Used IBC totes: the greenest gallon of capacity you can buy.
A used IBC tote is a previously-filled 275 or 330 gallon HDPE bottle in a steel or composite cage, inspected and resold for another service life. Choose food-grade for consumables and industrial for chemicals and manufacturing — and always confirm the last-contained product. See the grades guide to buy right the first time.
Food-grade vs. industrial.
The single most important question when sourcing a used tote is: what did it hold before? That answer decides whether a tank is safe for your product and priced fairly.
Food-grade totes have only ever contained FDA-approved food-safe products — sweeteners, vinegar, glycerin, edible oils — and ship with prior-contents documentation. They're the only used totes we recommend for consumables, animal feed, or potable water.
Industrial totes previously held non-hazardous liquids like soaps, surfactants, water-treatment chemicals, or lubricants — ideal for manufacturing, non-consumable agriculture, and equipment work.
Full grades guide →The two sizes, side by side.
| Spec | 275 gallon | 330 gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 275 US gal (1,040 L) | 330 US gal (1,250 L) |
| Footprint | 40" × 48" (GMA) | 40" × 48" (GMA) |
| Height (approx.) | ~46" | ~53" |
| Empty (tare) weight | ~120–150 lbs | ~135–160 lbs |
| Full of water | ~2,400 lbs | ~2,900 lbs |
| Cage options | Galvanized steel / composite | Galvanized steel / composite |
| Per 53' trailer | ~40 full units | ~40 full units |
Galvanized steel or composite
Most totes ride in a welded galvanized steel cage — strong, stackable, and endlessly re-caged. Composite cages trim weight for lighter payloads. We reclaim and reuse every structurally-sound frame instead of scrapping it.
Prior contents, stated up front
Every listing names the last-contained product, wash level, and UN/DOT rating — no mystery totes, ever. Food-grade units carry supporting documentation for peace of mind and compliance.
Checked before it ships
We inspect each bottle for residue, staining, odor, and swelling, then verify cage integrity and valve/cap function. Anything that fails goes to reconditioning or recycling instead.
Five checks before a used tote earns a listing.
Confirm prior contents
We identify the last-contained product and, for food-grade, gather supporting documentation.
Inspect the bottle
Residue, staining, odor, and swelling are all disqualifiers for a straight resale — those totes route to reconditioning.
Confirm the wash level
Rinsed, triple-rinsed, or hot-washed — the method is stated so you match it to your application.
Check cage & pallet
Steel, composite, or plastic base — frames get re-caged if compromised, never landfilled.
Verify the UN/DOT rating
The stamped rating matters if you're shipping regulated liquids — we surface it on every listing.
Pricing factors.
- Grade — food-grade commands a premium over industrial.
- Wash level — hot-washed costs more than triple-rinsed than as-is.
- Cage condition — pristine steel frames vs. re-caged.
- Quantity — full pallets and truckloads price better per unit.
- Freight — distance and lane density affect delivered cost. See transport.
Common applications.
Consumable (needs food-grade or rebottled): drinking-water storage, animal feed and molasses, honey and syrup, juice concentrate.
Non-consumable (industrial is perfect): agricultural inputs and irrigation, manufacturing chemicals, soaps and detergents, water-treatment fluids, rainwater harvesting, and equipment fluids.
Used beats new on both counts. On cost, you skip the premium of virgin manufacturing. On carbon, you avoid the energy and resin of molding a new bottle entirely — and manufacturing-avoidance beats even recycling. A used tote reused ten times spreads its original footprint across ten service lives. That's the whole point of the circular economy.
Prefer a professionally-renewed tank? Step up to reconditioned totes or rebottled units. Need parts? Valves, caps, and fittings are in stock. And when a bottle finally retires, our recycling line keeps roughly 99% of it out of the landfill.
Used IBC tote FAQ.
What is a used IBC tote?
Are used IBC totes safe for drinking water or food?
How much cheaper are used totes than new ones?
What did the tote hold before?
275 or 330 gallon — which should I buy?
Need used totes this week?
Send quantity, size, grade, and your zip. We reply by email within one business day with graded, inspection-passed tanks ready to ship.