Your Guide to Choosing the Right Glass Bottle

1. Types of Glass Bottle Colour

Before choosing a bottle, it’s worth thinking about how it will look, how it will function, and what impression it gives to your customers. Glass bottles come in a wide range of styles, and each has its own strengths.

Clear Glass Bottles

Clear glass is by far the most versatile and widely used type of glass bottle. It’s ideal when you want to show off the natural colour or texture of your product. Whether it’s a golden oil, a vibrant juice, or a carefully layered sauce. For anything where visual appeal plays a part in the buying decision, clear glass helps the product sell itself.

That said, clear glass offers no protection from sunlight, so it’s best used for products that won’t degrade when exposed to light, or those that will be stored in boxes or dark spaces.

When to choose clear glass:

• Products with a strong visual element (e.g. infused oils, drinks, bath products)
• Items that don’t need light protection
• When a clean, simple, or traditional look is preferred

2. Bottle Shapes: Tall, Slim vs Short and Wide

Glass bottles come in a wide variety of shapes, and the right one depends on both practical use and how you want your product to be perceived.

Tall and Slim Bottles

These are ideal for liquids that are poured in small amounts, like oils, cordials, dressings, or cosmetics. Their shape helps control the pour and gives a clean, elegant look. Tall bottles often feel more premium and take up less shelf space width-wise, which is a bonus for retail displays.

Short and Wide Bottles

Shorter bottles with a wider base are great for thicker contents, such as sauces, creams, or products that need scooping or a wide opening for dispensing. They tend to feel sturdy and compact, which can work well for casual or rustic product lines.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Shape:

• Functionality: Will your customer pour, scoop, or dispense the product?
• Labelling: Does the shape give you enough space for your branding or legal info?
• Storage: Will the shape fit neatly on a shelf or in packaging?
• Branding: Slim bottles can feel refined; wider ones can feel robust or homemade.

Your product’s consistency, how it’s used, and where it will be sold or stored can all influence which shape will work best.

3. Choosing the Right Size and Neck Shape

Standard Bottle Sizes

Glass bottles come in a wide range of sizes, and the best choice depends on how your product will be used, how it’s priced, and how it’s presented. From miniature samples to bulk refills, each size plays a different role in how customers experience your product.

5ml – 100ml

These miniature bottles are perfect for samples, travel-sized items, gift sets, and promotional products. Commonly used for spirits, serums, essential oils, or home fragrance, they may be small in volume but can have a strong impact on brand perception.

Explore our range of miniature bottles.

100ml – 150ml

Ideal for concentrated liquids such as serums, facial oils, tinctures, or single-serve beverages. This size strikes a balance between portability and practicality.

250ml – 330ml

A popular mid-range size, great for sauces, dressings, cordials, and smaller drinks. Also a standard choice for beer bottles and mixers, particularly in 330ml formats.

500ml

Best suited for products used frequently, like olive oil, juice, lotion, or beer. It offers good shelf presence and value while remaining manageable in hand and packaging.

Shop 500ml bottles.

1L and above

Larger bottles work well for bulk products, refills, catering quantities, or household items like cleaning fluids and cooking oils. These sizes are often paired with wide necks for ease of pouring or decanting.

If you’re unsure which size to choose, think about how much your customer will use per application, how long the product is intended to last, and how price and size affect perceived value.

 

Neck Shape and Opening Size

The bottle’s neck is just as important as its capacity — it affects how the product is poured, dispensed, or refilled.

• Narrow necks give users more control, making them ideal for liquids like oils, cordials, or drinks.
• Wide necks make filling and scooping easier, especially for thicker products like sauces or creams. They’re also better if customers need to refill the bottle.

When choosing, think about the end-user experience: Is this something that needs to be poured cleanly? Does it need to be refillable? Will it be used in the kitchen, bathroom, or on the go?

4. Closures

The right closure isn’t just about sealing the bottle; it affects how your product is used, how it’s perceived, and how well it holds up in storage and transit. From kitchen staples to luxury cosmetics, different closures offer different benefits.

Screw Caps

Used across drinks, condiments, oils, and sauces, screw caps are simple, secure, and dependable. They provide a strong seal and are easy to open and reseal, making them a go-to choice for everyday products.

Corks

Corks offer a traditional feel and are often chosen for oils, spirits, or gift packaging. They create a distinctive look, but they don’t always provide a tight seal, so they’re better suited to non-perishables or short-term use.

