Chapter 03 · Dimensions & weights
Numbers,
without the
marketing.
One page with every dimension we get asked for, including the derived figures nobody publishes — load counts, liquid weights at different specific gravities, and pallet stack-up differences.
Need a dimension we have not listed?Ask — we will measure a unit in the yard
Master table
All formats
Working figures from our own stock. Manufacturer tooling varies; the nameplate on your lot is the authority.
| Format | Capacity | Footprint | Height | Tare | Max gross | Pallet options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal caged IBC | 275 gal · 1,040 L | 48" × 40" | 46" – 46.5" | 120 – 140 lb | ~2,750 lb | Steel / composite / plastic |
| 330 gal caged IBC | 330 gal · 1,250 L | 48" × 40" | 53" – 59" | 150 – 185 lb | ~3,300 lb | Steel / composite |
| 120 gal caged IBC | 120 gal · 450 L | 40" × 32" | 36" – 40" | 85 – 105 lb | ~1,200 lb | Steel |
| 180 gal caged IBC | 180 gal · 680 L | 48" × 40" | 36" – 38" | 100 – 120 lb | ~1,750 lb | Steel |
| 550 gal caged IBC | 550 gal · 2,080 L | 63" × 43" | 66" – 72" | 280 – 340 lb | ~5,400 lb | Heavy steel |
| Stainless steel IBC | 300 – 550 gal · 1,135 – 2,080 L | 48" × 40" typical | 50" – 72" | 300 – 600 lb | varies | Integral frame |
Liquid weight
What your product actually weighs
Specific gravity is the number that turns a dimension problem into a forklift problem. Multiply the water figure by your product's SG.
| Product (typical SG) | 275 gal full | 330 gal full | Plus tare, 275 | Plus tare, 330 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (1.00) | 2,290 lb | 2,750 lb | ~2,420 lb | ~2,920 lb |
| Diesel / fuel oil (0.85) | 1,947 lb | 2,338 lb | ~2,077 lb | ~2,508 lb |
| Vegetable oil (0.92) | 2,107 lb | 2,530 lb | ~2,237 lb | ~2,700 lb |
| Liquid fertilizer (1.25) | 2,863 lb | 3,438 lb | ~2,993 lb | ~3,608 lb |
| Brine / de-icer (1.20) | 2,748 lb | 3,300 lb | ~2,878 lb | ~3,470 lb |
| Sulphuric acid, dilute (1.40) | 3,206 lb | 3,850 lb | ~3,336 lb | ~4,020 lb |
Load counts
By equipment, single stacked
| Equipment | 275 gal | 330 gal | 120 gal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48' flatbed | 44 | 40 | 60 |
| 53' dry van | 48 | 44 | 66 |
| 26' box truck | 16 | 14 | 24 |
| 26' box with lift gate | 14 | 12 | 20 |
| 20' container | 18 | 16 | 26 |
| 40' container | 40 | 36 | 54 |
Pallet stack-up
Why identical totes differ in height
- Steel pallet
- Heaviest and most durable. Adds 5 to 6 inches to the stack-up and 25 to 35 lb to tare. Best for repeated forklift handling.
- Composite pallet
- Steel frame with plastic deck. Adds 4 to 5 inches, lighter, kinder on a wet floor.
- Plastic pallet
- Lightest and the most slippery when wet. Adds 4 to 5 inches. Preferred in food settings because it washes down cleanly.
- Wooden base
- Rare, mostly older stock. Avoid for food, for export (ISPM 15) and for anything that gets wet.
Conversions
The arithmetic we do daily
Keep this somewhere near your purchasing desk.
Volume
- 1 US gal = 3.785 L
- 1 L = 0.264 US gal
- 275 gal = 1,040 L = 1.04 m³
- 330 gal = 1,250 L = 1.25 m³
- 1 m³ = 264 US gal
Weight
- 1 US gal water = 8.34 lb
- 1 L water = 1 kg = 2.205 lb
- 1 lb = 0.4536 kg
- 1 short ton = 2,000 lb = 907 kg
- 1 tonne = 2,205 lb
Length
- 1 inch = 25.4 mm
- 48 in = 1,219 mm
- 40 in = 1,016 mm
- 46 in = 1,168 mm
- 59 in = 1,499 mm
Ready to put a tote back to work?
Send one form. We answer with real numbers — grade, quantity, freight, lead time.