Sizes · 1000 litre
275 gallon IBC tote: the unit everything else is measured against
If someone says "an IBC" in North America without qualifying it, they mean this: a 1000 litre HDPE bottle in a welded cage on a 48 × 40 inch base. It is the most common size in the used market.
Request a quote on 275 gallon units
Grade A washed, Grade B, Grade C, rebottled or new — tell us the liquid and quantity. Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers.
Specification table
| Parameter | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal capacity | 275 US gal | 1,000 L |
| Length × width | 48 × 40 in | 1,200 × 1,000 mm (metric builds) |
| Overall height | about 46 in (±1 in by maker) | about 1,160 mm |
| Typical empty weight | 120–150 lb (plastic base lightest, steel heaviest) | 55–68 kg |
| Gross weight @ SG 1.0 | ≈2,420 lb | ≈1,100 kg |
| Gross weight @ SG 1.2 | ≈2,880 lb | ≈1,310 kg |
| Gross weight @ SG 1.5 | ≈3,570 lb | ≈1,620 kg |
| Fill opening | 6 in (DN150) screw lid | 150 mm |
| Discharge outlet | 2 in valve (NPS common in North America) | 50 mm |
| Typical UN marking | 31HA1/Y | — |
| Footprint area | 13.3 sq ft | 1.2 m² |
| Floor loading when full of water | ≈182 lb/sq ft | ≈885 kg/m² |
Gross weights assume a 128 lb tare; use the actual tare of your unit. The maximum permissible gross mass and stacking load for a given unit are on its UN marking — see the UN markings decoder.
Why this size dominates
The 48 × 40 inch footprint matches the common North American pallet footprint that racking, trailers, dock levellers and pallet jacks are built around. A 275 gallon tote is therefore the largest liquid container that moves through a standard industrial facility without anything special happening.
It is also where bulk liquid handling starts to pay off: one 275 gallon tote holds the same as five 55-gallon drums, with one valve, one label and one container to move instead of five. The comparison is laid out on IBC tote vs 55 gallon drum.
Real-world clearances
A 46 in tote on a standard pallet jack sits about 49 in to the top of the lid and clears a 7 ft doorway comfortably. Empty, two stack to about 92 in, which fits inside a 53-foot dry van with an interior height of roughly 108–110 in. Never stack a unit with a damaged cage.
Gross weight by liquid
| Liquid | Specific gravity | Liquid weight | Gross with tare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 1.00 | 2,295 lb | 2,423 lb |
| Diesel / heating oil | 0.85 | 1,951 lb | 2,079 lb |
| Ethanol, 190 proof | 0.82 | 1,882 lb | 2,010 lb |
| Vegetable oil | 0.92 | 2,111 lb | 2,239 lb |
| Sodium hypochlorite 12.5% | 1.20 | 2,754 lb | 2,882 lb |
| Caustic soda 50% | 1.53 | 3,511 lb | 3,639 lb |
| Sulphuric acid 93% | 1.83 | 4,200 lb | 4,328 lb |
| Liquid fertiliser 28-0-0 | 1.28 | 2,937 lb | 3,065 lb |
Specific gravities are typical values; use your product’s safety data sheet. Dense liquids may need a reduced fill to stay inside the maximum gross mass on the unit’s UN marking — see weight and capacity maths. A listed liquid is not a statement that it suits a given tote; check compatibility and current regulations.
What partner suppliers commonly offer in 275 gallon
- Grade A washed units.
- Grade B rinsed units with cosmetic marks.
- Grade C as-is units for rain capture, ballast and non-critical use.
- Rebottled units with a new inner bottle.
- New 31HA1 units.
- A choice of base: composite, plastic, steel or wood, depending on availability.
Questions people actually ask
How tall is a 275 gallon IBC tote?
About 46 inches overall, varying up to an inch between manufacturers. On a pallet jack add roughly 3 inches; a dispensing stand adds its own height on top.
How much does an empty 275 gallon tote weigh?
Typically 120–150 lb depending on maker and pallet type: plastic bases are lightest and steel heaviest.
Is a 275 gallon tote really 275 gallons?
Nominally. It is a 1,000 litre design (about 264 US gallons), commonly sold as 275 gallons, and the bottle holds somewhat more to the brim. Never fill to the brim with a product that expands with temperature.
Will a 275 gallon tote fit through a standard door?
A 36 inch residential door, no. A door with at least 40 inches of clear width, leading with the 40 inch face, yes. The 40 inch dimension is the one to lead with when space is tight.
