Hardwood pallet
The original. Cheap, repairable, recyclable. Lifespan: 5–10 years if dry. Susceptible to moisture rot and ISPM-15 compliance for export.
Resources / Size Chart
The Big IBC Size Chart.
Every dimension, weight and footprint we get asked about. If something’s missing, email us and we’ll add it — this page is supposed to be the answer key.
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Same form on every page. Same human inbox. We answer every inquiry — promise.
Answer first: the most-used IBC in North America is a 275-gallon caged composite tote on a 48 × 40 inch pallet, 46 inches tall, weighing about 125 lbs empty. Almost every other IBC dimension is a variation on that theme. The full breakdown is below.
Caged composite IBCs
The default workhorse. Galvanized steel cage, HDPE bottle, hardwood/plastic/composite pallet.
| Capacity | L × W | Height | Empty wt. | Max payload | Stacking (filled) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 gal (454 L) | 40 × 32" | 38" | ≈ 92 lbs | 1,100 lbs | 1-high |
| 180 gal (681 L) | 48 × 40" | 36" | ≈ 110 lbs | 1,650 lbs | 2-high |
| 275 gal (1,041 L) | 48 × 40" | 46" | ≈ 125 lbs | 2,500 lbs | 2-high |
| 330 gal (1,250 L) | 48 × 40" | 53" | ≈ 145 lbs | 3,000 lbs | 2-high |
| 360 gal (1,363 L) | 48 × 40" | 57" | ≈ 155 lbs | 3,300 lbs | 2-high |
| 450 gal (1,703 L) | 48 × 40" | 67" | ≈ 200 lbs | 4,100 lbs | 1-high |
| 550 gal (2,082 L) | 48 × 40" | 75" | ≈ 260 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 1-high |
Stainless steel IBCs
Welded 304 or 316 stainless. Heavier, much longer service life, suited for chemistry that breaks plastic.
| Capacity | L × W | Height | Empty wt. | Wall | Pressure rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 gal (416 L) | 32 × 32" | 40" | ≈ 240 lbs | 2.5 mm | 15 psi |
| 180 gal (681 L) | 40 × 40" | 44" | ≈ 320 lbs | 2.5 mm | 15 psi |
| 350 gal (1,325 L) | 43 × 43" | 54" | ≈ 460 lbs | 3.0 mm | 25 psi |
| 550 gal (2,082 L) | 48 × 48" | 62" | ≈ 690 lbs | 3.0 mm | 25 psi |
| 793 gal (3,000 L) | 57 × 57" | 72" | ≈ 980 lbs | 3.5 mm | 25 psi |
Pallet styles
The pallet matters more than people realize. It’s what determines how the tote rides on a forklift, whether it survives a long highway leg, and whether your warehouse rack will hold it.
Plastic pallet
Lighter, longer-lived, fully washable. ISPM-15 exempt. Slightly more expensive. Best for food and pharma applications and for export.
Steel-shod composite
Steel skids bolted to a composite deck. Heaviest, most durable, racks the best in warehouses. The right call for high-cycle, high-weight totes.
Valve types we sell
- 2" butterfly — the default. Quarter-turn, EPDM seat, lever handle.
- 2" ball valve — full bore, quarter-turn, NPT or BSP threading.
- 3" cam-lock outlet — for tank-truck loading and quick connect.
- DN50 metric flange — for European fittings and metric quick-connects.
- Tri-clamp sanitary — for stainless dairy/brewing/food applications.
Fill caps and dust caps
The fill cap is the big screw cap on top of the bottle (usually 6"). The dust cap is the small protective cap that sits on the valve outlet when the tote isn’t actively dispensing. Both are wear items, both are cheap, and both are usually missing from tired second-hand totes — which is why we keep them in stock.
How to measure your existing tote
If you’re trying to match a tote you already own, send us three measurements: footprint (length × width of the pallet), total height with the cap on, and the diameter of the fill opening. With those three numbers we can usually identify the make and model from a photo, and tell you exactly which replacement parts to order.
Articles you might want next
- The Complete IBC Tote Guide — what they are, how they’re made, and how to use one safely.
- Safety Notes — chemistry compatibility, temperature limits, and the do-not-store list.
