The full IBC
spec sheet.
Eight standard sizes, two fill-port conventions, three pallet types, two valve threads. Print this page and tape it to your forklift — we won't mind.
Skip the phone tag. Leave a note — we'll reply by email.
Standard caged composite sizes
| Capacity (gal) | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Empty (lb) | Liters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 1000 | 800 | 960 | 62 | 416 |
| 180 | 1200 | 800 | 970 | 95 | 681 |
| 250 | 1150 | 990 | 1150 | 115 | 946 |
| 275 | 1200 | 1000 | 1170 | 125 | 1041 |
| 330 | 1200 | 1000 | 1350 | 152 | 1250 |
| 360 | 1200 | 1000 | 1400 | 158 | 1363 |
| 400 | 1250 | 1150 | 1200 | 175 | 1514 |
| 550 | 1200 | 1200 | 1800 | 220 | 2082 |
Fill ports
- 6″ screw cap (standard): the blue top on most North American totes. 150 mm coarse thread.
- 5″ screw cap: European-origin tanks, 125 mm. Less common here.
- Hinged lid: on some food-service tanks, gasketed. Heavier but reusable.
Valves
- 2″ ball valve (standard): polypropylene, buttress thread. Most common.
- 2″ butterfly: food-service upgrade. Stainless body, quarter-turn.
- Camlock 2″ type C/E: aluminum, quick-connect.
- Quick-disconnect: for DEF, biodiesel, metered transfer.
Pallets
- Wood composite: the default. Light, cheap, recyclable, 4-way forkliftable.
- All-steel: for heavy forklift traffic or outdoor storage on uneven ground.
- Plastic (HDPE): for food-grade applications where wood is disallowed.
Stacking
- Max stack: two full totes, three empties, under cover, flat ground.
- Outdoor: single-stack only if UV exposure is high or the roof is iffy.
- Cage ratings: 8,000 lb static load for a standard 275-gal caged composite.
Need this on paper?
Email the yard and we'll send a one-page PDF reference sheet suitable for pinning to your dock. No gated forms, no newsletter signup.
Email the yard →Inch-and-pound reference (275 & 330 gallon)
Millimeters are the shop standard globally, but if you're cutting plywood for a dock or ordering a spill tray from a U.S. supplier, inches are faster. Here are the two sizes we move most often.
| Size | Length | Width | Height | Empty weight | Full weight (water) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gallon | 48" | 40" | 46" | 125 lb | 2,419 lb |
| 330 gallon | 48" | 40" | 53" | 152 lb | 2,905 lb |
Full weight assumes water density at 20 °C. For heavier liquids (glycol, brine, acids) multiply capacity by specific gravity and add the empty weight. For biodiesel or light solvents the full weight is lower — but the dynamic-load considerations on a cage are the same.
Gasket materials, with tradeoffs
The valve gasket is a cheap consumable that decides whether your tank leaks on hour one or survives ten years. We keep all four common elastomers in stock and will swap at no charge on any tank we ship.
| Elastomer | Temp range | Best for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPDM (default) | −40 to 120 °C | Water, dilute acids, alcohols, glycols, most aqueous chemicals | Petroleum fuels, aromatic solvents |
| Viton® (FKM) | −20 to 200 °C | Fuels, aromatics, many solvents, acids up to mid concentrations | Hot water at pressure, acetone, ammonia |
| PTFE (Teflon) | −200 to 260 °C | Aggressive chemicals, solvents, food-grade service | High vibration — PTFE cold-flows and loses seal |
| Silicone | −60 to 230 °C | Food-grade dry, mild aqueous, cosmetic bases | Oils, solvents, steam above 120 °C |
Markings on the cage (and what they mean)
Every legitimate IBC carries an embossed or etched plate on one cage rail. Here's how to read it, left to right, on a typical U.S.-origin tank.
31 = rigid plastic IBC. HA = composite (HDPE inner, metal outer cage). 1 = liquid service. Y = packing group II/III rated.
1.9 = specific gravity rating (max liquid density in kg/L). 100 = test pressure in kPa during last hydrostatic check.
Year of last recertification (2020 here). USA = country of manufacture or retest.
Manufacturer code. Each IBC maker has a registered identifier — we decode these on arrival and log against the ledger.
Serial or batch number. On our reconditioned tanks we also punch our own six-digit ledger ID below the original.
Some tanks carry a separate date stamp for the next required retest. A tank past its retest date can't be used in hazmat service until we re-certify it.
Quick compatibility checklist
Run through this before you commit to a tank for a specific liquid. If anything doesn't match, email us before the quote closes.
- Specific gravity of the liquid is ≤ the tank's cage rating (usually 1.9 for 275/330-gal).
- Operating temperature stays within the gasket elastomer's listed range at all times.
- Fill ratio allows for thermal expansion — 95% is a safe ceiling for most liquids.
- Valve thread matches your transfer hose or the downstream pump inlet.
- Intended use does not require FDA food-contact approval beyond the grade you're buying.
- Storage location meets NFPA 704 placarding expectations for the liquid being stored.
- Forklift access allows a 48" × 40" pallet footprint with 4-way tine entry.
- Stack plans respect a two-tank maximum for full totes on flat ground.