Independent buying guides for home fermentation

Best Half Gallon Mason Jars

Updated How we research

Our top pick

Ball Wide Mouth Half Gallon 64 Oz Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 6

Ball's set of 6 wide mouth half gallon 64 Oz jars with lids and bands, the standard large jar for home fermenting.

Our score8.8/10

Best budget

Anwoi Wide Mouth Mason Jars 64 oz 3 Pack Half Gallon Glass Jar with Airtight Lids and Scale Mark

Anwoi's 3 Pack of 64 oz wide mouth glass jars with airtight lids and a scale mark for measuring brine and ingredients.

Our score7.8/10

The half gallon is the workhorse size for home fermenting: enough for a whole cabbage or a generous batch of pickles, still short enough to fit under most fridge shelves. Differences show up in glass weight, whether the sides run straight or shouldered, mouth diameter, and how square the threads are. Cheap production runs vary batch to batch, which you notice when an airlock lid seals on one jar and not the next. We weighed thread consistency, base thickness, and how the jars handle a hot wash, then checked whether lids and weights from the usual brands fit without wobble. Straight-sided wide mouth jars are the safest default, because weights drop straight in and packed vegetables come out whole. Buy shouldered jars only if you water bath can as well, where the narrower neck still has a real place in the kitchen.

The short version

We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.8 out of 10.

Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score

  1. 1.Ball Wide Mouth Half Gallon 64 Oz Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 6
    8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
  2. 2.Anwoi Wide Mouth Mason Jars 64 oz 3 Pack Half Gallon Glass Jar with Airtight Lids and Scale Mark
    7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
  3. 3.Ball 64oz Wide Mouth Half Gallon Mason Jar
    7.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
  4. 4.ComSaf Half Gallon Mason Jar 64oz 3Pcs, Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Seal Bands for Pickling and Fermentation
    7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
  5. 5.Galssmagic 64 oz Mason Jar Wide Mouth, 3 Pack Large Half Gallon Mason Jars with Airtight Lid for Canning and Fermenting
    7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
  6. 6.FyndraX 64 OZ Wide Mouth Mason Jar with Lid, Heavy Duty Glass Airtight Half Gallon Jar for Fermenting and Pickling
    7.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
  7. 7.kitchentoolz Half Gallon Glass Large Mason Jar Wide Mouth with Airtight Metal Lid - Made in USA
    7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
Tick up to 3 picks to compare them side by side.
Ball Wide Mouth Half Gallon 64 Oz Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 6#1
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Ball's set of 6 wide mouth half gallon 64 Oz jars with lids and bands, the standard large jar for home fermenting.

Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10

  • + Ball jars are the reference size that most fermenting lids and weights fit
  • + Set of 6 gives plenty of big jars for kraut, kombucha or pickles
  • + Lids and bands included, so jars store finished ferments right away
  • - Metal canning lids can rust from salty brine over long ferments
  • - Half gallon jars are tall and may not fit on standard fridge shelves
Anwoi Wide Mouth Mason Jars 64 oz 3 Pack Half Gallon Glass Jar with Airtight Lids and Scale Mark#2
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Anwoi's 3 Pack of 64 oz wide mouth glass jars with airtight lids and a scale mark for measuring brine and ingredients.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10

  • + Scale mark on the glass helps measure water for brine without a separate cup
  • + 3 Pack covers several ferments or a ferment plus dry storage
  • + Wide mouth opening fits a fist, weights and a tamper for tight packing
  • - Printed scale marks can fade with frequent scrubbing or dishwasher cycles
  • - Airtight lids are not vented, so active ferments need regular burping
Ball 64oz Wide Mouth Half Gallon Mason Jar#3
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Ball's 64oz wide mouth half gallon mason jar, the classic single jar for a mid-size batch of kraut, pickles or kefir.

Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 6/10

  • + Ball is the standard mason jar brand, so lids, weights and airlocks made for wide mouth fit it
  • + 64oz volume holds a head of cabbage or a solid run of cucumbers without crowding
  • + Wide mouth opening makes packing vegetables and scrubbing the inside easy
  • - Sold as a single jar, so it is poor value if you want several at once
  • - Standard canning lid is not a fermentation lid, so gas release needs burping or an airlock
ComSaf Half Gallon Mason Jar 64oz 3Pcs, Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Seal Bands for Pickling and Fermentation#4
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ComSaf's 3Pcs set of 64oz wide mouth half gallon mason jars with lids and seal bands, pitched for pickling and fermentation.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10

  • + 3Pcs set lets you run kraut, pickles and a brine test at the same time
  • + Lids and seal bands are included, so the jars are ready to close out of the box
  • + Wide mouth size accepts common fermentation weights and airlock lids sold separately
  • - Two-piece metal lids can rust when they sit against salty brine for weeks
  • - No airlock or weight is included, so it is a jar set rather than a full kit
Galssmagic 64 oz Mason Jar Wide Mouth, 3 Pack Large Half Gallon Mason Jars with Airtight Lid for Canning and Fermenting#5
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Galssmagic's 3 Pack of 64 oz wide mouth half gallon mason jars with airtight lids, aimed at canning and fermenting.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10

  • + 3 Pack of large jars suits rotating batches of pickles and sauerkraut
  • + Listed for canning and fermenting, so the glass is meant for regular kitchen use
  • + Airtight lids double as fridge storage lids once fermentation finishes
  • - Airtight lids need burping or swapping for airlock lids while the ferment is bubbling
  • - Lesser-known brand, so check that wide mouth accessories seat well on the rim
FyndraX 64 OZ Wide Mouth Mason Jar with Lid, Heavy Duty Glass Airtight Half Gallon Jar for Fermenting and Pickling#6
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FyndraX's heavy duty 64 OZ wide mouth mason jar with lid, a single thick glass jar for fermenting and pickling.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10

  • + Heavy duty glass stands up better to tamping and daily handling than thin jars
  • + 64 OZ capacity is a practical size for a weekly batch of kraut or pickles
  • + Airtight lid keeps finished ferments from absorbing fridge odors
  • - Single jar only, so building a rotation of batches costs more per jar
  • - Thicker glass adds weight, which makes a full jar heavier to lift and pour
kitchentoolz Half Gallon Glass Large Mason Jar Wide Mouth with Airtight Metal Lid - Made in USA#7
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kitchentoolz's half gallon wide mouth glass mason jar with an airtight metal lid, made in USA for storage or small ferments.

Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10

  • + Made in USA glass appeals to buyers who want a known origin for food contact jars
  • + Airtight metal lid keeps dry goods fresh once the ferment moves to the fridge
  • + Wide mouth half gallon size fits a hand and a tamper for packing vegetables
  • - Airtight lid traps fermentation gas, so it needs daily burping during active ferments
  • - Metal lid should be kept out of direct contact with brine to avoid corrosion

Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged

No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.

Frequently asked questions

›What is the best choice among half gallon mason jars?

Ball Wide Mouth Half Gallon 64 Oz Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 6 is our top overall pick. Ball's set of 6 wide mouth half gallon 64 Oz jars with lids and bands, the standard large jar for home fermenting. It earns our score of 8.8/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.

›What is a good budget option?

Anwoi Wide Mouth Mason Jars 64 oz 3 Pack Half Gallon Glass Jar with Airtight Lids and Scale Mark is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Anwoi's 3 Pack of 64 oz wide mouth glass jars with airtight lids and a scale mark for measuring brine and ingredients.

›How much should I expect to spend?

Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.

›How were these products chosen?

We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.

Ferment Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.

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