275 or 330 gallons: which tote to ask for
Choose a 275 when height is the limit and a 330 when volume is. Both stand on the same 48 by 40 inch base. The 330 is seven inches taller and holds 55 gallons more.
01Side by side
| Measure | 275 gallon | 330 gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 48 by 40 in | 48 by 40 in |
| Height | 46 in | 53 in |
| Extra volume | baseline | 55 gal (20% more) |
| Equals | 5 drums, 1.25 pallets | 6 drums, 1.5 pallets |
| Water at full | 2,294 lb | 2,752 lb |
The extra volume is 330 minus 275, which is 55 gallons, a fifth more than the 275 holds. The two sizes take the same floor, so a 330 gives more per square foot.
02When the 275 fits better
- A low door, a low truck or a shelf with a height limit.
- A raised stand, where a shorter tote keeps the top within reach.
- A rowhouse yard, where the downspout fixes the top height.
- A load where stacking two high would reach a ceiling.
03When the 330 fits better
- Floor space is the limit and height is free.
- A repeat fill where one more tote is a handling step.
- A pad with 330s already, so the grade and the cage match.
Neither size is the sensible default. Pick from the limit you have.
04What the desk matches
The desk matches both. A ticket says the size, and Not sure is an option. Where a buyer’s limit is height, the desk asks for it. A seller’s pad often holds both sizes, and the ticket lists each.
?Questions on this page
What is the difference between a 275 and a 330 gallon tote?
Seven inches of height and 55 gallons of volume; the base is the same.
Which is more common?
Both are the most common; sizes run from 110 to 550 gallons.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Rules change; read the current text before you act on it.