Size guide · R-01
Dimensions
& weights.
Short answer
- Pallet-jack handling needs tote height + ~6 in
- 53-ft van interior height ≈ 110 in: two 330s fit, three 275s do not
- EU footprint is 1,200 × 1,000 mm (47.2 × 39.4 in)
- Tare varies 15 lb between steel and plastic bases
Check a clearance with us
Master table
Every size, both unit systems
Tare ranges reflect base type: plastic bases run roughly 12 – 15 lb lighter than steel, composite sits between them.
| Capacity | Imperial L×W×H | Metric L×W×H | Litres | Tare | Gross (water) | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal | 48 × 40 × 46 in | 1200 × 1000 × 1168 mm | 1,040 L | 125 – 140 lb | ~2,440 lb (water) | 36.8 ft³ |
| 330 gal | 48 × 40 × 53 in | 1200 × 1000 × 1346 mm | 1,250 L | 140 – 158 lb | ~2,910 lb (water) | 44.1 ft³ |
| 120 gal | 40 × 48 × 28 in | 1000 × 1200 × 711 mm | 450 L | 85 – 95 lb | ~1,090 lb (water) | 16.0 ft³ |
| 180 gal | 48 × 40 × 36 in | 1200 × 1000 × 914 mm | 680 L | 105 – 118 lb | ~1,620 lb (water) | 24.1 ft³ |
| 550 gal | 48 × 48 × 72 in | 1220 × 1220 × 1830 mm | 2,080 L | 290 – 340 lb | ~4,900 lb (water) | 73.5 ft³ |
| 350 gal stainless | 48 × 42 × 54 in | 1220 × 1067 × 1372 mm | 1,325 L | 420 – 520 lb | ~3,400 lb (water) | 47.3 ft³ |
Clearance arithmetic
Five measurements that decide the answer
Every size complaint we have ever handled traces to one of these five being assumed rather than measured.
| Constraint | Requirement for 275 gal | Requirement for 330 gal | Why it bites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrowest opening | 42 in clear (48 in comfortable) | 42 in clear (48 in comfortable) | The tote is 40 in wide; a 36-in interior door is impossible |
| Clear height, pallet jack | ~52 in | ~59 in | Tote height plus lift travel |
| Clear height, forklift | ~52 in + mast collapse | ~59 in + mast collapse | Mast height is the hidden constraint under mezzanines |
| Rack beam opening | ≥50 in | ≥57 in | Racking configured for 275s will not take 330s without re-pinning |
| Trailer interior height | 110 in = 2 high | 110 in = 2 high | Three 275s is 138 in and does not fit any van |
| Floor loading, 3-high rack bay | ~7,300 lb water | ~8,700 lb water | Suspended slabs and mezzanines frequently cannot take it |
Short answer
- Measure the doorway, not the room
- Add mast collapse height for forklift work
- Check rack beam openings before ordering 330s
- Derate forklift capacity for a 48-in load centre
Tare detail
Where the empty weight actually comes from
Useful when you are calculating net product weight from a gross scale reading, or working out whether a load is legal.
| Component | Weight | Share of tare |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE bottle | 115 lb / 52 kg | 87% |
| Galvanised steel cage | 60 lb / 27 kg | included in assembly below |
| Steel pallet base | 38 lb / 17 kg | — |
| Plastic pallet base | 24 lb / 11 kg | — |
| Wood pallet base | 46 lb / 21 kg | — |
| Valve, lid and gaskets | 4 lb / 1.8 kg | 3% |
| Total, steel base | 132 lb / 60 kg | 100% |
| Total, plastic base | 125 lb / 57 kg | 100% |
| Total, 330 gal steel base | 148 lb / 67 kg | 100% |
Note that bottle and cage figures are approximate within a few pounds across manufacturers. If you are working to a legal weight limit, weigh a representative empty rather than trusting a table — including this one.
Questions
Dimension questions
What are the dimensions of a 275 gallon IBC tote?
48 inches long, 40 inches wide, 46 inches tall overall including the pallet base — 1,200 × 1,000 × 1,168 mm. Tare weight is 125 – 140 lb depending on base type.
What are the dimensions of a 330 gallon IBC tote?