- IBC Glossary — every piece of jargon translated into plain English.
- Sustainability Report — our annual eco numbers, in writing.
Need a number we didn’t list?Email us. The IBC industry is full of weird sizes and we keep updating this page. If we can confirm the spec, we’ll add it here for the next person who asks.
Volumetric conversions you will probably need
Quick reference table for converting between the units you will see on tote labels, manufacturer datasheets, and freight documentation.
| From | To | Multiply by | Common example |
|---|---|---|---|
| US gallons (USG) | Liters | 3.7854 | 275 USG = 1041 L |
| Liters | US gallons | 0.2642 | 1000 L = 264 USG |
| US gallons | UK (Imperial) gallons | 0.8327 | 275 USG = 229 IG |
| UK gallons | US gallons | 1.2009 | 200 IG = 240 USG |
| Cubic feet | US gallons | 7.4805 | 36.7 cu ft = 275 USG |
| Pounds (water) | US gallons | 0.1198 | 2300 lb water = 275 USG |
| Kilograms (water) | Liters | 1.0 | 1041 kg water = 1041 L |
Loaded weights at common specific gravities
If your contents are denser than water, the filled weight of a 275-gallon tote can change dramatically. Here is what to expect at common specific gravities — useful for confirming your forklift and warehouse rack capacity.
| Substance | Specific gravity | 275 gal filled (lbs) | 330 gal filled (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 1.00 | 2,420 | 2,895 |
| Edible oil (typical) | 0.92 | 2,225 | 2,665 |
| Glycerin | 1.26 | 3,050 | 3,650 |
| Liquid fertilizer (10-34-0) | 1.39 | 3,365 | 4,025 |
| Sodium hypochlorite (12.5%) | 1.20 | 2,905 | 3,475 |
| Ferric chloride (40%) | 1.42 | 3,440 | 4,115 |
| Sulfuric acid (98%) | 1.84 | 4,455 | 5,330 |
| Diesel | 0.84 | 2,035 | 2,435 |
Stacking and rack capacity
The filled weight of your tote determines whether you can safely two-stack in a warehouse rack. Most warehouse racks are rated to a "uniformly distributed load" capacity per beam pair. A 275-gallon tote of water at 2,420 lbs is comfortable on most light-duty racks. A 330-gallon tote of ferric chloride at 4,115 lbs starts to push the limits of any rack rated below 5,000 lbs UDL. Always check your rack's capacity sticker before stacking.
Footprint variations to watch for
The "standard" 48 × 40 inch footprint is a nominal dimension. Actual measured footprints vary by ±1/4 inch across manufacturers, which can matter if you have racking sized to the inch. The most common variations:
- Schutz: 48.0 × 40.0 inches, very tight to spec.
- Mauser: 48.0 × 40.0 inches, occasionally 47.75 × 39.75 on European stock.
- Greif: 48.0 × 40.0 inches, with slightly larger pallet feet that can extend the effective footprint by about 0.5 inch.
- Hoover: 48.0 × 40.0 inches, pallet style varies by line.
If your warehouse rack is sized to the inch, request a specific manufacturer or send us your rack dimensions and we will match the tote to fit.
Specs frequently asked
What is the actual maximum fill volume?
A "275 gallon" tote is rated for a 275-gallon fill but most manufacturers recommend leaving 5-10% headspace for thermal expansion, which means a practical max of about 250-260 gallons in service. The "275" is a nominal number, not a hard fill limit.
Why are some IBC totes 275 and others 330?
The 275-gallon size is a holdover from the original American 50-gallon-drum-equivalent thinking — five drums' worth in a single container. The 330-gallon size came along later as a "metric round number" — 1,250 liters — that European manufacturers were already producing. North America has both because the supply chain caters to both buyer preferences.
What's the difference between empty weight and tare weight?
In our usage, they are the same — both refer to the weight of the container with no contents, including bottle, cage, pallet, valve, and caps. Some manufacturers use "tare" specifically for the bottle and "empty" for the bottle plus cage, but in plain English they describe the same thing.
Can two stacked totes share a single pallet?
No. Each tote has its own integrated pallet and the lower tote's cage transfers load to the bottom pallet. If you remove the lower pallet, the cage corners will dig into whatever is below them and the load will not be safe.