Size guide & reference
Everything
dimensional about
a tote.
Eight chapters of the reference material we wished existed when we started in 2009: every format, every grade, every thread, every marking, and the practical rules that keep totes from failing in service.
The whole reference
Eight chapters
Chapters seven and eight are not in the main menu — they live here, because they are reference material you need once you already own totes.
275 gallon / 1000 L
The industry workhorse. Full dimensional drawing in words, freight maths, fit checks and the jobs it suits.
Read chapter →330 gallon / 1250 L
Same footprint, 7 to 13 inches taller. Everything that extra height changes, including the things it breaks.
Read chapter →Dimensions & weights
All formats in one table: footprint, height, tare, gross, pallet options, truckload counts and metric conversions.
Read chapter →Grades explained
What each grade guarantees, what it deliberately does not, and how to read a grade sheet you did not write.
Read chapter →Valves, caps & fittings
S60x6, S70x6, DN150, DN225, camlocks, buttress threads and the adapter that solves 80% of problems.
Read chapter →UN / DOT markings
31HA1/Y/26/2104/USA/+AB1234 — decoded character by character, with what invalidates it.
Read chapter →Stacking & storage
Load heights, bottle fatigue, UV, freeze expansion, and the three stacking rules our drivers never break.
Read chapter →Cleaning standards
Our wash protocols in full: stage sequences, chemistry, temperatures, hold times and what each one is for.
Read chapter →Quick reference
All formats, one table
Working figures from our own yard. Manufacturer tooling varies — always confirm against the nameplate of the specific lot you are quoted.
| Format | Capacity | Footprint | Height | Tare | Gross | Pallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal caged IBC | 275 gal · 1,040 L | 48" × 40" | 46" – 46.5" | 120 – 140 lb | ~2,750 lb | Steel / composite / plastic |
| 330 gal caged IBC | 330 gal · 1,250 L | 48" × 40" | 53" – 59" | 150 – 185 lb | ~3,300 lb | Steel / composite |
| 120 gal caged IBC | 120 gal · 450 L | 40" × 32" | 36" – 40" | 85 – 105 lb | ~1,200 lb | Steel |
| 180 gal caged IBC | 180 gal · 680 L | 48" × 40" | 36" – 38" | 100 – 120 lb | ~1,750 lb | Steel |
| 550 gal caged IBC | 550 gal · 2,080 L | 63" × 43" | 66" – 72" | 280 – 340 lb | ~5,400 lb | Heavy steel |
| Stainless steel IBC | 300 – 550 gal · 1,135 – 2,080 L | 48" × 40" typical | 50" – 72" | 300 – 600 lb | varies | Integral frame |
Grades at a glance
Six grades
| Grade | Code | Cleaning | Typical use | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Grade | FG | Only ever held food-safe contents; hot-water or caustic wash, inspected, sealed | Edible liquids, maple syrup, brewing, drinking-water storage | Premium |
| Rebottled | RB | Brand-new HDPE bottle dropped into a refurbished cage | Anything needing a virgin interior at reused-cage cost | Premium |
| Washed / Triple-Rinsed | W3 | Three-stage rinse, interior drained and dried, valve replaced | Industrial chemicals, soaps, coolants, fertilizer | Standard |
| Technical / Industrial | TG | Single rinse, residue-free to the eye, labelled with last contents | Non-potable water, wash fluids, waste collection | Value |
| Unwashed / As-Is | AI | No cleaning. Sold with the last-contents disclosure only | Ballast, erosion control, scrap feedstock | Lowest |
| UN/DOT Recertified | UN | Reconditioned, leak-tested and re-marked under a licensed program | Regulated hazmat shipping by road, rail or sea | Premium + |
Fit checks
Measure these five things first
In seventeen years, almost every sizing mistake we have seen comes down to one of these five numbers going unmeasured.
Door and gate clearance
A 330 on a steel pallet can reach 59 inches. Add the forks under it and you need serious headroom.
Floor loading
A full 330 is roughly 3,300 lb on a 48 × 40 inch footprint. Mezzanines and timber floors need checking.
Fill-line and mixer clearance
Height above the fill port decides whether your lance or agitator fits.
Outlet height above grade
Gravity discharge into a drum, a sprayer or a pump inlet depends on this and on your stand.
Handling equipment
Pallet jacks cannot get under every base. Tell us what you own and we will match the pallet type.
Common questions
Dimensional FAQs
Is a 275 gallon tote really 275 gallons?
Why do two 275s have different heights?
How many fit in a 53-foot trailer?
What does a tote weigh full?
Can I ship a filled tote double stacked?
Send us your constraint, not your guess.
Door height, dock height, mixer clearance, floor rating — give us the number you measured and we will tell you which format works.