling your first harvest and don't want 24 or more.
Best for: first harvests and small batches
Skip if: you need volume pricing
- Built-in freshness seal
- BPA-free PETE
- Small pack
- 12-pack only
- Weight vs volume not stated
- Plastic
KEJJNYER 2 oz Mini Plastic Honey Bears, 50 Pack
- Size
- 2 oz / 60 ml
- Count
- 50
- Material
- PET plastic
- Lid
- Yellow cap
KEJJNYER's 2 oz (60 ml) plastic bears come 50 per pack with yellow caps. The listing notes that because honey is denser than water, each holds about 2.7 oz of honey. Minis make good samples, favors and add-ons at the market table.
Best for: samples and party favors
Skip if: you sell standard sizes only
- 50-pack
- Weight and volume explained
- Cheap to give away
- Fiddly to fill
- Small labels needed
- Plastic
Honey jar sizes: weight vs fluid ounces
Honey jars are usually sold by the weight of honey they hold, not by liquid volume. Because honey is much denser than water, a bottle that holds 8 fl oz of water holds about 12 oz of honey by weight. Several listings here spell this out; others don't, so test-fill one jar on a kitchen scale before printing labels.
Honey weight per container, where the listing states it
| Product | Size | Count | Material | Lid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Giant 16 oz Glass Skep Honey Jars, 12 Pack | 16 oz | 12 | Glass | Airtight metal lid |
| Mann Lake CN530 12 oz Squeeze Honey Bears, 24 Pack | 12 oz | 24 | PETE plastic | Yellow flip-top |
| Mann Lake CN235 1 lb Inverted Squeeze Jars, 24 Pack | 1 lb | 24 | PETE plastic | 38 mm valve closure |
| Nakpunar 8 oz Honey Bear Bottles, Made in USA, 18 | 8 fl oz (12 oz honey) | 18 | PET plastic | Yellow flip-top, heat-seal liner |
| Nakpunar 16 oz Muth Glass Honey Jars with Cork, 12 | 16 oz (1 lb) | 12 | Glass | Cork stopper |
| RetroPak 4 oz Muth Honey Jars with Cork, 36 Pack | 4 oz honey (2.67 fl oz) | 36 | Glass | Cork stopper |
| Bekith 12 oz Glass Honey Bear Jars, 12 Pack | 12 oz (honey net weight) | 12 | Glass | Silver metal lids |
| Patelai 9.5 oz Glass Tilted Bear Honey Jars, 24 Pack | 9.5 oz | 24 | Glass | Gold lids |
| Little Giant 12 oz Plastic Honey Bear Bottles, 12 Pack | 12 oz | 12 | Clear plastic | Yellow flip-top |
| KEJJNYER 2 oz Mini Plastic Honey Bears, 50 Pack | 2 oz / 60 ml | 50 | PET plastic | Yellow cap |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Glass or plastic honey jars?
Glass vs plastic honey containers
| Glass (skep, muth, glass bear) | Plastic (bears, queenline) | |
|---|---|---|
| Premium look | ✓ | ~ |
| Shatter-resistant | ✗ | ✓ |
| Squeeze dispensing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shipping weight | ~ heavy | ✓ light |
| Reusable by buyers | ✓ | ~ |
| Warming crystallized honey in the jar | ✓ in warm water | ~ gentle warmth only |
Source: Hive & Frame summary
Many sellers offer both: glass for gifts and premium honey, plastic bears for everyday use and kids.
How full should honey jars be, and what goes on the label?
The USDA United States Standards for Grades of Extracted Honey recommend that containers of one gallon or less be filled with honey to at least 95% of their total capacity. The standard is voluntary, but underfilled jars look short to buyers.
Before you fill, check moisture with our honey moisture guide.
How to fill honey jars cleanly
- Settle honey first
Let strained honey settle a day or two in a gate bucket so bubbles rise.
- Check moisture
Test with a honey refractometer; the USDA grade A/B limit is 18.6% moisture.
- Weigh a test jar
Fill one jar, weigh it, and confirm it matches the net weight on your label.
- Fill from the gate
Fill each jar to at least 95% of its capacity, close the gate with a twist to cut the stream, and wipe threads before capping.
- Label and seal
Add your label and a tamper-evident seal if your market expects one.
Mistakes to avoid
- Labeling fluid ounces as net weight. A "12 oz" bear means 12 oz of honey, about 8 fl oz.
- Bottling unsettled honey. You'll see foam in every jar.
- Using corks for runny honey you'll ship. Corks can leak; use lids.
- Ordering one size only. Small jars sell as gifts and samples; 1 lb jars sell to regulars.
Which honey jars should you buy?
- Market table, premium look: Little Giant glass skeps or Nakpunar 1 lb muth jars.
- Everyday sales: Mann Lake CN530 bears or CN235 1 lb queenline squeeze jars.
- Made in USA with tamper seals: Nakpunar 8 fl oz bears.
- Gifts and samples: RetroPak 4 oz muth jars or KEJJNYER 2 oz minis.
Selling for the first time? Read how to sell honey at farmers markets and see best honey bottling buckets. Browse more containers and labels in bottling and selling or on the honey sellers page.
For glass, the Little Giant 16 oz skep jars are the market-table classic; for everyday sales, Mann Lake CN530 bears and CN235 1 lb queenline jars are proven formats in 24-packs. If you want made-in-USA bottles with tamper-evident liners, Nakpunar's 8 fl oz bears hold 12 oz of honey. Whatever you choose, label by honey weight, fill to at least 95% and follow FDA and state labeling rules.
We compared jar and bottle listings by stated capacity (and whether it means honey weight or fluid ounces), material, lid type, dimensions and pack count. Where a listing doesn't say weight or volume, we say so. We did not fill these jars. Fill guidance comes from the USDA AMS grade standards for extracted honey; labeling guidance from the FDA and state programs.