The 275 gallon in every unit system a spec sheet might ask for
| Parameter | Imperial | Metric | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal capacity | 275 US gal / 229 imp gal | 1,000 L class | Working fill |
| Length | 48 in | 1,219 mm | 1,200 mm on metric builds |
| Width | 40 in | 1,016 mm | Lead with this through doors |
| Height | 46 in | 1,168 mm | ±1 in by manufacturer |
| Height with pallet jack | ≈49 in | ≈1,245 mm | Shutter clearance figure |
| Height, two empty stacked | ≈92 in | ≈2,337 mm | Fits a 53 ft dry van |
| Diagonal of footprint | 62.5 in | 1,588 mm | Turning clearance in aisles |
| Footprint area | 13.3 sq ft | 1.24 m² | |
| Typical empty weight | 120–150 lb | 54–68 kg | Plastic base lightest, steel heaviest |
| Gross @ SG 1.0 | ≈2,420 lb | ≈1,098 kg | With a 128 lb tare |
| Floor loading @ SG 1.0 | ≈182 lb/sq ft | ≈889 kg/m² | Check mezzanines |
| Max gross mass and stacking load | On the UN marking | In kg | Read the plate |
| Fill opening | 6 in / DN150 | 150 mm | Vented option |
| Discharge | 2 in | DN50 | NPS common in North America; S60x6 on many European valves |
Handling a 275 gallon tote safely: the numbers behind the rules
Most handling rules in this industry are stated without their arithmetic, which makes them easy to bend. Here is the arithmetic.
How much load a stack puts on the bottom cage
A full 275 gallon tote of water is about 2,420 lb. Two high puts one full tote — about 2,420 lb — on the bottom cage; three high doubles that to about 4,840 lb. Compare the load against the stacking load on the UN marking (in kilograms) and the maker’s guidance, and remember that road movement adds dynamic load on top of the static figure.
Why a bent cage cannot be stacked
A cage transfers load down its verticals. A deformed member transfers part of that load sideways into the bottle wall, which is not a structural element. The failure can be sudden, and it is one of the few genuinely dangerous events in tote handling.
Why gross weight matters more than capacity
A pallet jack rated at 5,500 lb sounds ample for a 2,420 lb tote — until the product is 50% caustic at SG 1.53 and the gross is about 3,640 lb, and until the jack is being pushed up a dock ramp. Calculate gross from specific gravity every time the product changes.
Why the 40 inch face matters
Leading with the 40 inch dimension through doors gains you eight inches of clearance over leading with the 48.
Why you should never side-shift a part-filled tote
Liquid surge. A part-full tote moving sideways generates a force that arrives a fraction of a second after the truck stops, and it can be enough to tip a forklift. Move them full or empty where possible.
More 275 gallon questions
What is the real usable volume?
Plan on a working fill a few percent below the brim, leaving headspace for thermal expansion. Filling to the brim is how bottles bulge in summer transit. Follow the SDS and current regulations for regulated products.
How much does it cost to ship a 275 gallon tote?
Freight is quoted per job by partner suppliers and carriers, and per-unit cost usually falls as the order size grows. Pricing is by quote.
Can one person move an empty 275 gallon tote?
Not safely by hand: at 120–150 lb and 46 inches tall the centre of gravity is high and the footprint is large. A pallet jack makes it a one-person job; muscle does not.
Which sides accept a pallet jack?
It depends on the base. Some bases accept a jack from two sides only and others from all four, so check the base type before planning the route.
The 275 gallon in common situations
| Situation | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Full of water | ≈2,420 lb | With a 128 lb tare |
| Full of 50% caustic (SG 1.53) | ≈3,640 lb | Compare with the max gross mass on the plate |
| Typical empty weight | 120–150 lb | Plastic base lightest, steel heaviest |
| Equivalent 55 gal drums | 5 | 5 × 55 = 275 |
| Floor loading, full of water | ≈182 lb/sq ft | Check mezzanines |
| Rack bay load, two full of water | ≈4,840 lb | Check the beam rating |
| Fill time at 30 gpm (265 gal) | ≈9 min | Arithmetic: 265 ÷ 30 |
| Pump-out time at 40 gpm | ≈7 min | Arithmetic: 275 ÷ 40 |
| Volume of the envelope | ≈51 cu ft | 48 × 40 × 46 in |
Common questions about the 275, answered as arithmetic
"How long to fill one?"
Divide the fill by the flow rate. At 30 gpm, a 265 gallon fill takes about nine minutes. At 12 gpm through a drum pump, about twenty-two minutes. Through a garden hose at 6 gpm, about three quarters of an hour — which is why people give up on garden hoses.
"How long to empty one?"
Pumped at 40 gpm, about seven minutes. Gravity discharge slows as the level (and the head) falls, so it takes longer than a simple division suggests; a vented lid helps.
"How much does a stack of empties weigh?"
A tote is its own pallet. Four empties at 120–150 lb each is about 480–600 lb, and at that height it is a forklift job rather than a jack one.
"How much product is left in the heel?"
Some liquid always sits below the outlet. On a valuable product, tilting the tote slightly towards the valve or pumping out the last of it is worth the few minutes.
Even more 275 gallon questions
Why is it called 275 gallons if it holds more to the brim?
The nominal figure is the working capacity of a 1,000 litre class design (about 264 US gallons, sold as 275). The extra volume to the brim is headspace, not capacity.
Do all 275 gallon totes have the same footprint?
Close to it. The nominal is 48 × 40 inches, and many units are built to 1,200 × 1,000 mm. If a rack pocket is tight, measure the actual lot.
Can one fit in a standard elevator?
A passenger lift, generally no. A goods lift with a wide enough door and a rating above the gross weight (about 2,420 lb with water, plus the jack and operator) can take a full unit; many older goods lifts cannot.
What is the real maximum fill for safety?
A few percent below the brim, enough for the liquid to expand at the highest temperature it will see. The SDS and current regulations set the limits for regulated products.
Reuse first, then recycle.