How Much Headspace

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When you’re canning jams, fruits, or other foods, one small detail can make a big difference: headspace.

Leaving the correct amount of headspace helps your jars seal properly and prevents problems during processing.

If you’re new to canning, be sure to read my water bath canning for beginners guide and see the canning supplies you need here before getting started.

Table of Contents

What Is Headspace?

Headspace is the empty space between the top of the food and the lid of the jar.

This space is important because:

Without enough headspace—or with too much—you may have sealing issues.

Leaving the correct headspace helps ensure:

Too little or too much headspace can prevent jars from sealing.

Too little headspace can cause food to bubble out during processing.

Correct headspace helps create a strong vacuum seal.

Here are general guidelines:

Always follow the specific headspace listed in your recipe.

The easiest way to measure headspace is with a canning funnel or headspace tool.

To measure:

This helps ensure consistency and better results.

If you’re learning to can, these guides will help:

You can also browse all of my canning and preserving recipes here for more ideas.

Follow my canning and preserving board on Pinterest.