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Ball Mason Jar Age Chart

The Ball logo changed eight times between 1885 and today — which makes it a fingerprint. Pick the logo on your jar and get its date range, based on the chart published by Minnetrista, the Ball family's own heritage center.

Price data updated June 2026 from recent eBay sold listings.

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How Ball Jar Dating Works

Ball Brothers changed its logo frequently from 1885 until about 1962, and each version is documented — the eras above follow the dating chart published by Minnetrista, the museum and heritage center founded by the Ball family in Muncie, Indiana. After 1962 the logo stabilized, so dating later jars by logo alone gets imprecise.

Two Things That Fool Everyone

Is My Ball Jar Worth Anything?

Honestly: most aren't worth much. "Ball blue" Perfect Mason jars from 1910–1923 survive in enormous numbers and typically sell for a few dollars to $20. Value concentrates in the pre-1900 eras (BBGMCo, block letters, early script, Triple-L), unusual colors (amber, olive, true cobalt), odd sizes, and error jars. See verified sold prices in our antique mason jar value guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell how old my Ball jar is?

Match the logo style to the dated logo eras above (1885–present). The logo is the most reliable dating feature; mold numbers on the base are not dates.

What does the number on the bottom of my Ball jar mean?

It's a mold-position number used for quality control on the glassmaking machine — it has nothing to do with the year of manufacture.

Are blue Ball jars valuable?

"Ball blue" jars (mostly 1910–1923) are beautiful but extremely common — most sell for a few dollars to $20. Rare colors like amber or olive, odd sizes, and pre-1900 logos are where real value lives.

Why does my jar say 1858?

That's John Mason's 1858 patent date for the screw-top closure, embossed on jars for decades afterward as marketing. It is not the year your jar was made.