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Reference
The IBC size chart, with everything you actually need on one page.
Footprints, heights, tare and gross weights, cube, stacking limits, thread standards and truckload counts. Most container specifications are scattered across a dozen manufacturer PDFs; this is the consolidated version, written by people who load these things onto trucks every day.
Short answer
Standard 275 gal: 48" × 40" × 46", 145 lb tare, 2,500 lb gross. 330 gal: 48" × 40" × 53", 165 lb tare, 3,000 lb gross. Same footprint, seven inches of difference in height.
- Footprint
- 48" × 40"
- Outlet
- 2" standard
- Fill cap
- 6"
- Per 53ft van
- 45–52
Form 01 · Spec request
Need a size that is not on this chart?
Oversize, stainless and legacy formats all exist and we handle them regularly. Describe what you need to fit and we will find something that does.
Interactive
Compare heights to scale.
Toggle sizes on and off. The seven inches between a 275 and a 330 is the single most common cause of a delivery that will not fit through a door.
Compare
275gal / 1000 L
- L × W × H
- 48" × 40" × 46"
- Tare
- 145 lb
- Gross max
- 2,500 lb
The default. Fits 20 to a 53-ft van, two-high stacked.
330gal / 1250 L
- L × W × H
- 48" × 40" × 53"
- Tare
- 165 lb
- Gross max
- 3,000 lb
Same footprint, seven inches taller. Watch your dock door.
550gal / 2100 L
- L × W × H
- 48" × 46" × 65"
- Tare
- 285 lb
- Gross max
- 5,100 lb
Oversize. Usually steel-caged and shipped flatbed.
Master chart
Every format we stock, side by side.
| Nominal | Litres | Length | Width | Height | Footprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 gal | 450 L | 40" | 48" | 30" | GMA 48 × 40 |
| 220 gal | 800 L | 48" | 40" | 39" | GMA 48 × 40 |
| 275 gal | 1000 L | 48" | 40" | 46" | GMA 48 × 40 |
| 330 gal | 1250 L | 48" | 40" | 53" | GMA 48 × 40 |
| 350 gal | 1325 L | 48" | 46" | 56" | Oversize |
| 550 gal | 2100 L | 48" | 46" | 65" | Oversize |
| 265 gal stainless | 1000 L | 46" | 46" | 51" | Square frame |
| Nominal | Tare weight | Gross rating | Water weight when full | Stack (empty) | Stack (full) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal | 145 lb | 2,500 lb | ~2,435 lb | 3 high | 2 high if rated |
| 330 gal | 165 lb | 3,000 lb | ~2,915 lb | 3 high | 2 high if rated |
| 550 gal | 285 lb | 5,100 lb | ~4,870 lb | 2 high | Not recommended |
| 265 gal stainless | 330 lb | 3,300 lb | ~2,540 lb | 2 high | 2 high if rated |
| Element | Standard size | Common alternatives | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill cap | 6" coarse thread | 9" on some legacy units | Vented and solid variants |
| Outlet valve | 2" butterfly | 3" butterfly, 2" ball | Ball valve preferred for viscous product |
| Outlet cap thread | S60x6 buttress | S100x8, NPS coarse | Measure it, do not assume |
| Adapters | 2" camlock | Tri-clamp, NPT, garden hose | Aluminium, poly or stainless |
| Gaskets | EPDM | Viton, silicone, PTFE-lined | Match to chemistry |
| Equipment | Floor loaded | Double stacked empty | Cube per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 45–52 units | Up to 80 | ~51 cu ft (275 gal) |
| 48 ft dry van | 40–46 units | Up to 72 | ~59 cu ft (330 gal) |
| 26 ft box truck | 18–22 units | Up to 34 | — |
| LTL, 4 positions | 4–8 units | 8–16 | — |
Deep dives
Six reference articles behind this chart.
Each one takes a column of the table above and explains what the number means in practice.
