The complete IBC tote size chart.
The two standard IBC totes are the 275-gallon (≈40" L × 48" W × 46" H, ~1,040 L) and the 330-gallon (≈40" L × 48" W × 53" H, ~1,250 L). Both share a 40" × 48" GMA-pallet footprint, ship two-abreast, and stack two-high full — roughly 40 fit in a 53' dry van. See the dimensions guide for the narrative version.
Capacity & dimensions
Both standard sizes share one footprint — only the bottle height changes.
| Size | Capacity (US gal) | Capacity (liters) | Length | Width | Height | Footprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gallon | 275 | ~1,040 L | 40" | 48" | 46" | 40" × 48" |
| 330 gallon | 330 | ~1,250 L | 40" | 48" | 53" | 40" × 48" |
One footprint, endless logistics.
The 40" × 48" base isn't an accident — it's the North American GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) pallet standard. Because every mainstream IBC tote sits on that footprint, they palletize two-abreast in a 53' trailer, drop into standard racking, and pass through automated warehouse systems built around GMA pallets. That single dimension is why the IBC displaced the drum across food, chemical, and agricultural supply chains.
Choosing the 330 over the 275 gets you 20% more product per pallet position for the same floor space and the same forklift move — the reason it wins on dense freight lanes. Read the full breakdown in our dimensions guide or compare formats in IBC vs. drums.
Weights: tare, water & gross
Freight is priced by weight, not gallons. Plan for gross.
| Size | Empty / tare | Water weight | Full gross (water) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gallon | ~120–150 lbs | ~2,290 lbs | ~2,400 lbs |
| 330 gallon | ~130–160 lbs | ~2,750 lbs | ~2,900 lbs |
Tare vs. gross, in plain terms: the empty cage-and-bottle assembly (tare) is only 120–160 lbs, but the moment you fill it the tote becomes a 2,400–2,900 lb load. That crosses forklift, racking, and floor-loading thresholds you must design for — and it changes how many totes your trailer can legally carry before you hit a weight-out (rather than a cube-out).
Freight & stacking math
How totes fill a standard 53' dry van.
| Condition | Layout | Stack | Totes / 53' van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full totes | 2-wide | 2-high | ~40 |
| Empty (caged) | 2-wide | 3-high | ~60 |
| Empty (nested / KD) | 2-wide | 4-high+ | 80+ |
Buying or selling by the truckload changes the economics fast. Whether you're bringing in used totes or clearing a yard of empties, tell us the count and we'll optimize the load. See transport & logistics for our hauling network.
Valves, caps & fittings
Confirm these before you order adapters or pumps.
| Component | Typical spec | Common options |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge valve | 2" nominal | Butterfly or ball valve |
| Fill / top cap | 6" buttress thread | Vented or non-vented lid |
| Outlet adapter | 2" camlock (default) | S60x6, NPT, garden-hose (GHT) |
| Gasket / seal | EPDM (standard) | Viton / food-grade for consumables |
Need to convert a 2" camlock to garden hose, or replace a swollen gasket? Our accessories & parts catalog carries valves, caps, camlock and NPT adapters — reclaimed and new.
Cage, pallet & materials
What the tote is built from — and why it matters for reuse.
| Element | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cage | Galvanized steel | Most common; durable, endlessly recyclable, re-cageable |
| Pallet | Steel | Rugged; standard for reconditioning and food work |
| Pallet | Composite / plastic | Lighter, non-splintering; good for washdown environments |
| Bottle | Virgin HDPE | FDA-compliant resin; required for new food-grade / rebottled units |
| Bottle | Recycled / reused HDPE | Reconditioned service life; lowest footprint per gallon |
Same specs, four grades.
Only ever held FDA-approved food-safe contents. For consumables, animal feed, and potable water.
Prior non-hazardous industrial liquids — soaps, surfactants, treatment chemicals. For manufacturing and equipment.
Washed, pressure-tested, re-valved and re-caged. Like-new function at a fraction of the footprint.
A brand-new HDPE bottle in a reclaimed steel cage — factory-fresh interior, far lower impact.
Weight and height decide it.
Pick the 275 when overhead clearance is tight, when your floor or racking is close to its load rating, or when a full pallet needs to stay under a weight limit — its 46" height and ~2,400 lb gross are the gentler load. Pick the 330 when you want maximum product per freight lane and per pallet position; the extra 7" of bottle buys 20% more capacity on the exact same footprint. For dense, heavy liquids, watch gross weight — you may weight-out the trailer before you cube it out.
Browse used totes →Every reused tote is avoided manufacturing.
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reconditioned IBC totes
Estimates based on manufacturing-avoidance factors for standard 275/330-gallon HDPE totes reused in place of new production. Real-world savings vary by tote condition and service life — reuse multiplies the benefit every refill.
These specs aren't just logistics — they're the reason reuse works. A steel cage recycles endlessly and an HDPE bottle can serve many lives before granulation. See why reuse beats recycle.
Quick answers.
What are the dimensions of a 275 gallon IBC tote?
What are the dimensions of a 330 gallon IBC tote?
How much does a full IBC tote weigh?
How many IBC totes fit on a 53' truck?
What size valve and cap does an IBC tote use?
Ready to reclaim?
Whether you're buying twenty totes or offloading a yard full of empties, tell us what you need. We reply by email within one business day.