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22 Clever Pill Bottle Crafts and Reuse Ideas You’ll Actually Use

ByJessica Knowles Reading Time: 10 minutes

From fire starters to seed storage, discover 22 pill bottle crafts and reuse ideas that turn empty containers into something useful and fun.

A collage of creative pill bottle crafts, including Halloween potion bottles, a decorated pincushion sewing kit, painted storage containers, a hide-a-key disguised with a rock, labeled seed storage jars, and pill bottles mounted for battery storage.

I do my best to rely on herbal remedies around here, but I’ll be honest… plastic pill bottles still sneak in now and then. And since I hate tossing things (seriously, it makes me twitchy), I’ve gotten pretty good at finding new uses for old containers. At this point, I’m probably an upcycling addict. But honestly, there are worse habits to have.

So when I found myself staring at a mountain of empty pill bottles, I hopped on Pinterest for inspiration. (If you’re not following me there, you should. It’s where I stash all my harebrained homestead ideas.)

Here are some of my favorite ways to repurpose pill bottles: some practical, some just for fun.

#1 Fire Starters

Pill bottles make easy little fire starters. I’ve seen people call this a fun project to do with kids… I’m not sure my crew qualifies as calm enough for that, but if you’ve got responsible kids, this could be a good bonding project. Stuff them with cotton balls or dryer lint dipped in wax and they’ll catch fast, even if the wood’s a little damp.

Three orange prescription pill bottles with white caps filled with cotton balls, ready to be used as DIY fire starters.
DIY fire starter project using pill bottles. Image credit: Mom Prepared.

#2 Hide-A-Key

Make a cheap, quick hide-a-key by gluing a rock or pinecone to the lid. I can’t promise it’ll last forever outside, but since it costs basically nothing, replacing it now and then doesn’t hurt. Pro tip: pick a spot that blends in naturally and rotate locations so it’s not too obvious.

Hand holding a pill bottle with a rock glued to the lid, tucked among outdoor landscaping stones as a hidden key holder.
Hide-a-key pill bottle project. Image credit: Thrifty Fun.

#3 Travel Bottles

These bottles are just the right size for shampoo, conditioner, and lotion when traveling. I’m pretty sure they meet airline liquid rules, but double-check before you pack so you’re not stuck tossing them at security. I slap some painter’s tape on them so I’m not stuck guessing which one’s conditioner halfway through a shower. Permanent marker (it turns out) isn’t actually permanent.

Orange prescription pill bottle with white cap shown as a travel-size container for shampoo, conditioner, or lotion.
Travel toiletries made from pill bottles. Image credit: BuzzFeed.

#4 Portable Sewing Kit

Turn a pill bottle into a mini sewing kit with a bit of thread, a needle, and a few buttons. Bonus points if you glue a tiny pincushion to the lid. I like keeping one in the car for those “oops, lost a button” moments. Toss in a couple safety pins, too. They’ve saved me more times than the needle and thread.

Prescription pill bottle decorated with fabric and trim, topped with a pincushion and sewing needles to make a portable sewing kit.

#5 Survival Kit

My outdoorsy boyfriend has made about twenty of these survival kits, and they live in every glove box, backpack, and tackle box he owns. I’ll admit, they’ve saved the day more than once on hikes. Think waterproof matches, a bit of fishing line, and a couple of bandages (the kind of little things that feel huge if you’re stuck outside).

#6 Crafting Storage

These little bottles are perfect for craft odds and ends: cake piping tips, beads, needles, paper clips, safety pins. I use them to keep the gems from my diamond painting kits corralled, too. A quick label on the lid makes it easy to know what’s inside without digging through a drawer.

Four pill bottles decorated with colorful paper and stickers, numbered 0–3, used for holding piping tips by size.
Decorated pill bottles for kids’ crafts. Image credit: The Bear Foot Baker.

#7 Halloween Decor

Spray paint a few bottles and turn them into Halloween potion bottles. I made some last year for the mantle, and they were a hit! Just the right touch of spooky to mix in with my pumpkins. A ring of hot glue around the cap gives you that old ‘wax seal’ vibe if you really want to go all in.