Size & spec library
- 275 gallon IBC totesThe default format, in full detail.Open →
- 330 gallon IBC totesTaller, heavier, and the clearance trap.Open →
- 550 gallon & oversizeWhen one big container beats two.Open →
- Dimensions & weightsTare, gross, cube and payload maths.Open →
- Pallet typesComposite, steel, plastic, wood.Open →
- Valves & fittingsThreads, adapters and gasket choice.Open →
Questions
Sizes and specifications, answered.
01What are the dimensions of a 275 gallon IBC tote?
A standard 275 gallon (1000 litre) composite IBC is approximately 48 inches long by 40 inches wide by 46 inches tall, on a 48 by 40 inch pallet footprint. Tare weight is around 145 pounds and gross rating is typically 2,500 pounds.
02What are the dimensions of a 330 gallon IBC tote?
A 330 gallon (1250 litre) IBC shares the 48 by 40 inch footprint but stands about 53 inches tall — roughly seven inches taller than a 275. Tare is around 165 pounds and gross rating is typically 3,000 pounds.
03Do 275 and 330 gallon totes have the same footprint?
Yes, in almost all cases: 48 by 40 inches, matching a standard GMA pallet. The difference is entirely in height, which is why a 330 will fit your racking footprint and still fail to clear the beam above it.
04How much does a full IBC tote weigh?
Multiply the volume by the fluid density and add the tare. A 275 gallon tote of water is roughly 2,290 pounds of water plus 145 pounds of container, so about 2,435 pounds. Denser fluids reach the gross rating well before the tote is full.
05Can IBC totes be stacked?
Empty totes stack two or three high safely. Full totes stack only where the design and gross rating explicitly permit it, typically two high, and only on level ground with aligned frames. Never stack a full tote on a damaged cage.
06What size is the outlet valve?
Two inches is the most common outlet on a composite IBC, with a coarse buttress thread on the cap. Three-inch outlets appear on larger and older units. Fill caps are usually six inches.
07How many IBC totes fit on a pallet?
One. An IBC is a pallet — the base is an integrated 48 by 40 inch pallet, which is why they are handled as single units rather than palletised.
08What is the difference between gallons and litres on the label?
IBCs are designed in metric and sold in imperial in the US. 1000 litres is 264 US gallons but is universally called a 275; 1250 litres is 330 gallons. The nominal figure includes headspace, so usable volume is slightly less.
Extended reference
Everything else you might need to look up.
Storage footprints, stacking heights, pallet compatibility, fluid densities and metric conversions, in one place.
| Format | Single | Two high | Three high | Footprint | Units per 1,000 sq ft floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal | 46 in | 92 in | 138 in | 13.3 sq ft | ~56 floor, ~112 double stacked |
| 330 gal | 53 in | 106 in | 159 in | 13.3 sq ft | ~56 floor, ~112 double stacked |
| 550 gal | 65 in | 130 in | Not advised | 15.3 sq ft | ~49 floor |
| 265 gal stainless | 51 in | 102 in | Not advised | 14.7 sq ft | ~51 floor |
| 220 gal | 39 in | 78 in | 117 in | 13.3 sq ft | ~56 floor |
| Fluid | lb per US gallon | kg per litre | 275 gal weight | Max gallons at 2,500 lb gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | 6.1 | 0.73 | 1,678 lb | 275 (full) |
| Isopropyl alcohol | 6.6 | 0.79 | 1,815 lb | 275 (full) |
| Diesel fuel | 7.1 | 0.85 | 1,953 lb | 275 (full) |
| Motor oil | 7.4 | 0.89 | 2,035 lb | 275 (full) |
| Water | 8.34 | 1.00 | 2,294 lb | 275 (full) |
| Liquid detergent | 8.8 | 1.05 | 2,420 lb | 267 |
| Ethylene glycol | 9.3 | 1.11 | 2,558 lb | 253 |
| Brine, 23% NaCl | 9.9 | 1.19 | 2,723 lb | 238 |
| 28% UAN fertiliser | 10.7 | 1.28 | 2,943 lb | 220 |
| Corn syrup | 11.7 | 1.40 | 3,218 lb | 201 |
| Sulfuric acid, 93% | 15.3 | 1.83 | 4,208 lb | 154 |
| From | To | Multiply by | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| US gallons | Litres | 3.785 | 275 gal = 1,041 L |
| Litres | US gallons | 0.264 | 1,000 L = 264 gal |
| Inches | Millimetres | 25.4 | 48 in = 1,219 mm |
| Pounds | Kilograms | 0.4536 | 2,500 lb = 1,134 kg |
| Cubic inches | Cubic feet | ÷ 1,728 | 88,320 cu in = 51.1 cu ft |
| psi | kPa | 6.895 | 3 psi = 20.7 kPa |
| Feet of head | psi | 0.433 | 4 ft = 1.73 psi |
Compatibility
Pallet, rack and equipment fit.
