10-Year Update: I originally published this tutorial in 2016. These chalkboard tape labels (affiliate) are still going strong after nearly 10 years and countless dishwasher cycles. This method works. Scroll down to see the 2023 proof photo.
If you've ever tried to label (affiliate) mason jars (affiliate), you know the struggle. Whiteboard markers smudge when you touch them. Regular labels (affiliate) peel off because of the raised lettering on the glass. And the only smooth spot - the lid - isn't visible when the jars are sitting on a pantry (affiliate) shelf.
I tried every method I could find, and nothing lasted - until I discovered chalkboard tape. It sticks over the textured glass, wraps around the mason jar, and holds up through regular use and dishwasher washing. Paired with a liquid chalk marker, it gives you a clean, uniform look that's easy to read and simple to redo when you change what's in the jar. In this post, I'll walk you through exactly how I label (affiliate) my mason jars (affiliate) step by step, including the products I use, tips for getting a uniform look, and a durability update after nearly a decade of use. The best part? One roll of tape covers all your jars with some left over.
This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase.
Jump to:
- Key Takeaways
- Products Used for this DIY Project.
- How to Make Your Own Labels for Your Mason Jars That Stick
- Reveal
- How do you label Mason jars so they are lined up with one another?
- What type of lids do you use with these wide-mouth mason jars?
- Update 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions About Labeling Mason Jars
Key Takeaways
- Labeling mason jars (affiliate) can be challenging due to raised lettering and lack of smooth surfaces.
- A practical solution involves using Scotch Chalkboard Tape (affiliate) and a jumbo chalk marker for easy labeling.
- To achieve a consistent look, line up jars and mark guidelines with a dry-erase marker before applying labels (affiliate).
- The labels (affiliate) can be removed and reapplied, making them ideal for pantry (affiliate) organization.
- After nearly a decade, many labels (affiliate) remain intact even after washing, ensuring lasting organization.
Recently, I found a product that works well for labeling mason jars (affiliate) in my pantry (affiliate). I also used a liquid chalkboard marker (affiliate) because it dries quickly. If you need to wash the jar, it can be removed, but it can be easily reapplied later.
Products Used for this DIY Project.
I needed a jumbo chalk marker and a roll of Scotch Chalkboard Tape (affiliate). The jumbo was much easier to read than a thin-tip marker. Now, you can even pick various colors of chalk markers.
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This is it! It's a product called Chalkboard Tape from Scotch (TM) (affiliate)
. It comes in a roll, and I could do all the above jars with ONE (1) roll. And I still have some of the tape left. You will also need a chalkboard marker (affiliate)
for this project.
Below are various versions of Scotch Chalkboard tape (affiliate) and chalkboard markers (affiliate) available on Amazon (affiliate).
Chalkboard White Markers Fine Tip (4 Pack 3mm)
Buy Now →
Scotch Chalkboard Tape, Black, 1.88-Inch x 5-Yard
Buy Now →(affiliate)
This post includes links to Amazon (affiliate); if you choose to purchase the product through these links, I will receive a small referral fee at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business.
Struggling with the lids on Mason Jars (affiliate)? Look no further, check out ReCap Mason Jars (affiliate) Solutions. They are perfect for quick snacks, storage containers, and wide-mouth jars for dried goods. I even use it for daily water consumption. Plus, they are affordable! Check them out today! Recap Mason Jars (affiliate) Solutions.
How to Make Your Own Labels for Your Mason Jars That Stick
Cut your tape to the length of the mason jar.
Cut your tape to the circumference of your mason jar (affiliate). Some mason jars (affiliate) are larger than others, so it's best to measure around the jar with this tape BEFORE cutting.
Write with a Dry-Erase Marker on a Level Surface.
Because your mason jar (affiliate) probably has raised writing, I recommend writing the label (affiliate) on a flat surface before attaching it to the jar. It was harder to write neatly when the label (affiliate) was affixed first.
Be sure to let it dry for a few minutes, or it will smudge.
Reveal
What do you think? Here is what the finished product looks like. I love that the jar says 'perfection' at the bottom. It's perfect when setting up and organizing is this easy. Do you agree?
The photo above shows all my mason jars in my pantry.
I even used the labeling on the smaller mason jars, as shown above.
Below are some tips to help you get your mason jars labeled exactly as you want them.
How do you label Mason jars so they are lined up with one another?
If you want a uniform labeling look, line up the jars on their side.
Using a ruler, mark a line on all the mason jars with the dry-erase marker. This will give you a guide for where to place the Chalkboard tape.
Then, write the labels (affiliate) and let them dry for a few minutes.
After you are done with all the jars, affix the labels, you can wipe off the line on the mason jar (affiliate) with a paper towel.
What type of lids do you use with these wide-mouth mason jars?
Instead of using metal mason jar (affiliate) lids, you can now find other versions of lids that are perfect for any type of mason jar (affiliate). Some are made of plastic, and others are made of wood. Below, I found a pack that is colorful to help distinguish between the different jars and can be labeled, too.
![Image of Mason Jar Wide Lids [8 Pack] for Ball, Kerr and More](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31PfknDronL._SL500_.jpg)
Mason Jar Wide Lids [8 Pack] for Ball, Kerr and More
Buy Now →
Buy Now → (affiliate)
Update 2026
To conclude, I wrote this post in 2016, and since it has been almost 10 years, I wanted to provide you with an update on these labels. Many of them lasted even after being washed in the dishwasher for years. Here is a photo from 2023, I took after adding the label maker (affiliate) labels to the side of the lid. Keep in mind that I used Scotch Chalkboard Tape (affiliate); other brands may not last as long. I hope it helps you organize those mason jars in your pantry (affiliate).
