From fiber optic cables to smartphones, glass is an essential material for numerous applications. Bottle is a common form of this versatile material, found in countless beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Understanding glass bottle measurements is critical for manufacturers, distributors and quality control professionals. Having the right information ensures that bottles fit properly in designated spaces, are compatible with labels and capping machines, and conform to industry standards.
In addition to diameter and height, bottle volume and other dimensions must also be taken into consideration when designing and producing a product. The proper measurements ensure that the correct amount of product is contained in each bottle, which helps guarantee quality and consistency. Bottle height is an important factor in this process, as it determines whether a bottle fits into the neck of the product it will contain, or whether a cap will be able to attach to the bottle.
Measuring a bottle is typically done by wrapping a piece of paper around the bottle and marking where it overlaps. This can be done on a flat surface, or on the bottle itself. Then, the distance between the mark and a straight edge (usually a ruler) is measured. This measurement is then converted to circumference using pi (3.14) and divided by the diameter to obtain the bottle’s width. In many cases, the circumference will be larger than the bottle’s height, allowing some leeway for label size selection.
The term “bottle” is a very general one and has several different meanings, some of which conflict with each other. On this site, the term is most often used to refer to the extreme upper surface of the finish (where the bore begins), though some people use the terms lip and rim interchangeably. The term collar is sometimes used to describe the lower portion of a two or more part finish, while others use the term ring. See the Bottle Finishes page for more detailed information on these and other terms related to bottle morphology.
