Cream jar packaging design

Design cream jar packaging with real 50 and 100 ml jar sizes: side label bands in mm, how to split the lid, side and base, and details for double-wall jars.

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Sizes: 50 ml · 100 ml
Diameter: 50–62 mm
Label band: 35–45 mm

A jar is the opposite of a bottle: short, wide and mostly seen from above. On our 50 ml reference jar the side wall gives a 35 mm tall label band that runs about 157 mm around, a long thin strip, and the lid on top is the first thing anyone sees. Designing a cream jar is mostly a question of splitting the information well between the lid, the side band and the base.

Cream jars also come in more constructions than bottles do. Single-wall jars are simple. Double-wall jars put a decorative outer shell around a smaller inner cup, which changes both the visible volume and the surface the label sits on.

Design tips

Treat the lid as the front panel. On a shelf or a dressing table, people look down at a jar. Put the brand and product name on the lid, set large enough to read from standing height.
Lay the side band out as three zones. A strip 157 mm long and 35 mm tall works better split into front, side and back zones than as one centred panel. The front zone repeats the name, one side carries the claim, the back carries directions.
Measure the outer shell on double-wall jars. On a double-wall jar the label goes on the outer shell, which can be taller than the cup inside. Take the label size from the shell. Our reference jars are single-wall.
Keep clear of the lid skirt. Every time the lid is twisted, the skirt brushes the top of the side wall. Leave a small gap between the label and the lid line so the label edge doesn't scuff and lift.
Use the base for the small print. A round base label takes batch, period-after-opening, address and ingredients off the side band, which keeps the visible faces clean.

[Spec sheet]

Standard sizes

Volume	Body height	Diameter	Printable label band
50 ml	44 mm	50 mm	35 mm
100 ml	54 mm	62 mm	45 mm

What size label fits a 50 ml cream jar?

On our 50 ml reference jar, 50 mm across and 44 mm tall, the straight side band is 35.0 mm tall and the jar is about 157.1 mm around. A side label is usually designed a little shorter than the band, so the lid skirt doesn't rub its top edge.

Should I put the label on the lid or on the side of the jar?

Use both. The lid is what people see when the jar sits on a shelf or a dressing table, so it carries the brand and product name. The side band repeats the name for when the jar is picked up, and adds the volume and the main claim.

Is 50 ml or 100 ml the right size for a face cream jar?

50 ml is the usual size for face creams. 100 ml jars suit body creams, value sizes and richer balms. Our 100 ml reference jar is 62 mm across with a 45.0 mm side band, which gives noticeably more room for a horizontal layout.

Glass or plastic for a cream jar?

Glass and heavy-wall acrylic jars feel weighty and premium. Lighter plastics such as PP and PET cost less to ship and won't break. Many brands use a thick-walled plastic jar to get the look of glass without the weight.

What goes on the bottom of a cream jar?

The base is a good home for the batch number, the period-after-opening symbol, the responsible person's address and, if it fits, the ingredient list. When the jar is too small for everything, the ingredients can move to the outer box.

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Cream jar packaging design

One container, three views.

Design tips

Standard sizes

Download the cream jar label template