22 Clever Pill Bottle Crafts and Reuse Ideas You’ll Actually Use
From fire starters to seed storage, discover 22 pill bottle crafts and reuse ideas that turn empty containers into something useful and fun.
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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
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.”
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
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.
If you liked these ideas, pin the image below and share it with your Pinterest crew.
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!
I put 2 weeks worth of OTC pills and herbal pills in mine. This way I am not opening each bottle everyday, I keep one in my sewing room for my spent sewing machine needles. Since I also work in a sewing factory, I have one at work for my spent needles. Nothing lilke just throwing a needle in the trash and then needing to fish something out and getting stuck. Now there is no fear of getting stuck with a needle or pin. Any bent or broken pins also end up in the bottle.
I saw quite a lot of postings, but I use my pill bottle to store a roll or even three of United States postage stamps as they keep the stamps dry and protected.
I also have different sizes of bottles and I sort my rubber bands into different bottles to help me get the right size of rubber bands to use when needing rubber bands to keep things together.
I also use my pill bottle to keep sugar substitute packets in my car (glove compartment or tray) when I go to the derive throughs and order an unsweetened tea and use my own packet. I find their sweet tea is TOO sweet. This way I control what I drink.
I use old pill bottles to store my ear buds, charger and any accessories to my cell phone in them.
Read through all the comments and there were tons of great info and tips. Here’s one that might help any watercolor artists on the go, for their “plein air” kit (that’s just a fancy way of saying painting outdoors, or away from studio): I have a fairly big one (a silver dollar would fit in the bottom) that I keep in my kit to put a little water in to rinse my brush with. It’s just enough for a short session, is easily filled and dumped in a restroom sink without making a big production of it, and easily capped if interrupted. I turn the cap “upside down” because it’s less likely to leak out if tipped over. I definitely use them for toothpicks (craft table and kitchen), and lighters (I don’t smoke but have them in my bug out bag) it keeps the tab from being pressed and releasing fuel. Great article!
Well it has been a few years since you have posted this and a lot has gone on in this wonderful world. 🙂 Not all so wonderful.So i thought i might add a comment letting you know what i do with my Rx bottles. I have a large bottle of sanitizer and use my bottles to keep filled with sanitizer. It fits great in pockets,backpacks,purses, your car and other convenient places.
I worked in a county jail. We would use donated pill bottles for jewelry taken off the person’s being arrested and/or incarcerated. It was a way of not losing small pieces of jewelry. Just donate them to your nearest county jail. They would be happy to receive them.
How do you get the Rx stickers off? They are so difficult to take off!!!
There is a product called “Goo Gone”. There are many other brands of adhesive remover too. Available pretty much every where.
I use WD40
I boil water and fill the bottle with 1/2 room temp water then add hot water. The labels peel off easily after a few minutes.
Vegetable oil works just as well
It helps to fill the container with boiling water and let sit a minute, poor water out and immediately peel label. The heat helps “melt” the adhesive and the label will peel off easier. Then use rubbing alcohol and/or Goo Gone to remove any remaining adhesive residue.
Use GooGone.
Heat the sticker up with a lighter. The glue melts and then the sticker peels off easily.
Just quickly heat the label with a hair dryer. Label comes right off and usually with no residue.
Use a heated blow dryer to warm them up. Then mine come right off…
I use mine for fish hooks sinkers
Clean the pill bottles well, so there is no residual meds. We fill them with spices to take along camping. They save space in the camper.
Loved all these ideas for recycling pill bottles. So many ways they can be used…and saves them from going in landfill.
#3 could be questionable as I dont think the bottles are sealed well enough to be leak-proof. I’ll have to try that!
It works. I just did this myself yesterday before even seeing this idea! I did place them in a small plastic snack baggie for security but it wasn’t necessary.
They actually work great for shampoo.
I’m trying it this week.
The crayons really don’t make a good burning candle, it will snuff out quickly. I add 1 part candle to 3 parts soy wax. It makes a crayon colored candle AND burns good.