Frequently Asked Questions About Labeling Mason Jars
After testing multiple methods over nearly 10 years, chalkboard tape is my top pick for mason jar labels. It sticks firmly over the raised glass lettering, survives the dishwasher, and gives a clean, uniform look across all your jars. You can write on it with a liquid chalk marker, and if you need to relabel a jar, just wipe off the marker and rewrite. One roll of Scotch Chalkboard Tape covers a full set of pantry jars with tape to spare.
The key is using a label material that sticks to the raised lettering on mason jars. Regular sticker labels lift at the edges because they can't conform to the textured glass. Chalkboard tape is flexible enough to wrap around the entire circumference of the jar, which gives it much more surface area to grip. Wrapping the full way around (not just a small strip) makes a big difference in how long it stays on.
Yes! The Scotch Chalkboard Tape labels I use have survived years of dishwasher cycles in my home. The tape itself stays stuck to the jar. However, you will need to rewrite the text with a chalk marker after washing, since the water will remove the writing. This is actually a nice feature - it makes it easy to relabel jars when you change what's stored in them.
Liquid chalk markers (also called chalkboard markers) work best. I recommend using a jumbo-tip marker because it's much easier to read than a fine-tip version, especially when the jars are sitting on a pantry shelf. White is the most readable color, but chalkboard markers now come in a variety of colors if you want to color-code your jars. Let the marker dry for a few minutes before handling the jar to avoid smudging.
Line up your mason jars on their sides and use a ruler to mark a guideline at the same height on each jar with a dry-erase marker. This gives you a consistent placement line for your chalkboard tape. Write the labels on a flat surface before sticking them on the jars - it's much easier to write neatly that way. Once the tape is applied, wipe off the dry-erase guideline with a paper towel.
Well, there you have it! I hope this helps you get your mason jar (affiliate)'s label (affiliate) and your pantry (affiliate) organized. Please share other areas where these labels can be used. I would love to hear from you.
Visit our other posts where we use Mason Jars:
How to Create a Bathroom Wall Mason Jar Organizer
How to Make Sewing Mason Jar Kits for Gifts
DIY Old Mason Jars to Hurricane Lamps
Homemade French Vanilla Chai Tea Mix Gift Jar DIY
Below are other pantry organization posts to inspire you to get organized!
NOTE: This is not an affiliate post. I love these products. I have added links to Amazon (affiliate).com and other affiliates. If you decide to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small affiliate fee, which will not affect the price for you. Thank you for supporting my small business.
JP says
is there a reason that you should tape around the whole jar? could you just use the size tape that fits the word(s) you are using? also would this work in the freezer or on other jars/containers?
Sabrina Quairoli says
Thanks for asking. The reason why I wrapped the jar with tape was that the jar was textured. I needed more smooth surface to keep the tape on the jar otherwise the tape would come up on the corners and remove easily when I wash them.
You can use thinner tape if you want. I have only tried labels from a label maker which were more durable than a thinner tape.
The 3M tape does work on other surfaces. Not sure about the freezer though. I hope this helps.
Janet Barclay says
I've never seen this product, and I love the way it makes your pantry look so uniform and homey.
RoseMary Griffith says
What a nice idea. I don't use mason jar for storage, but will pass this along to the folks I know who do use them. Hate when the ink rubs off before I want it to!
William Rusho says
That is a nice product. I tried labeling them before with pieces of paper and tape, never seemed to work out very good.
Thanks for the tip on this product.
Marquita Herald says
Oh I love mason jars! I even use a mason jar for drinking water or iced tea while I'm at my desk during the day. The labels look great so I'm definitely going to take a closer look. Thank you!
Sushmita says
Looks great, as well as a good knack for organizing. Thanks for sharing! Definitely, something to try for.
Donna Janke says
The labels look great and your pantry so organized. It sounds as if the tape stays on nicely. How difficult is it to take off when you want it off to wash the jars and reuse for another purpose?
Sabrina says
They are really easy to take off. They are very thin. Also, they wash well too. I wash them a few times in the dishwasher and they stayed affixed to the mason jar. You would need to rewrite the label with the chalkboard marker, though.
Jeri says
That chalkboard tape is brilliant. I can see it coming in handy for labeling many things and not just mason jars.
Susan cooper says
I love mason jars and use them for any and everything. ..food storage, soap dispenser etc. You are right though labeling had always been a problem. Anxious to try this tip.
Catarina says
Those labels look nice, Sabrina. Already do something different above all with spices because it enables me to re-use old jars.
Phoenicia says
I quite like the idea of identikit jars in the cupboard. I am a bit of a neat freak!
The labels look easy to make or perhaps it is because you are naturally creative.
I have very little time for home improvements though I can see the benefits. My daughter on the other hand is a crafts girl - she is always busy making models if one thing or another.
Ken Dowell says
Looks good. Since I don't usually use mason jars it never occurred to me that this would be an issue. I could probably use this tape for freezing stuff, which I usually do in either freezer bags or plastic containers.
Ramona McKean says
Neat and tidy! I have used masking tape and a permanent marker. I guess there are different quality masking tapes, as some fall off and others stick on like glue and are almost impossible to get off. Thanks for an effective alternative.
Doreen Pendgracs says
Very cool idea, Sabrina! I have indeed had difficulty with this in the past. I write on a pice of masking tape and stick it on. But you can't stick it on a cold or hot jar or the tape won't stick. Your solution looks much more orderly. Thx!
Gingi Freeman says
OMG, I had no idea that scotch chalk tape existed.. I NEED this in my life, you have no idea! haha!
Erica says
Your labelled mason jars are so cute! Is that your hand writing. It is so perfect and neat. That looks like a totally achievable way to get more organized.