§ 05Size Guide
Every number
you need to plan
a tote load.
Capacities, footprints, stack heights, tare weights, trailer counts, resin codes, pallet types, UN rating decoding, thread standards and our full grading scale. Seven reference pages, written because we got tired of telling people the same numbers on the phone.
- Reference pages
- 7
- Capacities covered
- 11
- Grades defined
- 7
- Cost
- Free, no signup
- 48" × 40" is the dominant footprint
- 48 units per 53' trailer
- 275 gal = 1,040 L
- 31HA1 = composite IBC for liquids
- 6" buttress is the standard fill opening
- Grade definitions published in full
§ 05.1The master table
Start here. Most questions end here too.
Eleven capacities with the six numbers people actually ask for. Every row links through to the detail pages if you need tolerances, pallet variants or rating specifics.
| Capacity | Litres | Footprint (L × W) | Height | Tare | Gross (water) | Per 53' trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 gal | 454 L | 40" × 32" | 42" | 78 lb | 1,078 lb | 80 |
| 180 gal | 681 L | 42" × 36" | 46" | 95 lb | 1,595 lb | 64 |
| 220 gal | 833 L | 45" × 38" | 48" | 108 lb | 1,944 lb | 52 |
| 240 gal | 908 L | 48" × 40" | 46" | 112 lb | 2,114 lb | 48 |
| 264 gal | 999 L | 48" × 40" | 50" | 120 lb | 2,322 lb | 48 |
| 275 gal | 1,040 L | 48" × 40" | 53" | 125 lb | 2,418 lb | 48 |
| 330 gal | 1,250 L | 48" × 40" | 62" | 148 lb | 2,901 lb | 48 |
| 350 gal | 1,325 L | 48" × 42" | 66" | 165 lb | 3,083 lb | 40 |
| 396 gal | 1,499 L | 48" × 44" | 68" | 188 lb | 3,490 lb | 36 |
| 450 gal | 1,703 L | 54" × 44" | 68" | 232 lb | 3,988 lb | 32 |
| 550 gal | 2,082 L | 60" × 48" | 72" | 290 lb | 4,879 lb | 26 |
Tare weights are for HDPE bottles in galvanised steel cages on plastic pallets. Gross weights assume water at 8.34 lb/gal. Trailer counts are single-stacked; empty units with sound cages generally double-stack. Dimensions vary ±1 inch between manufacturers.
Why 275 and 330 dominate
Both share a 48 × 40 inch footprint, which is the North American standard pallet dimension. That single fact drives everything: it fits a 53-foot trailer two abreast with no wasted width, it fits standard racking, and every forklift in the country can handle it. The 330 is simply a taller bottle on the same base.
- 48" × 40" matches the GMA standard pallet footprint
- Two abreast across a 100-inch trailer interior, 24 rows deep
- Fits standard warehouse racking without modification
- Height differences do not affect trailer count — only stack clearance
- Non-standard footprints reduce trailer counts significantly
- 48×40"
- Dominant footprint
- 48units
- Per 53' trailer
- 2high
- Stack rating loaded
- ±1inch
- Inter-manufacturer variance
Shared by 240, 264, 275 and 330 gal.
Two abreast, 24 rows.
4 high empty, cage permitting.
Always verify against racking.
Quick conversions
- 1 US gallon
- 3.785 litres · 8.34 lb as water
- 275 gallons
- 1,040 litres · 2,294 lb as water
- 330 gallons
- 1,250 litres · 2,752 lb as water
- 1 cubic yard
- 201.97 US gallons
- Specific gravity
- Multiply water weight by SG for your product
§ 05.2The seven reference pages
Go as deep as you need.
- SG-01
Dimensions & Capacities
Every footprint and height with tolerances, stack clearances, racking notes and trailer loading diagrams in table form.
11 capacities - SG-02
Materials & Resin Codes
HDPE, PP, fluorinated HDPE, 316L, 304 and carbon steel — properties, temperature limits and chemical behaviour.
6 materials - SG-03
Pallet Types
Plastic, steel, composite and timber bases — weights, load ratings, forklift entry, service life and when each matters.
4 types - SG-04
UN / DOT Ratings
31HA1 decoded character by character, packing groups, periodic inspection intervals and what a marking does not tell you.
Decoded - SG-05
Grading Scale
AA through R with the exact condition criteria that move a unit between grades. Our scale, published so you can hold us to it.
7 grades - SG-06
Fittings & Valves
Thread standards, buttress sizes, camlock types, adapter chains, gasket compounds and what mates with what.
Compatibility
§ 05.3Measuring correctly
Four measurements people get wrong.
Most specification mismatches we see come from measuring the wrong thing. These are the four that cause the most trouble.
Height: cage top or cap top?
Published heights are to the top of the cage frame. The fill cap protrudes above it by 1 to 2 inches. If you are checking door clearance or stack height, add the cap.
Footprint: pallet or cage?
Published footprints are the pallet base, which is the dimension that matters for racking and trailer loading. The cage frame is typically 1 to 2 inches narrower.
Capacity: nominal or brimful?
A 275-gallon tote holds 275 gallons to its working level, with headspace above. Brimful capacity is roughly 290 gallons, which matters if you are calculating thermal expansion.
Tare: with or without fittings?
Our published tare weights include the valve, cap and pallet as supplied. A bottle-only weight is roughly 38 lb at 275 gallons.
§ 05.4Sizing questions
What people ask before ordering.
How many totes fit in a 53-foot trailer?
Forty-eight single-stacked, for any capacity on the 48 × 40 inch footprint — two abreast, twenty-four rows. Empty units with sound cages generally double-stack to ninety-six. Larger footprints reduce the count: 350 gallon units give forty, 550 gallon units twenty-six.
What does a full 275-gallon tote weigh?
With water, about 2,418 lb including the 125 lb tare. For your own product, multiply 2,294 lb by your specific gravity and add the tare. Most forklifts handle this comfortably; most mezzanine floors do not.
Can I stack loaded totes?
Two high is the standard rating for composite IBCs in good condition. Reconditioned units are rated on cage condition — we will tell you if a specific lot should not be stacked. Do not stack units with any cage deformation.
Why do dimensions vary between suppliers?
Because manufacturers tool their own moulds and cages within the same broad standard. Variance of about an inch in any direction is normal. If you are fitting into existing racking with tight clearances, tell us and we will confirm actual dimensions for the lot you are getting.
Is 275 gallons actually 275 gallons?
To the working fill level, yes. Brimful is nearer 290. The difference is designed headspace for thermal expansion and should not be filled.
Free reference, no signup
Use these numbers. Send them to colleagues. No form wall.
If a figure you need isn't here, ask — and if other people need it too, it gets added to the guide.
Related: tote glossary · 48-answer FAQ · product catalog