That sounds awesome!!! Thanks!
i find an old pill bottle is excellent for storing spare change in my purse. i carry the smallest bottle i had, which is just big enough to put a quarter flat inside. i don’t even bother to use the child proof cap, but the regular one, but i do have a pocket the bottle sits it. might be different if it was floating around in the bottom of a bag. what makes it especially convenient is i can see thru the sides whether or not i have the right amount of change. i don’t have to dig thru it or pour it out first.
I donate to my local Vet. He uses them for Pet Meds. This saves him (small office) money.
I do the same. It is appreciated by our small town veterinarians.
Great idea!
I discovered a long time ago that, not only did quarters fit flat, but I could just fit a full $10 roll of quarters in that (particular prescription’s) pill bottle.
Actually it can hold $15 worth of quarters
How odd that you would disagree about the amount of quarters she can store in her bottle – your bottle could very well be taller.
Wow. Inflation is out of control!
Wow! Excellent idea. I may have to borrow this one. LOL
I have used pill bottles for gifts, especially fragile things. I wrap the item with cotton or tissue paper and put in bottle. Then wrap the bottle.
I use mine to store seeds for next years garden
OMG I will definitely try this
Hi from the uk! I use one to store my bent or broken pins in and one to store old rotary cutting discs in till they’re full and mark them for the dustmen to know what’s in them. Ann
I’ve been using them for all sharps, however, I use duct tape thoroughly around several times, so that if dug up, it will be extremely difficult to unwrap, & injuring someone. I also write NO!! on the bottle before & after taping it. HTH!!! Blessings!!!
You could also drop the bottle off at pharmacy, saves on tape.
What pharmacy will take them?
The one with the .22 ammo is dangerous, you dont store something like that with the tips of the projectile against the primer of another especially a rimfire, you drop it and can go off and if the bottom one will fire into the primer above etc, not smart.
That is not true, you can take .22’s and throw them as hard as you want against anything and they will not fire. If you dropped a box of 100 into a fire, they would not shoot, the reason being the lead would melt long before the casing would heat up enough to ignite the gunpowder.
Plus your “theory” doesn’t hold water as Reminton sells a small bucket that’s called “Bucket O’Bullets” with 1,400 loose shells.
Unfortunately, they do go off in a fire, have had some accidentally get into trash barrels.
Trash burn is different then an accidental drop.
I have had a .22 round go off when dropped before. I was at an outdoor range that was local to me and had been upgzraded with small rocks for the ground cover. I dropped a round from about 4 feet and it fired. I was not hurt and was the only person at the site, so no problems. I have been very careful since with any ammo, even though I think it was a freak accident, and probably can’t be reproduced at will, yet I am prone to be of the addage, better safe than sorry.
Not true, I witnessed a box of 1000 rounds tossed into a campfire and they went off like the 4th of July.
Thank you! Excellent advice. I wondered about safety.
We have the bigger pill bottle in our auto glove compartment to put the extra salt and pepper in . They always give to much at the drive thru or none at all.
Thanks for a reminder I can “bounce off of.” I have the same issue with ketchup packets. This will definitely help, because it is very annoying to clean up ketchup after it, say, got stepped on in the back seat area, and not, um, promptly reported. Guess how I know this.
regarding the survival kits, I use lint from the drier inside a toilet paper roll rather than cotton to start the fires while camping. little too big for pill bottles, so I use a plasreneetic container or ziploc baggies.
I “soak” (coat, really) cotton balls in Vaseline and put them in the pill bottle for fire starters. The Vaseline will burn long enough to get your fuel ignited. I can see a good combo here with the long in TP tubes, as well!
What I do is soak up the left over wax/oils out of my Scentsy warmer dish with cotton balls & then put the cotton balls inside the toilet paper roll (I have added lint keepings as well) tuck the ends in so it doesn’t fall out & there u have a fire starter 🙂
Burning plastic is toxic not a good thing.
You take it out of the plastic jar first. Duh
Cool! Beats the heck out of cutting, then coiling corrugated cardboard into a tuna fish, or Cat food can and pouring wax over it. Or balling up newspapers and putting them in pressboard egg cartons and again pouring wax over. I’m trying Vaseline out next season.