Five pill bottles transformed into spooky potion bottles with dark paint, bark tops, and carved labels like “Raven” and “Newt.”
DIY Halloween potion bottles from pill bottles. Image credit: Magia Mia.

#8 Snowman Ornament

Not into spooky? Use them to make winter snowmen. My youngest once built an entire snowman village out of pill bottles. Did they clash with my vintage Christmas village? Yep. Did I still display them? Absolutely. Paint sticks better if you rough up the plastic with sandpaper first.

White pill bottle decorated as a snowman with a black hat, green felt scarf, stick arms, and button details.
Snowman ornament made from a pill bottle. Image credit: Crafting a Green World.

I’ve got plenty more thrifty holiday craft ideas where that came from. Check out my favorite Christmas decorating projects on a budget for more Santa-approved inspiration.

#9 Rainbow Crayons

Use pill bottles as molds for rainbow crayons. Extra credit if you’re also upcycling broken crayons. (Yes, I hoard broken crayons too. Don’t judge.) Just remember the bottles aren’t oven-safe. Melt the crayons first, then pour them in.

Three pill bottles filled with layers of melted crayon wax in rainbow colors, used as molds for homemade crayons.
Rainbow crayons made with pill bottles. Image credit: Momtastic.

#10 Unique Vase

Nest pill bottles together and you’ve got yourself a faux bamboo vase. The vacuum seal makes them watertight without glue (bonus science lesson included). Wrap them in jute or give them a coat of paint and they actually look pretty classy.

Two stacks of pill bottles arranged like bamboo vases, each holding cut plant stems on a windowsill.
Faux bamboo vase made from pill bottles. Image credit: Mich L. in L.A.

#11 Nail Polish Remover

Make a quick nail polish remover tub: stuff a pill bottle with cotton balls and pour in acetone. It’s way less messy than pouring from the bottle, and you’ll waste less polish remover too. Cut a sponge to size and swap it in if you want that salon-style dip jar.

Bottle of nail polish remover being poured into a pill bottle stuffed with cotton balls, next to a cotton ball on a bathroom counter.
DIY nail polish remover tub using a pill bottle. Image credit: The Krazy Coupon Lady.

#12 Ammo Storage

Pill bottles keep ammo dry and organized. Around here, those bottles get tucked into an old Christmas cookie tin in the gun cabinet. Sadly, it’s not cookies. Toss in a silica packet and it’ll stay dry even longer.

Prescription pill bottle filled with rifle ammunition, shown beside a green military-style container.
Ammo storage using pill bottles. Image credit: Survival Monkey.

#13 Yarn Baller

Knitters and crocheters, this one’s for you. Use a pill bottle to make a center-pull yarn ball so your skein doesn’t roll across the floor. Before my friend gifted me a “real” yarn ball winder, this trick saved my sanity. Drill a hole in the cap for the yarn to thread through. It keeps the tension nice and steady.

Hands pulling yarn through a hole in a pill bottle cap while winding a center-pull yarn ball.

#14 Ink Dauber

You can even make ink daubers. At first, I had no idea what those were (BINGO night, maybe?), but it turns out scrapbookers use them too. Glue a bit of felt on the bottom and you’re good to go for stamping or blending.

#15 Coin Storage

Need a spot for quarters? Toss them in a pill bottle coin holder and stash it in the glove box. Handy for car washes, vacuums, or laundromats. (Not that I’d know. My kids swipe my change before I get to it.) Adding a slit in the lid makes it a mini piggy bank for kids.

Red and blue pill bottles decorated with cartoon character stickers, used as fun coin storage containers for kids.
Coin storage bottles decorated for kids. Image credit: WDW Prep School.

#16 Party Lights

I’ve seen pill bottles turned into quirky amber-colored party lights. I’m not sure when you’d use them. Maybe at a med school graduation party? Still, it’s a quirky little project if you’re the crafty type. Paint the outsides different colors for a string-light effect.

String lights threaded through empty pill bottles, glowing warmly as DIY party lights.

