275 Gallon IBC Totes

The 275 gallon tote in numbers

Published specifications put the 275 gallon height between 42 and 46 inches depending on the maker, so measure the one in front of you when it has to fit under a roof edge or a shade house frame. The footprint is the standard 48 by 40 inch pallet.

Full weight is 275 gal x 8.3 lb per gal of water (UF/IFAS) plus the 135 lb empty weight.
Measure	Inches and pounds	Metric
Length	48 in	1,219 mm
Width	40 in	1,016 mm
Height	46 in	1,168 mm
Empty weight, caged	135 lb	about 61 kg
Full of fresh water	about 2,417 lb	about 1,096 kg
Floor space	13.3 sq ft	about 1.24 m2

That full weight is why the pad matters. Put a full tote on soft sand or a sloped paver and it will shift. Set it on a level, compacted base, and keep it clear of the drip line of a roof if you do not want it fed by accident.

Jobs a 275 gallon tote does here

Good for

Rain catchment off a 500 to 1,000 square foot roof section: a half inch of rain on 1,000 square feet fills about 300 gallons.
Irrigation and fertigation mixing on a nursery bench.
Storm-season drinking water, in a new or food-grade bottle only.
Wash-down and spray water for a shop or a grower.

Never for

Drinking water from a bottle that held chemicals, ever.
Gasoline, diesel or other Class I flammables in a plastic or composite tote.
Stacking full totes without reading the UN plate.

It equals five 55 gallon drums, or about one and a quarter pallets of drums, in a single footprint.

Grades we match to this size

Any of the eight grades comes in 275 gallons. Rinsed and reconditioned bottles go to growers and rain barrels. Rebottled and new go to drinking water and repeat chemical fills. Dirty and damaged totes go to washing, parts or the recycler.

Every request tells us what the tote last held, because a 275 gallon bottle that held a food ingredient is a different tote from one that held a cleaner, even when they look alike.

A note on parts

Replacement caps, gaskets and valves for the 275 are the most widely stocked in the trade. If a part fails after you buy, you can find a match at an industrial supplier in Medley or Pompano Beach with a photograph and the thread size.

Where the 275 fits best

The 275 suits tight yards, a roof with one downspout and a first-time buyer who wants a tote that is easy to move. It is the size most people have seen, so parts and advice are easy to find.

Used versus reconditioned

A used 275 is as it was found, possibly with scuffs and stains. A reconditioned one has been cleaned, inspected and fitted with sound parts. Ask which you are being offered and what the difference means for the price and the use.

Questions people ask

Is the 275 gallon size the standard?

It is the most common IBC size in the United States, and parts such as caps, valves and cages are easiest to find for it.

How many fit on a pickup bed?

One at a time, and only if the tote is empty and strapped. Full totes need a truck rated for the weight and a forklift or ramp to load.

Can I fill it with a garden hose?

Yes, but a full tote takes a long time on a household hose, and the hose should never sit inside the open bottle, where backflow can occur.

How much does a 275 gallon tote weigh?

Empty and caged, about 135 pounds. Full of fresh water, about 2,417 pounds by our arithmetic. Other liquids weigh more or less; check the maximum gross mass on the UN plate.

Is a 275 gallon tote the same as a 1,000 liter tote?

Close. A 1,000 liter IBC is about 264 gallons. The 275 gallon tote is about 1,041 liters, which is why sources call both sizes "1,000 L" in everyday talk.

Will it fit through a gate?

It is 40 inches wide on the short side. Measure the gate, then ask us about the tote in front of you, because cage designs differ by a small amount.

Ready to ask?

Count, size, grade and where. Say the last contents.

Ask for totes

Keep reading

Next stops

The eight grades