Choosing a bottle size looks simple until you have a whole range to plan: a sample for testers, a retail size for the shelf and perhaps a large refill. Pick too big and a serum sits half-used for months; pick too small and customers feel short-changed or reorder too often.
This guide explains cosmetic bottle sizes from 5ml to 500ml, what each size is normally used for, how to build a sensible size range and the bottles Snak Holdings keeps in stock at each size. Snak Holdings has no minimum order quantity on standard items, so you can buy a few bottles in two or three sizes, test them with your product and then reorder the size that sells.
Quick answer
- 5ml – 15ml: samples, testers, eye serums and travel sizes, usually in a glass dropper bottle.
- 30ml – 50ml: the standard retail size for face serums, face oils and premium skincare.
- 100ml – 200ml: toners, lotions, hair oils, body mists and everyday body care.
- 300ml – 500ml: shampoo, body wash, family and value sizes, refills and salon use.
- No minimum order on standard items, so you can try several sizes before you commit.
Cosmetic bottle sizes at a glance
Bottle sizes are given by capacity in millilitres (ml). The line-up below shows how the common sizes compare and what each is usually used for.
1. Start with how much is used and how long it should last
The right size depends on three things: how much your customer uses each time, how often they use it and how long one bottle should last. A serum used a few drops at a time lasts for weeks in a 30ml bottle, while a body lotion used generously every day needs 200ml or more. Your selling price matters too: start from the price you want to sell at, then choose the size that gives fair value at that price.
| Size | Typical products | Common bottle type |
|---|---|---|
| 5ml – 15ml | Samples, testers, eye serums, essential oil blends, travel sizes | Glass dropper bottle |
| 20ml – 50ml | Face serums, face oils, facial mists, small creams and gels | Glass dropper, box, acrylic or small plastic bottle |
| 100ml – 150ml | Toners, hair and body oils, body mists, hand lotions | Glass or plastic bottle with screw cap, pump or spray |
| 200ml – 300ml | Body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash | Plastic or glass lotion bottle with a pump or flip top |
| 500ml and above | Refills, value and family sizes, salon and spa use | Plastic bottle with a pump or screw cap |
2. 5ml to 15ml: samples, testers and travel sizes
Small bottles let customers try a product before buying the full size, and they work well in gift sets, launch kits and influencer packs. They also suit concentrated products such as eye serums and essential oil blends, where only a drop or two is used at a time. Travel-size products are usually kept to 100ml or under, so smaller bottles are easy to carry.
At Snak Holdings, Amber Glass Dropper Bottles and Amber Euro Dropper Bottles start at 5ml, with 10ml, 15ml and 20ml as the next steps up. Frosted Glass Dropper Bottles and Frosted Euro Dropper Bottles start at 10ml. Using the same bottle style for your sample and your full size keeps the range looking consistent.
3. 30ml to 50ml: the core size for face care
30ml is the most common retail size for face serums and face oils, and 50ml is popular for facial mists, lighter creams and larger serums. These sizes are small enough to feel premium and to be used up while the product is fresh, yet large enough to give good value.
Most of the dropper range comes in 30ml, including Transparent Glass Dropper Bottles (30ml, 50ml and 100ml), Short Dropper Bottles (30ml, amber or clear, frosted or matte), Oval Dropper Bottles (30ml) and Colour Dropper Bottles (30ml, blue or green). For more on dropper styles and glass colours, read how to choose the right dropper bottle for serums and skincare.
Not every 30ml – 50ml product needs a dropper. Box Bottles come in 30ml and 50ml in glass or PET with a screw cap, Acrylic Bottles come in 50ml and 100ml with a screw cap, pump or spray, and Deodorant Bottles come in 30ml and 50ml with a spray closure.
4. 100ml to 200ml: toners, lotions, oils and body care
Products used in larger amounts move up to 100ml – 200ml. This is the usual range for toners, hair oils, massage and body oils, body mists and body lotions. At this size the closure matters as much as the bottle: a pump for lotions, a spray for mists and a screw cap or flip top for oils and toners.
