13 Uses For Glass Jars: Creative Ideas, Crafts & More

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - collage: jars full of liqued and citrus slices; piggy bank jar; jar full of essential oil gel on a bedside table; jar with soap dispenser lid on a bathroom sink

Creative Ideas For Glass Jars

Today’s post is an ode to one of my very favorite kitchen items: the humble glass jar. Whether you’re looking for ways to put your mason jar collection to good use or fun ideas for pickle jar crafts, there are all sorts of creative and practical uses for glass jars!

I’ve actually written quite a lot about glass jars over the years, having used them in DIYs, recipes, health tips, home decor projects, and much more. So I revisited some of those ideas and rounded up a few more to put together this list of things to do with mason jars. Enjoy!

Have a glass jar tip that isn’t mentioned here? Tell us all about it in a comment at the bottom of this post!

14 Brilliant Uses For Glass Jars

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - homemade shaker jar made with dispenser part of milk carton; using the dispenser jar to sprinkle cleaner on a sheet pan

1. Add A Pour Spout

This is one of my all-time favorite jar projects, because it’s so easy, and it’s really useful too! You simply remove the spout area from a pour-top carton of juice or milk, then slap it on top of a spare mason jar, and screw a canning ring onto the jar to keep the spout in place.

Voila, you have the world’s easiest pour-top dispenser! (For more specific details and instructions, see the full post at the link below.)

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - different sizes of jars used for holding desk accessories

2. Get Organized

When it comes to using mason jars to keep things neat and tidy around the house, the possibilities are endless! Learn about 11 great ways you can organize your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and more with mason jars below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - jars with purchased accessories: collage: terrarium jar; citrus squeezer jar; piggy bank jar

3. Accessorize It

Glass jars are already useful, but a few jar accessories can up their utility even more! There are tons of cool accessories out there that can transform glass jars into something totally new. I shared some of my favorite mason jar accessories a little while back, so check that out at the link below!

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - making marinade in a jar; putting a chicken breast into marinade in a jar

4. Marinate Meat

Have you ever marinated meat in glass jars? I highly recommend giving it a try! It’s a great way to really infuse the flavor of the marinade into the meat, and since you can wash and reuse the jar afterwards, it’s less wasteful than using a ziplock bag. Get all the details at the full post below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - mason jar with soap dispenser lid on a bathroom sink

5. Make A Soap Dispenser

Speaking of wasteful, think of all the plastic that could goes into making hand soap bottles. When they’re empty, a lot of people just toss theirs in the trash and buy a new one. Instead, why not make your own soap dispenser jar top? They’re easy to make, and much less wasteful! Get the details at the link below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - diy blue tinted mason jars used as flower vases

6. Give It A Makeover

Love the vintage look of those blue-tinted mason jars? You can easily replicate it at home to give your jars the vintage look you love without paying an arm and a leg for it. Smart! Get all the instructions at the link below.

Related: DIY “Vintage” Mason Jars

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - blue tinted jar with lighted lid making it a small lamp

7. Light It Up

Mason jar luminaries are not only cute, but they’re practical too! You can use them inside or outside, or carry them around to light different areas. The light source itself is just a simple LED insert you can buy online, so no tricky DIYing or installation required! Get all the details below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - jars with floating citrus slices made into water candles

8. Make A Pretty Candle

Transform glass jars into pretty water candles! They smell great and look very elegant as well. These candles are sure to add a classy touch to your decor, and no one even has to know how easy they were to make. ;-) Learn how to make them at the link below!

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - planting herbs in jars

9. Plant An Herb Garden

The only thing better than fresh herbs is having fresh herbs on hand all the time! You can start your very own indoor herb “garden” with a few glass jars. Soon enough, you’ll have more fresh and fragrant herbs than you’ll know what to do with! Get all the details on my own herb garden below.

Related: DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - homemade anti-snore jar sitting on bedside table.

10. Stop Snoring

If you or someone you love is a snorer, give my homemade snore relief gel a try. I like to store it in a mason jar so I can cap and un-cap it as needed. The gel itself contains natural essential oils that can help provide relief to snorers (and their bedmates, of course!) Learn how to make it at the link below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - instant hot lunch noodle jar

11. Make A Take-Along Meal

A glass jar makes an ideal vessel for self-contained meals you can take to work or school. And they’re generally healthier, more delicious, and less expensive than going out for lunch! Check out nearly two dozen delicious mason jar meal ideas below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - homemade Breathe jar with essential oils; woman using Breathe jar.

12. Relieve Congestion

Both colds and allergies can lead to stuffy noses and congestion. But with the help of a mason jar, you can relieve congestion fast! Using some cotton balls and a few essential oils, you can make your own portable “breathe jar” that will help reduce inflammation and open your airways. Get all the details on how to make your own at the link below.

Creative Uses For Glass Jars - homemade sparkly votive candle holders made with jars and coarse salt

13. Add Some Sparkle

One can never have too much sparkle, in my opinion. And these easy-to-make salt votives are a quick way to add some sparkle to your home decor, and it makes a great pickle jar craft too! With just a jar, some salt, and a tea light, you can add warmth and character to any room. Learn how to make your own salt votives below!

Creative Uses For Glass Jars- air freshener jars collage: jar with wire mesh lid; jar with a lid with a single small hole in the center.

14. Make A Room Smell Great

A mason jar is the perfect container for my homemade gel air fresheners. They’re totally customizable, and you can make them your own by choosing your favorite colors, decorations, and scents. If you have enough jars, you can make one for every room in your home! :-) Read the full post below for all the details.

Looking For More Posts Like This?

I’ve written dozens of blog posts about creative alternative uses for everyday items, and now there’s a quick and easy way to peruse them!
Check out all of my “Uses For” posts here.

What other uses for glass jars would you add to this list?