In a tiny kitchen, the side of your fridge is some of the most valuable real estate in the room — and almost everyone leaves it completely empty. A set of DIY magnetic spice jars turns that blank metal panel into a spice rack that holds 10–12 jars, costs almost nothing to make, and comes off without a trace when you move out. Perfect for renters and small kitchens.
Why the Fridge Side Is Perfect
Fridge sides are flat, magnetic, and (for most people) totally unused. Spices stored there are visible, reachable while you cook, and kept away from the heat and steam of the hob — which is exactly where spices shouldn’t be anyway. Heat and humidity are the two things that kill spice flavour fastest, so the fridge side is genuinely better storage than the shelf above your stove.
What You’ll Need
- 10–12 small jars with metal lids (baby food jars, small jam jars, or mini mason jars all work — roughly 100–150 ml is ideal)
- Small round magnets (about 2 cm across — the craft-store kind with strong hold; you need one per jar)
- Superglue or a hot glue gun
- Small labels or a marker pen
- Your spices
Cost note: if you reuse jars you already have, this whole project costs the price of a bag of magnets — usually under £2 / $3.
How to Make Magnetic Spice Jars
- Clean and dry the jars. Wash the jars and lids thoroughly and let them dry completely. Any moisture under the magnet will weaken the glue bond.
- Glue a magnet to each lid. Put a dab of superglue (or a blob of hot glue) in the centre of the outside of each lid, press the magnet on, and hold for 30 seconds. Let them cure for at least an hour before use — overnight is best.
- Fill the jars. Transfer your spices into the jars. A small funnel (or a folded piece of paper) makes this mess-free. Fill them about three-quarters full so you can see the contents.
- Label everything. This is the step people skip and then regret. Paprika and chilli powder look identical in a jar. Label the lid tops or the jar sides — chalk labels look lovely, but a strip of masking tape and a marker work just as well.
- Test the hold. Stick one jar to the fridge side and give it a gentle tug. It should hold firmly. If a jar slides, the magnet is too weak — double up with a second magnet on the lid.
- Arrange by use. Put your everyday spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, your favourite blend) at eye level and the occasional ones higher up.
Tips for a Sturdy, Long-Lasting Set
- Use strong magnets. Cheap thin fridge magnets won’t hold a full jar of cumin. Look for neodymium (rare-earth) magnets or the thick craft magnets sold for exactly this purpose. One 2 cm neodymium magnet easily holds a 150 ml jar.
- Keep jars small. This is not the project for a 500 ml jar of flour. Small jars stay light, stay put, and — bonus — you use your spices faster, so they’re always fresh.
- Avoid the dishwasher. Hand-wash the jars; the heat and water pressure of a dishwasher will eventually loosen the glued magnets.
- Mind the door swing. If your fridge door opens against a wall, make sure the jars on the side panel don’t get knocked by the door handle. Test before you fill everything.
Variations Worth Trying
- Magnetic knife strip instead: a single magnetic knife strip stuck to the fridge side (with removable adhesive strips) holds metal-lidded jars with no gluing at all.
- Tins instead of jars: small round metal tins with clear lids (sold for exactly this) stick straight to the fridge with no magnets needed — pricier, but zero DIY.
- The full wall: if you own your place, screw a sheet of galvanised steel to the wall and you’ve got a magnetic spice wall as big as you like.
FAQ
Will the magnets damage my fridge? No. Small magnets slide around without scratching if you’re reasonably careful, and they come straight off. If you’re worried, put a tiny felt pad on the back of each magnet.
Do spices go stale faster in small jars? Only if you take years to use them. Small jars actually help, because you buy and refill in small quantities — which means fresher spices than the giant tub that’s been open since 2022.
What if my fridge side isn’t magnetic? Some fridges have non-magnetic stainless steel panels. Test with a fridge magnet first. If it doesn’t stick, you can still do this project on a magnetic board or a sheet of steel mounted with removable adhesive strips.
How many jars fit on one fridge side? A standard fridge side panel fits 10–12 small jars comfortably in a neat grid, with room to spare. Two columns of six is the classic layout.
If you like clever spice storage, check out our egg-carton drawer spice organiser that costs nothing.