Droppers and Pipettes

Ideal for small-dose or high-precision products, droppers are most commonly used with essential oils, tinctures, and cosmetic serums. They let users control exactly how much they dispense and are typically paired with smaller bottles.

Vinolok Glass Stoppers

Vinolok is a high-end, all-glass bottle stopper with a built-in sealing ring. It creates an airtight seal while adding a sleek, premium feel, perfect for wines, spirits, oils, and cosmetic products where presentation matters. It’s reusable, taste-neutral, and a great choice when you want your packaging to stand out. Explore our stunning collection of Vinolok Glass Bottle Stoppers.

Getting the Fit Right

Whatever closure you choose, it’s important to match it with the correct neck size and threading. If in doubt, ordering samples or reaching out for advice can save time (and frustration) later.

5. Considerations for Specific Uses

Food & Drink

Glass is non-reactive, meaning it won’t alter the taste or quality of what’s inside. It’s ideal for juices, sauces, oils, and spirits.

• Use clear glass to show off colour and texture (e.g. infused oils or cordials).
• Amber or green bottles are better for products that need protection from light.
• Pair with screw caps or pourers for ease of use in the kitchen.

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Small glass bottles give skincare and wellness products a premium, hygienic feel.

• Blue and amber bottles are popular in this space — they feel high-end and suit natural brands.
• Combine with droppers or pumps for serums, oils, or lotions that require controlled application.
• Sizes like 15ml to 100ml are typical for these products.

Crafting & Gifting

Glass bottles are a popular choice for homemade products, party favours, and personalised gifts.

• Unique shapes or coloured glass can make your product more memorable.
• Cork tops or swing-top closures add a handmade or rustic touch.
• Reusability adds value and aligns well with eco-conscious gifting.

Spirits & Alcoholic Beverages

When bottling spirits, the look and feel of the packaging are just as important as function. Clear glass works well for gin, vodka, and other colourless spirits where purity is a selling point. Amber or antique green glass is better for brandy, whisky, or liqueurs that benefit from UV protection and a traditional look.

For closures, cork neck bottles are a go-to for heritage and luxury, while Vinolok glass stoppers add a modern, premium finish. Screw caps remain a reliable option for everyday spirits or export-focused ranges. Consider bottle weight and neck width if you’re going for a luxury feel or automated bottling.

6. Bulk Orders and Sourcing for Your Business

If you’re producing at scale or even just gearing up for a busy season, buying bottles in bulk gives you consistency and cost control. But it’s not just about quantity. Getting the right bottles in the right volumes can make or break your production process.

Why Businesses Choose Bulk:

• Lower unit costs – especially important when margins are tight.
• Brand consistency – the same bottle every time, without worrying about stock running out.
• Less frequent ordering – freeing up time and simplifying planning.

Tips for Buying at Scale:

• Stick to standard sizes and neck finishes — it makes restocking easier and ensures closures remain compatible.
• Test before you commit — order a small batch first to confirm fit, quality, and customer response.
• Think beyond storage — will your packaging hold up during transport, warehouse stacking, or long shelf-life conditions?
• Plan for growth — choose a bottle range that can scale with your business as your product line expands.

We work with businesses across food, cosmetics, wellness, and drinks, so if you need support sourcing at scale or want advice on your options, get in touch with our team. Ready to order? Why not explore our huge range of wholesale stock, ready to order by the pallet?

7. Why Choose Glass Over Other Materials?

When comparing packaging options, glass often wins out for a few simple reasons:

• It doesn’t react with contents, so there’s no flavour transfer or chemical leaching, which is especially important for food, drink, and cosmetics.
• It feels more premium, which helps justify price points in competitive markets.
• It’s compatible with a wide range of closures, from corks to pumps.
• Customers reuse it. That helps with brand visibility and sustainability at the same time.

Plastic still has its place, especially for lightweight or squeezable packaging, but if you’re prioritising presentation, reusability, or ingredient integrity, glass is the safer bet.

Conclusion

We’ve covered the main points you need to consider before buying glass bottles for your products. Below, we’ve included a quick summary of each use case and key features.

The right glass bottle enhances your product, aligns with your brand, and delivers a better experience to your customers. Whether you need small bottles for cosmetics or large containers for oils or drinks, The Bottle Jar Store offers a wide range of options to suit every need.

Browse our full glass bottle range or get in touch for advice on finding the right fit.