48 × 40 × 53 inches (1,200 × 1,000 × 1,346 mm), tare 140 – 158 lb. Identical footprint to the 275 with seven inches more height.
Will an IBC tote fit through a 36-inch door?
No. The narrowest dimension of a standard IBC is 40 inches. You need a 42-inch clear opening minimum to get one through, and realistically 48 inches to do it without scraping. This is the most common delivery problem in the trade.
How much clear height do I need to handle a tote?
Tote height plus about six inches of pallet-jack lift, so roughly 52 inches for a 275 and 59 for a 330. Forklift handling needs more — add the mast collapse height if you are working under a mezzanine.
Are IBC dimensions the same worldwide?
No. North America uses the 48 × 40 in GMA footprint. Europe standardises on 1,200 × 1,000 mm, which is 47.2 × 39.4 in — close enough to interchange in a trailer but not always on racking configured to tight tolerances.
Fitting it in
Clearance worked through for real openings
The dimension tables tell you what a tote is. This tells you whether it gets to where you want it.
| Opening | Clear dimension | 275 gal | 330 gal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard interior door | 32 – 36 in | No | No | The tote is 40 in at its narrowest |
| Double interior door | 60 – 72 in | Yes | Yes | Comfortable on a pallet jack |
| Roll-up door, small | 84 in wide × 84 in high | Yes | Yes | Check the drum assembly; it eats 3 – 4 in |
| Dock door | 96 in × 96 in | Yes | Yes | Standard case |
| Shipping container door | 92 in × 90 in | Yes | Yes | Two-wide will not fit; load single file |
| Mezzanine access | Varies | Needs 52 in clear | Needs 59 in clear | Add forklift mast collapse height |
| Walk-in cooler door | 36 – 48 in | Marginal | Marginal | Measure; many are 42 in and work |
| Pallet rack beam opening | Set by pinning | ≥50 in | ≥57 in | Re-pinning changes the rack rating |
The marginal rows are worth measuring rather than estimating. A 42-inch clear opening passes a tote with one inch of clearance on each side, which works with a careful operator and a level floor and does not work in a hurry.
Less common sizes
Everything else you may be offered
The 275 and 330 are 90% of the market. These are the rest, and the reasons they exist.
| Size | Dimensions | Why it exists | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 gal half-height | 40 × 48 × 28 in | Dense product; stays inside normal lift capacity | Variable |
| 180 gal | 48 × 40 × 36 in | Ex-adhesive and ex-resin service | Thin |
| 220 gal | 48 × 40 × 42 in | European-origin units in US service | Occasional |
| 275 gal | 48 × 40 × 46 in | The default | Always |
| 330 gal | 48 × 40 × 53 in | More payload, same ground | Usually |
| 350 gal stainless | 48 × 42 × 54 in | Steam-cleanable, CIP, aggressive duty | Opportunistic |
| 550 gal | 48 × 48 × 72 in | Bulk storage; non-standard footprint | Rare, usually rigid poly |
Short answer
- 120 gal exists for weight, not for volume
- 180 and 220 gal supply is genuinely thin — plan ahead
- 550 gal breaks the 48 × 40 footprint and therefore your racking
- Stainless has no supply rhythm; buy when it appears
From the Yard Journal
Longer pieces from the people who run the wash line, the test bay and the trading desk.
24 July 2025 · 3 min
Specific gravity is the number nobody sends us
Almost every enquiry gives a volume. Almost none gives a density. It is the difference between a container that works and a load that gets turned away at a scale.
Nina Caldwell · Trading desk
Read21 November 2024 · 4 min
A short history of the 48 × 40 footprint
Every composite IBC in North America is built to a grocery-industry pallet standard from 1968. That accident governs trailer loading, rack design and half our freight arithmetic.
Marcus Vreeland · Founder
Read25 June 2024 · 4 min
A 48-inch load centre will lie to your forklift
Your 5,000 lb truck is rated at a 24-inch load centre. A filled tote puts the centre of mass twice that far out, and the derating is not subtle.
Dale Ferreira · Logistics lead
Read
Next move
Send us the opening you have to get through.
Width, height and whether there is a corner to turn. We will tell you which size works, and occasionally that the answer is drums — which we do not sell, and will still say.