How To Organize Spice Jars (+Free Printable!)

Let’s talk Spice Jar Organization! Here’s how we declutter and organize our spices and seasonings. Don’t miss our printable list of herbs and spices to help you update your spice cupboard or add flavor to your meals.

I’ve had a SERIOUS cleaning bug for the last few months. Each weekend, we’ve been tackling one small area at a time, and after our annual kitchen spring clean, I decided I wanted to reorganize & streamline my herbs & spices.

It was a fun, easy project that feels SUPER satisfying every day as I open my cupboard and see all those pretty organized spices smiling at me.

Here’s what we used to organize our spice jars & make them look beautiful while we’re at it.

Supplies We Used To Label Our Spice Jars: Cute Jars & Labels!

First up: you ABSOLUTELY don’t need to relabel and jar your spices to organize them. This is 100% for aesthetics only! But if you’re in the mood for a spice jar glow-up, this is what we used for ours:

• 4oz. Jars – You can order different jars for sure, but I really liked these 4oz. jars. They are about the size of many standard spices from McCormick, Frontier Co-Op, and Simply Organic, for instance and they fit well onto the spice jar risers we have (more on those in a minute).
• Pretty Labels From Etsy – For our spice jars, I ordered these 1.25″ square size labels from an Etsy shop. I loved their clean, minimalist look. (We also ordered these labels for our pantry bins in the 1.8″ and 2.8″ square sizes)
• White Chalk Marker – Our jars came with a chalk marker, but if yours don’t, a white chalk marker is a great way to keep track of expiration dates. I just write the expiration date on the bottom of the jar & wash it off when I’m ready to change it. Easy-peasy!

2 Ways To Organize Your Spice Jars

There are LOTS of ways you can organize your spices and seasonings, but here are my two favorites. I’ve used both in my kitchens:

1. ALPHABETICALLY. This one’s pretty straightforward! You can organize your spice jars and seasonings in alphabetical, starting with A’s (allspice), then B’s (basil), then C’s (cardamom), etc. (Our printable list of herbs & spices makes this easy!)
2. BY TYPE OR USE. This is how I organize my spices and seasonings. I group all my chili & Tex-Mex seasonings together, for instance, since I often use them for the same types of recipes. I keep my leafy herbs together (basil, rosemary, etc.), baking spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg) together, and group mixed blends (like Everything Bagel seasoning, Chai Spice, Italian Seasoning, etc.) together.

Tools To Organize Spices & Seasonings

• FOR CABINETS – In our last 2 kitchens, we’ve been using these spice jar risers to hold our spices. I love that they make it easy to see each row and I can easily group spices and seasonings together.
• FOR DRAWERS – We’ve used these drawer spice organizers in past kitchens where we had our spice jars in a drawer. I like how it’s easy to see exactly what you have!
• FOR THE PANTRY – If you keep your spices in a pantry or a small cupboard, these little turntables are wonderful!

Free Printable List: Common Herbs & Spices We Use All The Time

So what basic herbs, spices, and seasonings should you have on hand? Everyone’s kitchen will require different things, but if you’re starting fresh, re-stocking your spice cupboard, or looking for ways to (literally) spice up your meals, we made a printable list of lots of our go-to spices, herbs, and seasonings to help you get started!

You can use this list to keep track of expiration dates (tape the list inside your cupboard door & write them next to the spice), help you alphabetize/organize, or get new inspiration for your next recipe!

FAQ + Tips For Organizing Spices & Seasonings

How Long Do Spices Stay Fresh? It varies depending on the variety, but many have a shelf-life of 1-2 years. Check your bottles to know if they’re expired!

Where Is The Best Place To Store Spices? Spices and seasonings degrade over time when exposed to heat and light, so a cool, dark place works best. The inside of a cupboard, in a drawer, or tucked into a closed pantry are all excellent options. Countertop stands and spice racks won’t preserve the shelf life of your spices as well since they’ll be exposed to light, but do whichever works best for your kitchen!

What’s The Difference Between Herbs And Spices? Herbs are the leafy green parts of the plant, such as basil, mint, or rosemary leaves. Spices can come from roots, seeds, flowers, bark, or stems, such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, etc. Seasonings are blends or flavors that don’t fit neatly into either category. Here are some examples:

• HERBS – Basil, Bay Leaf, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme
• SPICES – Allspice, Cardamom, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cumin, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Saffron, Turmeric, and Vanilla.
• SEASONINGS – Cajun Seasoning, Chili Powder, Curry Powder, Everything Bagel Seasoning, Italian Seasoning, Sweet Potato Fry Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, etc.