The tall one

330 gallons: same floor, seven more inches, 20% more product.

If your process moves enough liquid to empty one before it goes off, the 330 is the more efficient container in every way that matters — fewer handles, fewer connections, fewer deliveries. Just measure your headroom first.

Short answer

A 330 gallon IBC tote is 48" × 40" × 53", 148 lb empty, ≈2,900 lb full of water, holding 1,249 litres. It shares the 275 gallon footprint but stands 7" taller, giving 20% more capacity per pallet position and per forklift move.

Dimensions: 48" × 40" × 53"
Capacity: 330 gal / 1,249 L
Tare / gross: 148 lb / 2,900 lb
Per 53' van: 40

Work order · 90-second form

Price 330 gallon totes

Tell us your ceiling height and rack beam spacing and we'll confirm the 330 actually fits before you buy.

Head to head

275 versus 330, on the numbers that decide it.

275 vs 330 gallon IBC — direct comparison
Metric	275 gallon	330 gallon	Difference
Capacity	275 gal / 1,041 L	330 gal / 1,249 L	+20%
Footprint	48" × 40"	48" × 40"	identical
Height	46"	53"	+7"
Two-high stack height	92"	106"	+14"
Tare weight	130 lb	148 lb	+14%
Gross with water	2,425 lb	2,900 lb	+20%
Bottle weight	40 lb	48 lb	+20%
Per 53' van (empty, 4 high)	96	80	−17%
Full totes per legal van load	17	14	−18%
Gallons per legal van load	4,675	4,620	≈ equal
Typical used price	$110–$225	$130–$250	+10–15%
Handling events per 10,000 gal	37	31	−16%

Where it bites

Three places the extra seven inches costs you.

All three are measurable in advance, and all three surprise somebody every month.

Rack beam openings

Two 330s stacked is 106" plus beam depth — you need a clear opening near nine feet. Plenty of warehouses have 96" openings that take a double-stacked 275 and refuse a 330 outright.

Box truck door headers

A typical 26-foot box truck door header sits around 90". A 330 on a pallet jack, with the jack lifting it three inches, is 56" — fine. But stacked on a liftgate, it is not, and the tote comes back.

Gravity-feed geometry

Seven more inches of head pressure sounds helpful and mostly is, but it also means the outlet sits higher off the floor. Check that your drum pump riser, dosing skid inlet or catch tank still lines up.

330 gallon questions

Fit, value, stacking.

330 gallon IBC — FAQ

What is the difference between a 275 and a 330 gallon IBC tote?

Height, and only height. Both sit on a 48 by 40 inch footprint; the 275 is 46 inches tall and the 330 is 53 inches. You get 55 more gallons — 20% more product — for the same floor space and the same forklift move. What you lose is seven inches of clearance, which matters under racking, in box trucks with low door headers and when stacking two high.

Is a 330 gallon tote better value than a 275?

Per gallon of capacity, usually yes — the price difference is typically 10–15% for 20% more volume, and the handling cost per gallon drops with it. Per gallon of product actually used, it is only better if you genuinely consume 330 gallons before the material degrades. Buying a bigger container to hold the same amount of liquid for longer is a false economy.

How many 330 gallon totes fit on a truck?

Forty in a 53-foot dry van stacked two high, or 20 on the floor. Weight governs once they are full: twenty 330s of water is 58,000 lb, which is a legal payload but leaves nothing for anything else. In practice we load 14 full 330s per van.

Do 330 gallon totes stack on 275s?

No. Never mix sizes in a stack. The cage load paths are designed to transfer through matching corner posts, and a mismatched stack puts the upper unit's weight onto panel members that are not rated to take it. Segregate by size in the rack and in the yard.

The 275 gallon tote

The standard, in full specification.

Open

Weight chart

Every size at every fill level, plus trailer loading arithmetic.

Open

Storage & stacking

Load limits, floor ratings and the failure modes worth inspecting for.

Open

Interior of a warehouse with IBC totes racked on orange pallet racking and stacked two high on the floor

The yard

Two high is 106 inches plus beam

By the numbers

The figures behind this page.

+20%: capacity for the same footprint; 55 more gallons per pallet position
+7": height over a 275; 46" becomes 53"
−16%: handling events per 10,000 gal; 31 against 37
110–112": clear rack opening needed; Against 96–98" for a 275

Reference

The detail, in full.

Where the extra seven inches costs you
Constraint	275 gal	330 gal	Consequence
Two-high stack	92"	106"	Many racks have 96" openings
Box truck door header	Passes	Marginal on a liftgate	Container comes back on the truck
Outlet height off floor	Lower	+7"	Check dosing skid and catch tank inlets
Full gross weight	2,425 lb	2,900 lb	Beam pair rating and floor loading
Per legal van load	17	14	Gallons shipped are about equal

Asked and answered.

