Pyrex Mixing Bowl Numbers Explained: 401–404 vs Cinderella 441–444

If you have ever stared at a stack of Pyrex bowls trying to work out whether you have a complete set, the answer is stamped on the bottom. Pyrex nesting bowls come in two families — the plain round 400 series and the handled Cinderella 440 series — and knowing which one you are holding is the difference between a complete set and a near miss.

The two bowl families

Both families use the same four capacities in the same progression. What changes is the shape.

400 series — standard round bowls

Plain, round, no handles, no spouts. The classic nesting mixing bowl.

Model	Capacity
401	1.5 pint
402	1.5 quart
403	2.5 quart
404	4 quart

440 series — Cinderella bowls

The same four sizes, but with the distinctive angled tab handles on one side and a pour spout on the other. Grip one side, pour from the other. These are the bowls most people picture when they think of vintage Pyrex.

Model	Capacity
441	1.5 pint
442	1.5 quart
443	2.5 quart
444	4 quart

So what makes a “complete set”?

Four bowls: the 1.5 pint, 1.5 quart, 2.5 quart and 4 quart — either 401–404 or 441–444, not a mixture. A stack containing a 442 and a 403 is a married set, not a complete one, however nice it looks.

This matters for money. A complete, matched four-bowl set in a desirable pattern is worth substantially more than the same four bowls sold individually, and far more than a mismatched stack. When you are buying, always read all four numbers.

Why the numbers are your best friend

Pattern names can be argued about. Model numbers cannot. The number tells you the exact shape and size regardless of what the seller has called the pattern, which makes it the fastest way to:

• confirm a set is genuinely complete and matched
• spot a married or substituted bowl
• work out which piece you are still hunting
• check that a “rare” listing is actually the shape it claims to be

Our Shapes & Model Numbers guide covers the wider numbering system across casseroles, refrigerator dishes and more.

A note on condition

Nesting bowls live hard lives. Check the interiors for grey utensil scratching (common, usually acceptable) and the exteriors for dishwasher fade, which dulls the printed pattern permanently and takes a serious bite out of value. See how to clean vintage Pyrex without making it worse.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Pyrex 401 and 441?

They hold the same amount — 1.5 pints. The 401 is a plain round bowl; the 441 is a Cinderella bowl with tab handles and a pour spout.

What are the four Cinderella bowl sizes?

441 (1.5 pint), 442 (1.5 quart), 443 (2.5 quart) and 444 (4 quart).

Can I mix 400 and 440 series bowls in a set?

You can use them together happily in a kitchen, but collectors do not consider that a complete set, and it will not command a complete-set price.

Which bowl is the hardest to find?

It varies by pattern, but the largest bowl (404 / 444) is frequently the one missing from surviving sets — big bowls got the heaviest use and broke most often. That scarcity is usually reflected in its price.