I’ve used them for qtips, toothpicks, and straight pins. My latest use is in my toolbox… my 1/4” ratchet sockets used to be scattered all over the toolbox tray; now I have one large pill bottle with standard size sockets, and one for metric.
I use one to put a roll of postage stamps in and then have it in my purse. I always have stamps available and I don’t have to worry about them coming off the backing and sticking to everything in my purse.
Our homeless shelter also uses them for medicine for the people that require it there.
I always carry a large empty or two for my used insulin pen caps, lancets, and test strips. It’s safer for everyone. When I get home, I transfer from bottle to sharps container and put the bottle back in my travel stuff.
We also donate extras to our local animal shelter.
So glad that I came across this blog and your comment. I have been struggling to find something to put my lancets and old allergy medicine vials in until I can get to the doctor to have them throw them in the sharps bin. But why put test strips in it? And also, how does the local animal shelter use them? I may have to donate some of mine to our local animal shelter.
Wouldn’t the test strips have blood on them? That might possibly be the reason for storing used strips until one can dispose of them properly.
They use them for pet meds.
Great idea!
We use our old pill bottles for toothpick holders, extra allergy tablets (still in each package), Tums, Aleve, etc. placed in each vehicle’s glove compartment that way we don’t have to move back/forth to the vehicle being used. I have also put baby diaper rash medicine, mentholatum or salves, then label with sharpie pen. In my sewing I use for holding my extra machine bobbins, carry thread & needle if taking along for mending or hand quilting. Also misc. parts such as flat washers, sorted small screws or nails for tool boxes. Our local drugstore is currently collecting them for a local organization that is collecting as part of a project.
what’s the easiest way to remove the label from a prescription bottle?
TEAR THE LABEL OFF AND PUT PEANUT BUTTER O IT AND RUB IT OFF IT WORKS GREAT
I soak it for awhile, then i use Skin so soft, from Avon
Gently, slowly peel the label off. If it leaves some residue, use the same label to get it off. Pat the spot, or spots quickly with the adhesive side of the label. The adhesive that is on the bottle will stick to the adhesive that is on the label. Continue patting until all adhesive is removed from the bottle.
That’s exactly what I do.
Dawn Dish Soap will remove sticker from bottles. You may have to let it soak for a sec or two
I use hot soapy water and let soak then wipe off. For the sticky film left behind I use googone
I have found that WD40 takes the adhesive off very well & fast! Spray a tiny bit on and just rub it off with your finger or paper towel.
Soak in water, scrape, then use goo gone to remove the sticky.
WD-40 sprayed on those labels rub it alittle let sit a few minutes. Then it’ll come right off! Easy Peasy!
I use my hairdryer to remove sticky labels from almost anything, even other labels, like markdowns.
Warm setting, start on one corner and keep pulling as you heat the label. No residue.
Use equal parts coconut oil and baking soda. Peel off label or as much as you can. Rub mixture on remaining label and gooey sticky stuff. Let set for several minutes. Then wipe off with paper towel. Works for jars and bottles too.
Learned this method from a post on Pinterest.
I also use this combination for removing adhesives on glass, plastic, vinyl, floor adhesive etc. Depending on what has to be removed, determines what ratio I use to remove the stickiness. It does not harm finishes, and is safe for my grandkids to use on arts and crafts. Takes very little pressure to remove the stickiness, and washes off easily with soap and water.
Use your hair dryer to”warm” the label, just start at one corner or side and start to gently pull on the label as you warm it, never any residue from the adhesive.
Hand sanitizer gel will remove the label and the stickiness.
Pull as much as you can off, then run under some water. Lastly, run a film of mayonnaise over the remaining label or adhesive, set aside and it should be ready to just peel off in a couple of hours.
I know I am a day late and a dollar short, but honestly, I put all my pill bottles into a sink full of hot water, let them sit over night, and the next morning the labels are usually already off the bottles.
If it’s going to take a long time, give in, save time and put a replacement label over the top or washi tape on the smaller containers.
