Free Printable Canning Jar Labels

These free printable canning jar labels make your home-canned food look as good as it tastes.

Print a whole sheet of one kind, write the date on each label, and stick them right on top of your jar lids.

There are labels for regular-mouth lids, wide-mouth lids, and the oval spot on jam jars.

I tested them on my own canning and jam and jelly jars to be sure that the size is correct. I printed them on blank 8.5 x 11 label sheets, which work just fine in my printer. Then I cut them out. The only somewhat tedious part is getting the backing off the label. But they are so pretty and they add a nice finishing touch to all the hard work of canning or freezing your vegetables and fruit!

How to Use These Free Printable Canning Jar Labels

• Pick your size. Regular-mouth labels are 2¼-inch circles (12 per page). Wide-mouth labels are 2 11/16-inch circles (6 per page). Jam jar labels are 2¼ x 1⅛-inch ovals (24 per page).
• Print at actual size. In the print window, choose "Actual size" or 100%, not "Fit to page," so the labels come out the right size.
• Use sticker paper or plain paper. Full-sheet sticker paper (sold as "full sheet labels") is easiest. Plain paper works too, with a dab of glue stick or clear tape.
• Cut them out. Use scissors, or a 2¼-inch circle punch for the regular-mouth labels.
• Label after the jars seal. Let your jars cool and seal for 12 to 24 hours, then stick a label on each lid and write the date with a fine-tip marker.

Choose Your Canning Jar Labels

Click a label to print a sheet for regular-mouth jars, or use the links under each label.

Tomatoes Regular mouth Wide mouth	Tomato Sauce Regular mouth Wide mouth	Salsa Regular mouth Wide mouth	Pickles Regular mouth Wide mouth
Green Beans Regular mouth Wide mouth	Peaches Regular mouth Wide mouth	Pears Regular mouth Wide mouth	Jam Regular mouth Wide mouth

Jam Jar Oval Labels

These ovals fit the smooth oval spot on the side of Ball jelly and jam jars. Write in the kind of jam, such as strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, or mixed berry, and the date you made it.

Click here to print the jam jar oval labels (24 per page)

Canning Jar Label Questions

Should the label go on the lid or the jar?

On the lid. Flat canning lids are used only once, so you never have to scrub a label off. Your jars stay clean and ready for next year.

Do I need special paper or a special printer?

No. Any home printer works. Full-sheet sticker paper is the easiest, but plain paper with glue stick or clear tape works too.

Can I use these labels for freezing?

Yes, on freezer jars and containers. In the freezer, cover the label with a piece of clear packing tape so it stays put and the ink doesn't smear.

How long does home-canned food keep?

For the best flavor and quality, use home-canned food within about a year. Writing the date on every label makes it easy to use the oldest jars first.

More Canning and Preserving Guides

Get started with our guide to canning vegetables, then try canning tomato sauce, canning green beans, or making sauerkraut. Or see all our ways of preserving garden vegetables.

For tested canning recipes and safe processing times, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Tips for Labeling Your Home-Canned Food

• Write the batch, not just the date. If you put up more than one batch of salsa or pickles, add a short note like "mild" or "batch 2" so you remember which one your family liked best.
• Use a waterproof pen. A fine-tip permanent marker won't smear if the jars get damp in a cool basement or pantry.
• Store the oldest jars in front. When you add new jars to the shelf, put them in the back. The dates on the labels make it easy to use up last year's jars first.
• Make them a gift. A jar of homemade jam or peaches with a pretty label is a welcome gift for neighbors, teachers, and friends. Tie a ribbon around the lid ring for a finishing touch.

More Free Printables for Your Garden and Kitchen

If you like these free printable canning jar labels, you'll find more free printables for every season of the garden year:

• Free vegetable garden printables - our full collection of charts, worksheets, and planning pages.
• Free vegetable garden journal - keep track of what you planted, what you harvested, and how much you canned.
• Free printable garden planner - plan next year's garden with extra rows of tomatoes and cucumbers for canning.
• Free vegetable garden checklist - a simple month-by-month list of garden chores.
• Free garden worksheets for kids - let the children help in the garden and the kitchen, too.