A bottle cap is just a bottle cap right? Wrong! There are so many different types of bottle caps to choose from, in a huge range of sizes, colours and shapes, that it is easy to get confused. No fear – Ampulla is here to help you find the right bottle cap for your product with this handy guide. Almost all of our bottles and containers come with an option to add a cap or lid, but if you have any further questions regarding our products please don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff on 0161 367 1414 or email [email protected].
Types Of Bottle Caps
Pourers
Pourer bottle caps are generally used on long, thin bottles storing oil and sauces. The thin funnel stops excessive amounts of the contents rushing out of the bottle to encourage sparing usage; for example, when you drizzle dressing over a salad. Usually seen in restaurants, pubs and bars, these bottle caps come in 2 different forms – with a cap to cover a rubber funnel within, or just a simple, long spout. Which one you choose is up to you!Great for:
- Oils
- Sauces
Screw & Twist Tops
Screw tops are probably the most common type of bottle caps, but they can also come in a variety of options and materials. Choose from aluminium and plastic to match your product branding and the shape of your bottle, then think about the functionality you want to achieve. Are the contents of your container harmful to children? If so, we strongly advise you to choose a child resistant cap, which you mostly see used on medicine bottles. These caps have to be pressed downwards to release after being screwed back on in order to prevent little hands getting in! Twist off caps are very similar, but differ in that they are metal and used with glass jars and some juice bottles. To lock and unlock them you just need to do a quarter turn, rather than screw off a whole cap with many rotations.Great for:
- Beverages
- Sauces
- Medicines (child resistant caps)
- Preserves
Droppers & Pipettes
Droppers and pipettes usually feature a squeezy rubber teat at the the top of the cap which is used to suck up the liquid inside the bottle and transfer it to the desired place. Commonly used in eye drops and other medicines that have to be used sparingly.
Great for:
- Medicines
- Essential oils
Spays
Spray bottle caps come in a number of shapes and have a multitude of uses. Atomiser sprays produce a fine mist, are operated by pressing the head of the cap down and come with a protective cap to prevent the spray from activating in transit. Nasal sprays are designed to fit smaller dropper bottles and are used for controlled dispensing of medication such as hay fever and cold remedies. Finally, trigger sprays are commonly seen on bottles of cleaning products and are designed to spray the liquid over a large surface area with one spray. These bottle caps have a locking device built in so that you can make sure that the spray is not set off accidentally and also makes it harder for children to operate it.
Great for:
- Perfumes
- Cleaning products
- Medicines
Pumps
Pumps are very similar to sprays, but are made to dispense products that have a thicker consistency such as body lotions and cosmetics. Generally pumps come in 2 different shapes; with a long spout or without a spout. Both types are operated by pressing down the head of the pumps to dispense the amount of your choosing. Again, these bottle caps can be locked in place to prevent accidental spillages in transit.
Great for:
- Cosmetics
- Hand sanitisers
Stoppers
Stoppers are simply bottle caps that fit into the top of the bottle and are easily removed simply by lifting it off. Some stoppers come with rubber lining to keep the cap in place and prevent leakages (usually ceramic and glass stoppers), or even with a swing top, which you can see below. Swing top bottles have a metal clasp that keeps the stopper in place when not in use. The most common place to find a stopper is in a wine bottle, but they can be used for any thin necked bottle with whatever contents you wish! If you’re looking to achieve a vintage, old-school style with your product, a stopper bottle cap is a fantastic choice.
Great for:
- Wine
- Juices
- Oils
- Powders
Flip Tops
Flip top bottle caps are screwed into place and feature 1 central small hole for dispensing. These caps should be used with squeezable plastic bottles, as the only way to get the contents to come out is to apply pressure to the bottle (which is impossible with a glass bottle!).Great for:
- Body lotions
- Squeezable food products such as honey and ketchup
Spouts
Finally, spouts are flexible plastic bottle caps that are screwed on and can be cut down to size to suit your preference. Spouts include a small cap to prevent leakage, which is either attached to the main cap or can be screwed on top. These caps are are great for precise, careful application of tricky substances such as superglue.
Great for:
- Glue
- Hair dyes
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