- Glass Lotion Bottles: 100ml and 200ml, clear glass, 28mm neck, with a pump.
- Amber Cosmetic Bottles: 30ml, 150ml and 200ml in glass or PET, with a screw cap or pump.
- Oil Bottles: 100ml in glass or PET, 18mm or 20mm neck, with a screw cap.
- Maraska Bottles: 100ml glass in black or silver, with a screw cap.
- Salt Bottles: 100ml glass with a screw cap, for bath salts and powders.
Glass or plastic? At these sizes the weight difference starts to matter for shipping and for use in the shower. Our guide to glass vs plastic cosmetic bottles compares the two side by side.
5. 300ml to 500ml and above: value sizes and refills
Large bottles suit products used every day by the whole family, such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion, as well as salon and spa supplies. A large refill alongside a smaller retail bottle lets loyal customers top up and gives them a better price per ml.
Plastic Cosmetic Bottles cover the widest size range in the catalogue: 40ml, 50ml, 100ml, 150ml, 200ml, 300ml, 500ml and 1L, in amber, black, clear or white, with a flip top, screw cap or pump. Plastic is the practical choice for large sizes because it is lighter and less likely to break.
Not sure which sizes suit your product? Send us a message on WhatsApp with your product type and selling price and we will suggest sizes that are in stock.
6. Building a size range for your brand
Most brands do not need many sizes at the start. Begin with a few practical sizes, see what sells and add sizes later. A simple pattern that works for many products is:
| Product | Trial size | Retail size | Value or refill size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face serum or face oil | 5ml – 10ml | 30ml | 50ml |
| Toner or facial mist | 30ml – 50ml | 100ml | 200ml |
| Hair or body oil | 30ml | 100ml | 200ml |
| Body lotion | 50ml | 200ml | 500ml |
| Shampoo or body wash | 50ml – 100ml | 300ml | 500ml or 1L |
Because there is no minimum order on standard items, you can order a small number of each size, test them with your product and customers, and reorder only the sizes that work. Planning your first range from scratch? Read how to choose cosmetic packaging for a startup in Sri Lanka. For creams, balms and scrubs, see our guide to cosmetic jars, which are sized by weight in grams, and for gels and face washes see the types of cosmetic tubes.
Checks to make before you order a bottle size
A few quick tests with sample bottles and your real product will confirm the size before you order a full batch.
- Fill test: fill a sample with your product to the amount on your label and check how full the bottle looks. Leave space for the dropper, pump tube or cap.
- Neck and closure check: confirm the neck size matches the pump, spray or cap you want, for example a 28mm lotion pump on a 28mm neck.
- Dose check: count how many uses one bottle gives at a normal dose, so you know how long it lasts for the customer.
- Price check: work out your price per ml at each size, so larger sizes give customers better value.
- Label check: stick a printed mock-up of your label on each size; small bottles have very little space for text.
- Compatibility test: leave your product in the bottle for several weeks and watch for leaks or changes, especially with oils, fragrances and actives.
Cosmetic bottles by size at Snak Holdings
Snak Holdings manufactures and supplies cosmetic packaging in Sri Lanka, with no minimum order quantity on any standard item, whether it is listed on this website or part of the wider range in the shop. Snak Holdings sells both retail and wholesale, with wholesale pricing available, so you can start with the quantity your first batch needs and reorder as you grow. Every bottle listed below is in stock.