An IBC is designed to behave like a GMA pallet. Everywhere it does not, it is worth knowing in advance.
| System | 275 / 330 gal | 550 gal | Stainless | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMA pallet racking | Yes | Check width | Check width | 48 × 40 in footprint matches |
| Standard counterbalance forklift | Yes | Capacity check | Capacity check | Full 550 is ~4,900 lb |
| Pallet jack | Yes, on level ground | Not advised | Not advised | Higher centre of gravity |
| Drive-in racking | Yes | Rarely | Rarely | Depth and height dependent |
| Push-back racking | Case by case | No | No | Check unit weight against the cart |
| Dock leveller | Yes | Yes | Yes | Watch the transition on a full unit |
| Roll-up door, 8 ft | Yes | Yes | Yes | Both formats clear comfortably |
| Roll-up door, 4 ft | 275 only | No | No | 330 is 53 in plus handling clearance |
| Box truck, 26 ft | Yes | Check interior height | Check | 18–22 floor loaded |
Extended FAQ · 8 questions
More questions, answered
01What are the dimensions of a 275 gallon container?
About 48 inches long by 40 wide by 46 tall on a GMA pallet footprint, with a tare of roughly 145 pounds and a gross rating typically of 2,500 pounds. Allow 48 inches of clearance rather than 46 for handling and manufacturer variance.
02What are the dimensions of a 330 gallon container?
The same 48 by 40 inch footprint, standing about 53 inches tall. Tare is around 165 pounds and gross rating is typically 3,000 pounds. Allow 55 inches of clearance.
03Do 275 and 330 gallon containers share a footprint?
Yes, in almost all cases — 48 by 40 inches, matching a standard GMA pallet. The difference is entirely height, which is why a 330 fits your racking footprint and can still fail to clear the beam above it.
04How much does a full container weigh?
Multiply the gallons by the fluid density and add the tare. A 275 of water is about 2,435 pounds. Denser fluids reach the gross rating well before the container is full — 28% UAN at 10.7 pounds per gallon caps out around 220 gallons.
05Can containers be stacked?
Empty containers stack two or three high safely. Full containers stack only where the design and gross rating explicitly permit it, typically two high, on level ground with aligned frames — and never on a damaged cage.
06What size is the outlet valve?
Two inches is the most common outlet, with a coarse buttress thread on the cap, usually S60x6. Three-inch outlets appear on larger and older units. Fill caps are normally six inches.
07How many containers fit on a pallet?
One. An IBC is its own pallet — the base is an integrated 48 by 40 inch pallet, which is why they are handled as single units rather than palletised.
08Why is a 1000 litre container called 275 gallons?
IBCs are designed in metric and sold in imperial in the US. 1000 litres is 264 US gallons but is universally called a 275; 1250 litres is called a 330. The nominal figure includes headspace, so usable volume is slightly less.
Next step
Confirm the fit before you order.
Send your door height, racking clearance and pump fitting and we will tell you which format works — including when the answer is neither.