#17 First Aid Kit

Mini first aid kits in pill bottles are a lifesaver. I keep one in my purse for scraped knees and mystery bruises. (Let’s be honest… usually caused by one rambunctious child in particular, but I won’t name names.) A couple of antiseptic wipes fit in there too, and trust me, they’re worth their weight in gold.

Empty pill bottle shown alongside tweezers and antiseptic wipes, ready to be assembled into a mini first aid kit.
DIY first aid kit in a pill bottle. Image credit: Thrifty Fun.

If you want to take it a step further, here’s how I stock a homestead first aid kit that actually works. You’ll find practical, affordable essentials that go way beyond a few bandages in a box.

#18 Tooth Storage

Parents: this one’s for you. Put a tooth in a pill bottle so the Tooth Fairy can actually find it in the bed sheets. Trust me, it’s a lot less stressful than digging through stuffed animals at midnight. A dab of glitter nail polish on the lid turns it into a magical “Tooth Fairy jar.”

Purple pill bottle with a white painted tooth design, blue cap, and pink ribbon bow, used as a tooth storage container.

#19 Hair Supply Container

Perfect for corralling bobby pins and elastics. I swear I’ve been working off the same pack of bobby pins for 15 years because they just vanish. The elastic bands wrap nicely around the outside of the bottle too. Add a strip of magnetic tape inside to keep the pins from scattering.

Prescription pill bottle decorated with patterned tape, filled with bobby pins and hair clips, with the lid labeled “Hair Pins.”

#20 Q-Tip Holder

Keep cotton swabs in one so the kids don’t decide to “help” each other with ear cleaning. (Yes, that happened here. Never again.) Stick a label on it if you also keep them for makeup. No one wants ear swabs touching mascara wands.

Prescription pill bottle filled with cotton swabs, shown with white lid on and off.
DIY cotton swab holder made from a pill bottle. Image credit: The Beauty Blog.

#21 Seed Storage

Don’t want to make printable seed packets? Pill bottles are perfect for storing seeds, and the childproof caps mean no accidental spills all over the floor. Taping a seed packet label to the outside helps keep varieties straight.

Collection of pill bottles labeled with hand-drawn illustrations of vegetables and herbs, used for storing seeds.
Pill bottles repurposed as seed storage containers. Image credit: Sunset.

#22 Battery Organizer

And finally, battery storage. Because the bottles are watertight, your batteries are less likely to corrode. Group them by size so you’re not digging through a messy junk drawer when the remote dies.

Pill bottles mounted under a wooden shelf, each filled with AA batteries for organized storage.
Battery organizer using pill bottles. Image credit: Lifehacker.

Your Pill Bottle Upcycling Questions, Answered

Still curious about what to do with those bottles once the medicine is gone? Here are a few of the questions I hear most often about reusing pill bottles and the simple answers that make it less of a headache.

Soak them in warm, soapy water first. If the sticky stuff won’t budge, rubbing alcohol or olive oil usually does the trick. A quick scrub and they’re ready to reuse.

Never flush them. Instead, look for pharmacy take-back bins, community collection events, or law enforcement drop-offs. If you don’t have those nearby, mix the meds with something gross (like coffee grounds or cat litter) before tossing in the trash. Always scratch off personal info on the bottle first.

I wouldn’t. Even after washing, medication residue can linger in the plastic. They’re great for crafts and organization, but skip them for anything edible. If you want a safe option for spices or snacks on the go, use small glass jars or food-grade containers instead.

Yes! Organizations like Matthew 25: Ministries accept them, and many animal shelters use them for pet meds. Just wash them out thoroughly first.

Most are, but it depends on your local program. The orange bottles are usually #5 plastic (polypropylene), which some recycling centers accept and others don’t. Check the number on the bottom and call your transfer station or recycling center to be sure. When in doubt, upcycle first!

If you liked these ideas, pin the image below and share it with your Pinterest crew.

A Pinterest pin graphic with three empty orange pill bottles and a text overlay reading, “Creative Ways to Reuse Pill Bottles – From storage hacks to DIY projects—don’t toss them!”

Health doesn’t come from a plastic bottle, but if it does, at least you can turn that bottle into something useful afterward.

