Shaker, Magnetic or Airtight: How to Choose the Best Spice Jars

Spices arrive in all sorts of packaging: cellophane bags of comino from the Mexican aisle, a paper pouch of Mexican oregano, a cardboard box of canela, a plastic tub of chile powder. Moving them into matching jars is not just about looks. A tight lid, a label you can read and a jar that fits your rack or drawer are what let a cook reach for the right spice in the middle of a cook.

The best spice jars for you depend on how you cook: shaker lids for sprinkling, wide mouths for a measuring spoon, magnets for a small kitchen, or a proper seal for bulk spices and dried chiles. This guide covers eight sets, with what each maker states about size, lids and labels, and the storage advice university extension services give.

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Quick verdict: which spice jars to buy

Below, five standouts side by side, then all eight sets reviewed in full.

Five spice jar sets compared

One pick for each kind of spice shelf, with the size, lids and labels each maker or listing states. All eight sets are reviewed below.

Product images from Amazon. Sizes, lids and labels are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.

Our picks for the best spice jars

These eight sets cover the jars people actually shop for: square 4-ounce glass sets with shaker lids, a larger round jar sized like a spice shop’s, magnetic tins, a big adjustable shaker, and two airtight jars for bulk spices and chiles. For each one we list the lids and labels the maker includes, because that is where sets differ most.

How to choose spice jars for a Mexican spice shelf

Size. Most spice jars hold 3 to 4 ounces. That is plenty for ground comino or chile powder you use up in a few months, but a light, leafy herb like Mexican oregano fills a jar quickly. For bulk buys, keep a larger sealed jar as backstock and refill the small one.

Lids. Shaker lids are handy for finishing, but University of California Cooperative Extension advises against sprinkling straight from the container into a steaming pot, because steam gets into the jar; shake into your hand or a spoon first. For storage, a lid that seals, such as the gasket on the Bormioli Rocco or Le Parfait jars, matters more.

Opening. A wide mouth lets a measuring spoon in. AOZITA gives its opening as 1 1/4 inches; AllSpice’s round jar is 2 inches across. Whole chiles and canela sticks need a wide jar like the Le Parfait.

Shape and fit. Square jars pack tightly in drawers; round jars sized at 2 inches fit most door and under-shelf racks. Check your rack’s limits before you buy a set.

Labels. Printed labels save time, but check for the spices you actually use. Achiote, guajillo and epazote may not be in every set, so a few blank labels and a paint pen help.

Glass or metal. Glass lets you see how much is left. Metal tins block light, but magnetic tins with clear lids let light in from the top, so keep them out of the sun.

How we chose these eight spice jar sets

We looked at spice jars the way a cook stocks a line: what fits the rack, what a spoon gets into, what seals, and what makes the right jar easy to find. We then picked sets sold on Amazon in the United States by identifiable makers, checked that each was in stock when we wrote this, and took every size, lid and label count from the maker’s listing, noting where a listing contradicts itself. Storage advice comes from University of California Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. We left out many unbranded look-alike sets and have not used these products ourselves.

Spice jar questions, answered

What type of spice jar is best?

Glass jars with a lid that closes tightly, kept in a dark cupboard or drawer. University of California Cooperative Extension says air, light, moisture and heat speed flavor and color loss, and recommends a tightly covered container in a dark place.

Are glass or plastic spice jars better?

Glass is easy to clean and lets you see what is left, which is why every set here except the magnetic tins is glass. The lids are where materials differ: metal caps, bamboo caps, plastic lids or sealed gaskets.

What size spice jars should I buy?

Four ounces is the common size and fits most racks. Go bigger, such as the 8-ounce OXO shaker or the 8.5-ounce Bormioli jars, for the spices you use most, and smaller, like the 3-ounce magnetic tins, for a short list in a small kitchen.

How long do spices last in jars?

University of California Cooperative Extension gives a rule of thumb of one year for ground spices and herbs and two years for whole spices. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension gives three to four years for whole spices, two to four years for ground spices such as cumin and chili powder, and one to three years for leafy herbs such as oregano. Both say a strong smell means the spice is still good.

Do magnetic spice tins keep spices fresh?

They close, but they are usually on open display. University of California Cooperative Extension advises keeping spices away from heat and light, so keep tins out of direct sun and away from the stove.

The jars we would fill first

Start with the Talented Kitchen or AOZITA set for everyday ground spices, add a Bormioli Rocco or Le Parfait jar for bulk comino and whole chiles, and use a kitchen funnel to refill without mess. For what to put in them, see our guides to the best Mexican spices and Mexican oregano, and if you buy whole comino, a mortar and pestle grinds a jar’s worth at a time. Mexican herbs explained covers the leafy herbs worth keeping.

More storage guides: food storage containers, meal-prep containers, flour containers, canister sets, beeswax wraps, bag clips.

Labeling your jars? See our guide to the best spice jar labels.

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