Number one use as important as keeping meds out of small kids hands…….
Use to lock up lighters, matches! And maybe those tide pods from the little kids.
I’ve got 0 ideas with pods and the teenagers!
I use them to make toys for my cat. After I clean and dry them out, I put a bell or two in a bottle and my cat loves it. I also have put coins in them as well. I’ve also put catnip in them and poked holes in the lid and my cat goes crazy.
I put cotton balls in them for med.cabinet or purse with astringent in one.I put my pills for the day in them.I hate fishing hooks put them in fishing gear so no getting stuck.you can also put mouth wash in a over night bag or purse. I put cat or dog treats for rewards.
Enjoyed the site very much.
Thanks for the ideas!
I keep wanting to figure out how to chip these, melt down the chips and mold them into bricks and planks. DIY FURNITURE!
To add to “ideas for upcyle pill bottles” for smokers, or for friends of smokers to give to the smokers: to use to put their cigarette butts in, instead of throwing the butts on the ground to throw in the garbage later. Cigarette butts are the #1 littered item in the WORLD.
I love this ides and I agree 100%
I am a smoker. I keep a medicine bottle in my vehicle and instead of throwing the butt out of the window and littering, I put it in there and close it. It puts it out and I am not littering. I empty it when I get home.
Our local animal rescue shelter accepts them for their animals. I take a sack of empty, clean, and devoid of labels every month so so.
How do you remove the labels ?
Fill with hot water and they come right off.
Start peeling the label off the vial in the bottom right hand corner. Less pressure is used the when putting the label on the bottle. If you’re having trouble getting it completely off use a lighter to re-warm the label and it should peel right off.
I use them to store my beads that I use in jewerly making as well as small jewerly findings. Keeps my craft space nice and neat.
I’d avoid repurposing them for traveling, especially with liquids since they will leak. If you put a solvent in one, it’ll evaporate quickly for the same reason.
Using them to combine pills for daily use sounds like a good idea. However, I have been told , if you are stopped by police and searched, you could be cited because each type of pills were not in their original containers
Very true! I’ve been in that situation with my son’s medications. You have to be very careful with controlled medications especially.
The trick is to be able to remove the original label and then place it on the bottle you want to use. Some labels peel off easily if you are careful, others do not. Even if you have something over-the-counter, like vitamins or allergy meds, schools (and airports and court houses) require an original label. How do you get that original label off to use on a smaller bottle? Goo Gone® adhesive remover is excellent for this purpose when you have a seemingly impossible to remove label. If I can place an original label on a smaller bottle, I do. So far, its worked ever time, although a few times someone has noticed that its not an original bottle, but they seem to be OK with it once they open the bottle and see that what’s inside matches the label. Most screeners don’t even bother. (I usually also secure the new label on the recycled smaller bottle with transparent shipping tape.)
Great tip! Thanks R.
Carry the tag/receipt from when you get from pharmacy. They will even give you a spare label if you ask. This has been wonderful as we only carry a day pack on trips.
I use the bottles to put my hearing aids in with like one Kleenex.then the won’t get damaged. If my batteries die and I have no extra.
I also put a small knife in the extra tall bottles. Then I can put in my lunch sack.
I have no e-mail.
Actually, it depends where you live. In Florida, we have some *very* liberal laws regarding non-labeled meds. As long as you have a label on hand, like in your wallet or purse, you can use it to prove any Schedule II medicine is yours. Ask the pharmacy to print you a copy when you pick up the pills. Explain you need it flat, just for back-up, so they don’t stick it to another bottle. You will need a fresh label every time you get a new rx, usually monthly. Schedule II medicines are ADHD meds, strong painkillers, things like that. Your pharmacist can tell you what classification any pill you get belongs in. As a side note, be extremely cautious when dispensing anything from this category, especially if giving to a minor or elder. They are potent, often dangerous drugs, and should be used with respect for their power. OTOH, sometime it’s all that will work. There you have it. When in doubt, as your pharmacist about rules & regulations to do with your specific medication. I adore all these wonderful ideas for upcycling this extra plastic in my home!