It's not likely that you will find a perfect box that will hold exactly 12 jars all the time. But they do exist.

Liquor boxes were my go to box for a while several years ago. Most liquor stores have to get rid of their boxes and around here will usually stack them somewhere that you can get to them. I like the shorter wider boxes. Crown Royal has really sturdy cardboard, but they are a bit larger as well. Weight becomes an issue more than durability. I'd use liquor boxes now, but I'd cut them down and be much more selective. As a benefit, some of the boxes do have neat designs on the outside, so they're somewhat decorative.

I like used paper boxes. Print and Copy Shops probably have a surplus of boxes with nice fitting lids that come off. Never know until you ask.

Lately, though, I've been looking at produce boxes. Specifically those tray types without lids that mimic the newer half boxes that Ball has started using. I can get all kinds of them at Sam's just for hauling them out to the car. I like them because I can see what kind of jars are in the tray without having to open it to peek inside. I know I could label a closed box on the outside, but once it's empty, a whole different kind of jar could end up inside.

If you have produce stands nearby, they likely have heavy duty boxes with lids that would be sufficient. Quite possibly even just the bottom or just the lid would do since they're so heavy duty. Apple boxes are great in the fall. But in the summer, anything without a gaping hole in the top or bottom are fine. And even if you have a sheet of cardboard, the gaping hole might not be so bad either. Grocery stores might even save some produce boxes for you. But space is a premium there, so they'd rather crush and bale them if they can.

Do avoid banana boxes.

You could go the plastic route and buy some of those storage jar crates that are all plastic tops and bottoms, made specifically for pints or quarts. Tractor Supply has some on their shelf right now for about $7 per unit. And that's marked down. I tend to avoid these kinds of things when so much free cardboard exists. Old cardboard can be composted, so you derive a benefit from it even after it's usefulness is diminished. Plastic has to be recycled, benefiting someone else.

I have thousands of empty jars (pints, quarts, half's) stockpiled in liquor boxes that are going to be transitioned to more open easily identifiable tray type boxes over the next few years. And I still buy more jars when I see them cheap at a thrift store or on Craig's List. With the rising prices and growing popularity of jars as more than canning tools, I think it's not such a bad investment. I'm more selective now, but I still buy them.

Contact your local Avon representative. The boxes they ship in are perfect. Top fitting lids, plenty of room on side to indicate what size jars are inside. The boxes hold 12 quarts or wide pints perfectly. You can fit 15 std. pints and more of the 1/2 pints, etc.

Deanna

If you have a local Cracker Barrel... ask them if they are willing to give you boxes.
They have jar candies like gumballs and sour balls that come in standard pint Golden Harvest jars- and they throw out the boxes they come in. The Bob's mint sticks are the right size to hold 24 standard pint jars, and come with the divider too to keep all the jars separate like smaller canning jar boxes do. They also get in their bottled soda in flats, usually 6 packs per flat, and those are sturdy boxes. Not sure about what fits nicely in those, haven't tried that, lol.

And the boxes the fried apples and cobblers come in fit a dozen quart jars perfectly- and comes with the divider too :)

I get all of the boxes I need at Sam's Club by going to the wine section and finding the empty wine boxes with the right sized partitions for qt, pt, and/or half pt jars. Once I find the wine boxes with partitions, I then find empty can/jar boxes to use as box covers in the grocery section. It may take multiple trips should few empty boxes be available ...as when the empty box clearout guy does his thing.

I have heard that people are picking up old suitcases from yard sales and thrift stores and using them for can food storage. They slide under beds easily and works for those who are short on shelf space.

You all have some good ideas, thank you.