Further questions

Is the 330 better value?

Per gallon of capacity, yes — typically 10–15% more money for 20% more volume. Per gallon actually used, only if you consume 330 gallons before the material degrades. Buying a bigger container to hold the same amount of liquid for longer is a false economy.

Can I stack 330s on 275s?

No. Corner posts do not align, so the upper unit's load transfers onto panel members that are not rated for it. Segregate by size in the rack, in the yard and on the truck.

How many fit on a truck?

Forty in a 53-foot van stacked two high, or twenty on the floor. Full of water, weight governs at about fourteen — and twenty full 330s is 58,000 lb, which is legal but leaves nothing for anything else.

Go deeper

Twelve reference sheets, because you should not have to ask us for a number.

Specifications, grading definitions, prices, thread standards, flow rates, weights, gasket selection, wash chemistry, freight limits, circular-route arithmetic, failure modes and conversions. Open what you need; none of it is gated and none of it changes depending on who is asking.

Container specs16 rows

Every dimension for the two sizes that make up 93% of the market.

The two sizes that are 93% of the market
Attribute	275 gallon	330 gallon
Capacity	275 gal / 1,041 L	330 gal / 1,249 L
Footprint	48" × 40"	48" × 40"
Height	46"	53"
Tare weight	125–135 lb	140–155 lb
Gross, water	≈2,425 lb	≈2,900 lb
Max gross mass	2,800 lb	3,300 lb
Bottle mass	38–45 lb HDPE	45–52 lb HDPE
Cage + base mass	≈55 lb steel	≈62 lb steel
Stack, full	2 high	2 high
Stack, empty	4 high	4 high
Two-high stack height	92"	106"
Per 53′ van, volume	48	40
Per 53′ van, weight-limited	17 full	14 full
Fill opening	6" vented or solid	6" vented or solid
Discharge	2" butterfly, S60x6	2" butterfly, S60x6
Forklift entry	4-way	4-way

Grading standard10 rows

Our written definitions — the same ones printed on every quote.

Our written grading standard, in one table
	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C	Food grade
Wash	Documented	Documented	Rinse only	Documented + sanitise
Bottle	Clear–translucent	Light haze permitted	Heavy staining	Clear, odour-free
Odour	None	Faint, product-typical	May be present	None
Prior contents	Documented, benign	Documented	May be absent	Edible only, documented
Cage	Square, no node rust	Sound, cosmetic dings	Cosmetic damage OK	Sound
Gasket	New	New	As-is	New, FDA EPDM
Leak test	Passed, recorded	Passed, recorded	Not tested	Passed, recorded
Food contact	Only if food prior	No	Never	Yes
Price band, 275 gal	$165–$225	$110–$165	$60–$95	$225–$300
Share of our sales	18%	58%	17%	7%

2026 price bands8 rows

Published rather than extracted through a contact form.

2026 Mid-Atlantic price bands, 275 gallon
Type	Single unit	Pallet (4+)	Truckload (48)	Lead time
Grade C as-is	$60–$95	$56–$88	$52–$78	1–2 days
Grade B washed	$110–$165	$102–$152	$95–$140	1–3 days
Grade A rinsed	$165–$225	$153–$208	$140–$190	1–3 days
Food grade	$225–$300	$210–$278	$195–$260	2–5 days
Rebottled	$250–$340	$236–$316	$220–$295	3–7 days
New composite	$420–$560	$400–$530	$380–$500	5–15 days
Cage only	$35–$65	$32–$60	$30–$55	1–3 days
We pay you for empties	$15–$85	$20–$85	$28–$85	Collection ≤2 weeks

Threads & flow9 rows

Measured on our own line: full tote of water, vented lid, valve open.

Threads, adapters and gravity flow
Fitting	Specification	Initial flow	Time to empty 275 gal	Typical use
3" butterfly	3" flange, PP body	128 gpm	3.5 min	Batch dumping, viscous
2" butterfly	S60x6 outlet, EPDM seat	70 gpm	6.5 min	Standard discharge
2" camlock	S60x6 → 2″ male cam	62 gpm	7.2 min	Pump and transfer hose
2" NPT	S60x6 → 2″ male NPT	58 gpm	7.9 min	Rigid dosing plumbing
1" camlock	S60x6 → 1″ male cam	22 gpm	19.6 min	Drum filling, controlled
3/4" GHT	S60x6 → garden hose	9 gpm	45.8 min	Irrigation, wash-down
1/2" spigot	S60x6 → spigot	4 gpm	105 min	Hand filling, troughs
S60x6	60 mm OD, 6 mm pitch buttress	—	—	Modern standard outlet
S100x8	100 mm OD, 8 mm pitch	—	—	Legacy / EU — use a bushing

Weights by product10 rows

gallons × 8.34 × specific gravity + tare. The number people skip.

