Pantry labels that stay on and make sense
Decanting into jars only works if everyone can tell the plain flour from the self-raising. Good labels name the contents, leave room for a date and survive the washing up.
Pantry and kitchen labels
Label pantry jars on the front with the contents in large type and a small space for a best before date, around 6 × 4 cm for a standard storage jar. Spice jars take labels of about 4 × 2.5 cm on the lid or side. In the freezer, use labels made for the cold and write the date frozen.
Last reviewed 3 October 2026
What a pantry usually needs
- 1
Storage jar labels
Flour, sugar, rice, pasta, oats, lentils: the contents in large type on the front, readable from the shelf. Keep the similar ones distinct, such as plain flour and self-raising, caster sugar and icing sugar.
- 2
Spice labels
Small labels on the lid if the jars sit in a drawer, on the side if they stand on a rack. Alphabetical order on the shelf makes even a long collection quick to find.
- 3
Freezer labels
What it is, how many portions and the date it went in. A label that says only soup becomes a mystery tub within a month.
- 4
Shelf and basket labels
Baking, breakfast, snacks, tins, open first: a label on each shelf edge or basket so everyone in the house puts the shopping away the same way.
- 5
A few decorative pieces
Illustrated lemons, herbs or loaves on the door of a pantry cupboard or on a kitchen shelf. They make a practical space feel like part of the kitchen.
Label sizes for real jars
| Piece | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large storage jar | About 8 × 5 cm | Front of a 1 to 2 litre jar, readable from across the kitchen |
| Standard storage jar | About 6 × 4 cm | Fits most clip-top and screw-top jars |
| Spice jar, side | About 4 × 2.5 cm | Fits the narrow face of a standard spice jar |
| Spice jar, lid | About 3.5 cm round | Read from above when jars are in a drawer |
| Freezer label | About 6 × 4 cm | Room for contents, portions and the date |
| Shelf edge label | About 10 × 2.5 cm | Sits on the front lip of a shelf or basket |
Free printables for a pantry
Each one opens with a version for the job: storage jars, spice jars and the freezer, all in one style so the shelves match.
Pantry jar labels
Printable pantry jar labels: 12 rectangle labels, 70 by 40 mm, for flour, sugar, rice, pasta, oats and lentils, with a best before line. Free A4 PDF.
OpenSpice jar labels
Printable spice jar labels: 16 tall 40 by 90 mm labels for paprika, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and more, with a sage band. Free A4 PDF, eight to a sheet.
OpenFreezer labels
Printable freezer labels for batch cooking: 12 rectangles, 70 by 40 mm, with the dish, how many it serves and a Frozen date line. Free A4 PDF.
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Want illustrated pieces for the kitchen?
WallKiwi's decorations maker designs a set of illustrated cut-outs from one sentence, such as hand-drawn lemons and herbs in yellow and green, ready to print on A4 and cut out. Designs use credits, and a free account includes some each month.
Questions people ask
What should a pantry jar label say?
The contents in large, clear type, plus a small space for the best before date copied from the packet. If several people cook, add the original cooking instructions on the back or keep the packet's panel in a drawer.
What size labels fit spice jars?
Around 4 × 2.5 cm fits the side of most standard spice jars, and a round label of about 3.5 cm fits most lids. Measure one jar first, as shapes vary between brands.
Do paper labels work in the freezer?
Ordinary paper labels often lift in the cold and with condensation. Use labels sold as freezer-safe, or write on freezer tape, and add the date the food went in.
Should I keep allergy information when I decant food?
If anyone in the house has an allergy, yes. Cut the ingredients panel from the packet and keep it with the jar or in a folder, because a decanted product loses that information.
How do I get labels off jars to reuse them?
Soak the jar in warm soapy water, peel the label, then rub any residue with a little cooking oil or a sticker remover. Printing a fresh label is quicker than trying to reuse an old one.