Where to Find Rubber Seals for Ball Canning Jars

You can find replacement rubber seals through canning-supply stores, kitchenware retailers, and sellers that specialize in vintage jar parts. Before you buy, identify the jar’s closure: a wire-bail jar, an older glass-lid jar, and a modern Ball jar with a two-piece metal lid need different parts. Bring the lid and jar measurements with you, or compare them with the seller’s stated dimensions.

For a wire-bail jar, look for a rubber gasket made for its glass lid and jar rim. An older jar with a separate glass lid may also use a rubber ring, but the right ring depends on how that lid seats. Measure the opening and examine the lid before choosing a replacement; a gasket that stretches into place is not necessarily a proper fit.

Modern Ball canning jars with screw bands use flat metal lids with a sealing compound around the edge, not a separate rubber ring. For those jars, buy new lids in the correct regular-mouth or wide-mouth size. You can reuse an undamaged screw band, but use a new flat lid for each canning batch.

Run a finger carefully around the rim and check the glass lid for chips, cracks, or rough spots. A new gasket cannot compensate for damaged glass or a closure that does not sit evenly. If you want ideas for using an older jar for dry goods or display, our vintage embossed glass storage jar guide is a helpful starting point.

For dry storage, choose a gasket that fits the lid and keeps it seated securely. For home canning, use jars, lids, and closures approved for the tested recipe and processing method you follow; do not assume a replacement vintage gasket makes an old closure suitable for canning. Our team recommends keeping decorative and dry-storage use separate from food-preservation equipment.