Because the catalogue is large, you can mix and match bottles, closures (droppers, pumps, sprayers and caps), colours and finishes from the standard range to build your own look, still with no minimum order on standard items. The closure range includes lotion pumps, treatment pumps, mist sprayers and other closures. Logo printing and fully custom OEM packaging are also available on request. Because customization costs are high, fully custom OEM packaging is recommended from about 500 pieces, and it usually takes around two weeks depending on the customization.
| Bottle | Listed sizes | Material / colour | Closure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Glass Dropper Bottles | 5ml – 100ml | Amber glass, glossy | Dropper |
| Amber Euro Dropper Bottles | 5ml – 100ml | Amber glass | Euro dropper |
| Frosted Glass Dropper Bottles | 10ml – 100ml | Frosted glass | Dropper |
| Frosted Euro Dropper Bottles | 10ml – 100ml | Frosted glass | Euro dropper |
| Transparent Glass Dropper Bottles | 30ml, 50ml, 100ml | Clear glass | Dropper |
| Short Dropper Bottles | 30ml | Amber or clear; frosted or matte | Dropper |
| Oval Dropper Bottles | 30ml | Glass | Dropper |
| Colour Dropper Bottles | 30ml | Blue or green glass | Dropper |
| Box Bottles | 30ml, 50ml | Glass or PET | Screw cap |
| Deodorant Bottles | 30ml, 50ml | Glass or plastic | Spray |
| Acrylic Bottles | 50ml, 100ml | Acrylic, glossy | Screw cap, pump or spray |
| Amber Cosmetic Bottles | 30ml, 150ml, 200ml | Amber glass or PET, glossy | Screw cap or pump |
| Glass Lotion Bottles | 100ml, 200ml | Clear glass, 28mm neck | Pump |
| Oil Bottles | 100ml | Glass or PET, 18mm or 20mm neck | Screw cap |
| Maraska Bottles | 100ml | Black or silver glass | Screw cap |
| Salt Bottles | 100ml | Glass | Screw cap |
| Plastic Cosmetic Bottles | 40ml – 1L | PET, plastic or PP; amber, black, clear or white | Flip top, screw cap or pump |
To change the closure, pair a bottle with Lotion Pumps (20mm, 24mm or 28mm neck), Spray Pumps (20mm), Plastic Flip Top Caps (18mm, 20mm or 24mm) or Press-On Caps (20mm or 24mm). The full range in the shop is wider than what is shown online, so if you need a size that is not listed, ask. You can browse everything in the Cosmetic Bottles and Glass Dropper Bottles categories.
Where to buy: visit the Snak Holdings shop at 24, Madampitiya Road, Colombo 01500, Sri Lanka. The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm, and closed on Sunday.
Not sure which bottle size to choose?
Tell us what your product is, how much is used each time and the price you plan to sell at. We’ll suggest bottle sizes that suit it and let you know what’s in stock.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common size for a serum bottle?
30ml is the most common retail size for face serums and face oils, with 50ml for larger serums and 5ml to 15ml for samples. Snak Holdings lists glass dropper bottles from 5ml to 100ml.
What size bottle should I use for body lotion?
Body lotion is usually sold in 200ml to 300ml bottles with a pump, with 500ml as a value size and 50ml to 100ml as a trial or travel size. Glass lotion bottles are listed in 100ml and 200ml, and plastic cosmetic bottles go up to 1L.
How many sizes should a new brand offer?
Start with one or two practical sizes per product, such as a sample and a retail size. Don’t overstock before you know what sells; add a larger or refill size once customers are reordering.
Can I buy small quantities of different bottle sizes in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Snak Holdings has no minimum order quantity on any standard item, including every bottle on this website and the wider range in the shop. It sells both retail and wholesale, with wholesale pricing available, so you can buy a few bottles in several sizes to test before ordering more.
Can I get the same bottle style in several sizes?
Yes, several styles come in a range of sizes. Amber glass dropper bottles are listed from 5ml to 100ml, frosted dropper bottles from 10ml to 100ml and plastic cosmetic bottles from 40ml to 1L, so a whole range can share one look. You can also mix and match closures, colours and finishes from the standard range with no minimum order on standard items, and logo printing and fully custom OEM packaging are available on request. Share your requirements on WhatsApp to check what is available.
Does the listed capacity mean the bottle is filled to the top?
Not necessarily. Leave space for the dropper, pump tube or cap and for easy filling. The simplest way to check is a fill test: fill a sample bottle with your product to the amount on your label and see how it looks before you order.