Want more ideas? Check out 12+ Fun Ways to Upcycle Holiday Cards After the Season, Mason Jar Crafts You’ll Love to DIY, and 12 Uses for an Old Milk Jugs.

Repurposing pill bottles proves a little creativity goes a long way. From seed storage to quirky decor, they definitely don’t have to end up in the trash.

What’s your favorite way to reuse pill bottles? Share in the comments. I’d love to hear!

Owner, Writer at The 104 Homesteader

Jessica Knowles is a long-time Maine homesteader and the voice behind The 104 Homestead and Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm. With over a decade of experience in small-scale farming and self-sufficiency, she shares practical tips to help you build a homestead that actually works—for real life, not just Pinterest.

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345 Comments

  1. Loved some of the ideas! My husband and I both (unfortunately) take multiple medications which results in too many pill bottles! I remove the labels and take them to my veterinarian. He takes wonderful care of our pets while trying to keep prices down! Saves him a little $ and makes me feel good about not adding to our land fills! Check with your/a veterinarian!

    Reply
  2. Wm Mayzak says:

    People use them for geocaches

    Reply

  3. I use them in my tool chests to hold small items such as my counterbore bits. Good hardware, screwdriver bits, and such storage. I use them to keep small items in my tackle box. I also used one to make a snail trap for my aquarium.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says:

    i use one in my purse to hold my ear buds for my phone, i can always put my hand on the bottle and they stay cleaner.

    Reply

  5. I store tall skinny makeup items such as eye liner pencils, makeup brushes, even lip balm sticks in larger Rx bottles without the cap to keep it visible and organized in my makeup box (which is a plastic shoe storage tub, again without the lid).

    Reply
  6. Margaret Blevins says:

    I’m a quilter and I use pill bottles to store used seeing machine needles. This way no one gets stabbed.

    Reply

  7. Use them to store birthday candles, that way they won’t break when they’re rolling around in the junk drawer! ??

    Reply

  8. I use them for cat treats, especially when going to the vet!

    Reply

  9. I grew up on a 160acre homestead in Alaska. We found many uses for our pill bottles. We would roll up our dollars and save them until Christmas. There were seven kids. It was a competition to see who would save the most. We also put safety pins in them. We were always popping off a butter or ripping out a seam.

    Reply

  10. We use them for our quarters and pennies for the penny press machines at WDW. We stack four quarters and one shiny penny and continue the pattern until the bottle is full. We also have an empty bottle for the pressed pennies. No more loose change or lost penny treasures!!

    Reply

  11. We also use them for quarters, but for penny press machines at WDW. We stack four quarters and a nice shiny penny and continue the pattern ’til the bottle is full. We also have an empty one for the pressed pennies. No more loose change or lost pennies.

    Reply
    1. ladylyn777 says:

      I love this idea!!!

      Reply

  12. My fishing tackle bag has lots of old pill bottles. I started using them for lures with hooks in them. I also put sinkers, loose hooks and other small tackle bag items in them. They are also great for carrying dish soap, mustard ketchup etc on picnics, camping etc.
    I have ideas for many uses. But, my tackle bag was the first.

    Reply
  13. Shirley A Bolin says:

    I use pill bottles to put my used lancets and strips in when I check my blood sugar. The bottle fits in the pocket of my meter case and when it is full, I tape the lid shut and throw it in the trash.

    Reply
    1. Anonymous says:

      Just FYI, there is a huge fine for throwing needles in the trash even in a container. They should be disposed of at a facility that takes sharps. The fine is like $20,000.00.

      Reply

      2. In Illinois, we can throw them in the trash, too. I was surprised, also, when I had to give my cat IVs and I started calling around to find out what to do with the used needles. The police department, city building and county building didn’t even say anything about putting them in a container (although I did, anyway)!

        Reply

    2. This is s great idea. I can never find s trash can when I need one. And also I don’t have to worry about anyone else getting stuck.

      Reply
  14. April Parrish says:

    I was collecting my pill bottles for donation to the Malawi Project, but I missed the donation window. I’ve yet to find another place to take them, but I would think there are others out there. If someone finds a charity to take them, please post the info.

