275 gallon
The 275 gallon tote stands 46 inches high on a 48 by 40 inch base, holds about 1,040 litres and weighs about 135 pounds empty in its cage. It equals five 55 gallon drums, and it is the size most rowhouse yards and low doors take.
01Specs
| Spec | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 48 by 40 inches | about 1,219 by 1,016 mm |
| Height | 46 inches (some makers 42 to 46) | about 1,168 mm |
| Capacity | 275 US gallons | about 1,040 litres |
| Empty weight, caged | about 135 lb | about 61 kg |
| Full of water, bottle only | 2,294 lb | 1,040 kg |
| Floor area | 13.3 sq ft | 1.24 sq m |
| Drums replaced | 5 (1.25 pallets) | five 208 litre drums |
The weights assume water at 8.34 pounds a gallon. A heavier product weighs more, and the maximum gross mass on the UN plate caps the total.
02How it loads
At 46 inches the 275 is the shorter of the two sizes. That matters on a trailer with a height limit and in a doorway. It stands on one pallet base with fork pockets on all four sides, so a forklift takes it from any side. How many fit on a truck depends on stacking, and the stacking test load is on the plate. Up to 60 IBCs fit a 53 foot truck by one source, and the totes-per-truck guide shows how that figure is built.
03Who asks for it
- Rowhouse owners and community gardens: one 275 catches roof runoff from a downspout.
- Growers and nurseries: water and spray totes where a stand is low.
- Blenders and distributors: repeat fills of a product sold by the 275.
- Plants moving from drums: five drums become one tote.
04Ticket prefilled with this size
The buttons above open the request page with the 275 gallon size in the note. A seller adds the count, the grade and the last contents. A buyer adds the grade, the job and the ZIP. The desk matches 275s against 275s first, and against 330s only where a buyer’s ticket allows.
05Measurements a buyer can plan around
A 275 gallon tote holds about 1,040 liters, and stands 42 to 46 inches tall on a base of 48 by 40 inches. The base is designed around a standard pallet, so a forklift or pallet jack can lift it with two-way or four-way pallet entry. In the caged form, it weighs about as much as a small motorbike empty and more than a ton full.
The 275 is the most common size in the used market because its footprint and height suit most docks, racks and trailers. A trailer carrying small-height totes of 110 to 250 gallons can hold 56 to 84, while medium totes of 250 to 350 gallons run 28 to 56. A 275 equals five 55 gallon drums and takes about 1.25 pallets of floor.
For water, a 275 filled to the top holds about 2,294 pounds, so a stand needs a firm base. Plan the overflow as well: an 800 square foot roof puts about 480 gallons into a one-inch storm.
?Questions on this page
What are the dimensions of a 275 gallon tote?
48 inches by 40 inches by 46 inches.
How much does an empty 275 gallon tote weigh?
About 135 pounds caged, by one source. Read the plate for the gross mass.
How many drums is a 275 gallon tote?
Five 55 gallon drums, or 1.25 pallets of them.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Rules change; read the current text before you act on it.