I have not found them any less expensive than those prices anywhere, unless you can find some used ones for sale.

Check craigslist.org or even the Facebook marketplace in your area. Post a message asking to buy jars and see if you get some responses.

Like Jamie, I've gotten used jars. We have a local on-line auction and I often buy boxes of jars there, although sometimes they are dirty. I run them all though the dishwasher. Twice. I've gotten jars at Goodwill and at yard sales too.

I've also gotten jars from elderly relatives, neighbors that know I can, I have my Grandmother's jars and I still use them.

I have gotten jars at Fillmore Container, but they say they are for hot water bath canning, and don't mention pressure canners, so I'm only assuming they are not rated for that use. Here is a link if you want to check it out, though: https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/a16-08c-case12ct-12-oz.html

Other than that, new jars are cheapest at Menard's here, they are Ball brand and are about the prices you're already paying.

Happy Canning!

Annie

Our local best buy on jars is the discount store chain 'Fred's' as they carry Golden Harvest brand jars. Otherwise the best deals locally are Dollar General (quarts only) and Walmart. Online bulk suppliers such as Lehman's don't end up being any less expensive because of the added shipping costs.

Dave

Do watch Menards for their sales on Ball canning jars. I've seen them at $6 something and $7 something a case. It's also good if their 11% rebate sale is in effect or their 15% off everything you can fit in a paper bag. Yes, I work at a Menards.

Madonna

Target has canning jars on sale right now. Best discount seems to be 16oz regular mouth $7.49reg $12.39. Discount on other sizes isn't as great. But Ace Hardware stores shows regular price of $9.99. Sometimes they have store wide sales or special deals for people who have frequent buyer cards.

Just like to mention that I visit second hand stores more than weekly. I occasionally get a good buy on jelly jars, but quart jars are priced as boutique items, often as not $2-3 per jar is usual. If someone has tied a ribbon around them, or glued some burlap and lace to them, the price jumps to $4 a jar. Pit-TEE-ful! My best places for jars have been Ace Hardware and Mennards.

If you have Smart and Final or Cash and Carry or some other restaurant supply store, you might check there for new jars. Also feed stores in this area usually have good deals (We're a really AG area!)

I have a couple times bought cup or pint sized jars, but mostly I get all mine free. Just spread the word that you want some. In fact at my mother's recent 100th birthday party two different relatives handed me a canning jar. :-) There are less people who do canning now than used to. That means there are a lot of jars that could use a new home. Ask on freecycle or buy nothing groups, and tell your friends. Post on your Facebook page. Whatever works. I used to take canning jars that looked intact out of the glass recycling bin at our old recycling center. The people who worked there started saving canning jars for me. Then once somebody cleaned out an old barn full of canning jars. They brought them to the recycling center, and they were set aside for me. They were ancient and very dirty. I set up a rinse, a wash, and another rinse bucket in the yard just to get them moderately clean. There were so many I gave dozens away myself. Just be creative, they are out there.

I hit the jackpot on Craig's List several years ago. Someone was cleaning out an old dilapidated house and advertised canning jars. Pints, Quarts, Half's. 5, 10, 25 cents each. I sent them a note and told them I'd take all they had no matter how many there were. When they said there were more at the house, I offered to meet them there and they were afraid I'd get hurt so they declined that. They put a bunch in wood crates, fruit boxes, any other cardboard they could find. I think I ended up with over 1000 total for about $145. I gave them $160 for the effort and the wood crates that I didn't expect, and just because... And so they didn't have to give me change. It was so worth it.

There are several charity thrift stores locally that sometimes sell them for 25 or 50 cents each. I've quit buying pints and quarts unless they're wide mouth. But I'll buy 4, 8, or 12 ounce for 50 cents or less.

There are sometimes Classico jars or actual canning jars at the recycling stations that I'll collect if they're not too busy. Sometimes they have lids.

I have also washed jars in the back yard a number of times before running them through the dish washer inside. Rather not have all that dirt end up in my septic tank. I used to not think about that until I started thinking about that. That dirt/mud does not go anywhere once it ends up there. I wash big dirt off of veggies outside as well.

Chris