How to Make Canning Jar Lights

By Gary And Gina Blocker
Published on February 10, 2014
article image
Photo by Gary Blocker
Repurpose glass jars into a pendant light fixture.

When I wanted to come up with a creative, inexpensive light fixture for our dining room, my mind was drawn toward common kitchen objects: We spend a lot of time each summer canning food from our garden, and we also collect old fruit jars. It was only natural that jars be incorporated into the theme of our dining room décor.

Before we made our homemade lights, we scoured thrift and consignment shops until we found a wooden crate for $10. We used this crate as the base of the light fixture.

Here’s how to make canning jar lights. First drill six holes to run the electrical wires through to create “pendant” lighting. Then drill holes through the zinc jar lids and attach bulb hardware to the lids. We used six blue Ball jars as the globes, and we attached the fixture to the ceiling using scrap lumber. The light bulbs are 20-watt fluorescent lamps, which have reduced energy consumption.

Gary and Gina Blocker
Oran, Missouri

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