    Reply
    1. Jessica Lane says:

      If I hear of another, I’ll add the information here.

      Reply

    2. I would like to know too. I have a lot. Thank you.

      Reply
    3. Carla Liles says:

      Clean, empty pill bottles with labels removed may be sent to Matthew 25 Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 25242. I found this organization after learning that the Malawi Project is no longer accepting bottles b/c they have received over 2.5 million of them.

      Reply
      1. Jessica Lane says:

        Thank you for sharing this. I was sad the other program closed down, but glad it was because so many people donated.

        Reply

  15. I use pill bottles for old or bent sewing machine/hand sewing needles. when full I tape them closed and no one gets stuck…

    Reply

  17. Do ALL of these so-called links link right back to YOUR pinterest instead of linking to the actual sites you took the images from? Poor form.

    Reply
    1. Jessica Lane says:

      They go to pins on my Pinterest boards because people notoriously delete pins and that would cause a broken link. Not poor form, just making sure when you click on a link it doesn’t leave you in “oops, that pin no longer exists” land.

      When you click on the pin, it takes you to the person who wrote the tutorial (and whose photos I was given permission to use).

      Reply
      1. Bonnie Bowness says:

        You are so sweet ,its to bad there are always idiots that have to try to burst others bubbles.I call it bitter bag syndrome.

        Reply

  18. I use one to carry mixed nuts to snack on when I’m at work.

    Reply
  19. Steve Sanders says:

    I’ve used old pill containers to keep change for parking meters in my car. I’ve found that they work great for that.

    Reply
  20. Steve Sanders says:

    I tried using pill containers to store batteries once. It turns out that it’s not such a good idea. The alkaline batteries couldn’t “breath” and chemicals leaked out into the air-tight container, They were ruined, and caused a mess. It was basically a waste of good batteries.

    Reply
    1. Jessica Lane says:

      Oh no! That’s the first I’ve heard of that happening.

      Reply

    2. That’s happened to me also.

      Reply
    3. Mimi Reynolds says:

      Maybe make a small hole in the bottle…?

      Reply
  21. Jean Ericson says:

    Just so you know……daubers are little ink holders for crafting cards. Roll up some sponges and insert in various types of holders to make your own. Good idea!

    Reply

  22. Use one to carry extra earrings and/or pins while traveling.

    Also for mixing watercolors or acrylics in larger quantities than practical on a palette.

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says:

    I use them to carry extra earrings when I travel. I also use them to mix paint when mixing colors in a larger quantity for a painting.

    Reply
  24. Shirley Crotta says:

    we make what we call “shakyshakies” for our special needs granddaughter, who loves to have something in her hand to shake and make noise. We put small not so noisy beads inside and then cover them with material so they won’t accidentally come open.

    Reply

    1. I don’t know how old your granddaughter is, but if she is old enough for something larger, by far the best bottle I’ve found for shakers is an empty “POM Wonderful” bottle (as a sports, juice, or energy drink, they are a bit pricey, but for a toy or sensory object, the empty bottle is great). I use the tiny size or the medium size (which is a small soft drink or water bottle size); the largest size is too big. Yes, there is writing on the bottle, but with a little effort, if you want a clear bottle, you can get the writing off with Pro Strength Goof Off which you can find at a hardware store. I like these bottles because of their unique shape and because, if you close the lid real tight (like with pliers), you don’t have to use something to seal it, although an extra cautious person might hot glue it closed. (I don’t like using material around something if you have a kid who puts their everything in their mouth, such an item might roll around on the floor, and having no material on it will make it easier to clean. “Profoundly normal” toddlers love these shakers too and no batteries needed – great to sleep with and no annoying kid music, which can get old after a while. They also make great maracas for a rhythm band instrument for elementary kids.

      Reply
  25. Judy Gillette-Pelkey says:

    I peel off the labels, the sticky residue left behind is easily removed with taking the peeled label and using it to remove the sticky stuff left. Just take the sticky side of the label and use it quickly to pick up the sticky stuff.

    Reply
    1. Jessica Lane says:

      Good tip to know. Thank you Judy!

      Reply