Gross weight by product — the calculation people skip
Product	SG	275 gal gross	330 gal gross	Stack?
Ethanol	0.79	1,940 lb	2,310 lb	Yes
Diesel / fuel oil	0.85	2,080 lb	2,480 lb	Yes — steel bin only
Vegetable oil	0.92	2,240 lb	2,670 lb	Yes
Water	1.00	2,425 lb	2,900 lb	Yes
Latex emulsion	1.05	2,540 lb	3,040 lb	With care
Brine 23%	1.20	2,880 lb	3,450 lb	No
Liquid fertiliser 28-0-0	1.28	3,065 lb	3,670 lb	No
Corn syrup 42 DE	1.33	3,180 lb	3,810 lb	No — partial fill
Sulphuric acid 50%	1.40	3,340 lb	4,000 lb	Partial fill
Sodium hydroxide 50%	1.52	3,615 lb	4,335 lb	Partial fill

Gasket selection10 rows

The cheapest decision in the specification, and the one most often wrong.

Gasket and wetted-part selection
Product family	Gasket	Valve body	Container	Avoid
Water, brine, glycol	EPDM	Polypropylene	Poly IBC	—
Dilute acids	EPDM	Polypropylene	Poly IBC	Brass, carbon steel
Caustics	EPDM	Polypropylene	Poly IBC	Aluminium
Alcohols under 20% ABV	EPDM	Polypropylene	Poly IBC	—
Alcohols over 20% ABV	Viton	Stainless	Stainless bin	Poly bottles
Vegetable and mineral oils	Viton	Polypropylene	Poly IBC	EPDM gaskets
Fuels, diesel, kerosene	Viton	PP or stainless	Steel bin	Poly bottles
Aromatic solvents	Viton	Stainless	316L bin	All poly parts
Food ingredients	EPDM (FDA)	PP (FDA)	Food-grade poly	Non-FDA elastomers
Flavour, essence, botanical	Viton	Stainless	316L bin	Poly bottles

Wash cycles8 rows

The cycle follows the residue. A default cycle is how you get a clean-looking tote that smells.

Wash cycle by residue class
Residue	Cycle	Temp	Chemistry	Water	Cost	Outcome
Water-soluble benign	Cold triple rinse	Ambient	None	22 gal	$18–$28	Grade A/B
Sugars, syrups	Hot caustic + sanitise	148–156 °F	1.5% NaOH	45 gal	$35–$55	Food grade if prior allows
Proteins	Hot caustic + sanitise	150–158 °F	2% NaOH	48 gal	$40–$58	Food grade if prior allows
Oils, fats	Degrease + hot rinse	135–150 °F	Alkaline surfactant	52 gal	$45–$70	Grade A/B
Surfactants	Extended rinse + defoam	Ambient–120 °F	Defoamer	40 gal	$30–$48	Grade B only
Latex, emulsions	Mechanical + strip	125–140 °F	Alkaline	50 gal	$50–$75	Grade B/C
Acids, caustics	Neutralise + rinse	Ambient	Counter-agent	35 gal	$32–$50	Grade B
Unknown	Triple rinse, downgrade	Ambient	None	22 gal	$20–$30	Grade C only

Freight limits8 rows

Volume capacity and weight capacity are different numbers, and weight wins.

What fits on what — volume and weight limits
Vehicle	Full, 2 high	Weight-limited full	Empty, 4 high	Liftgate
53′ dry van	48	17	96	No
48′ flatbed	40	17	80	No
26′ box truck	24	8	48	Yes
16′ box truck	12	5	24	Yes
Sprinter van	4	2	8	Yes
20′ sea container	20	17	40	No
40′ sea container	42	17	84	No
Drop trailer, 53′	48	17	96	No

Circular routes7 rows

Ranked by burden avoided. Landfill is not on the list.

The seven circular routes, ranked by burden avoided
#	Route	CO₂e avoided	Water avoided	% of new-unit burden	Share of intake
1	Reuse as-is after rinse	88 kg	190 gal	100%	60.9%
2	Wash and return to service	83 kg	163 gal	94%	22.3%
3	Rebottle	55 kg	118 gal	62%	6.0%
4	Salvage cage for another unit	36 kg	76 gal	41%	3.0%
5	Upcycle into a built product	31 kg	66 gal	35%	0.9%
6	Granulate to HDPE regrind	30 kg	62 gal	34%	6.9%
7	Landfill	0 kg	0 gal	0%	0%

Failure modes8 rows

What actually retires a container and where each one goes afterwards.

What actually retires a container, and whether it is fixable
Failure	Where it starts	Share of retirements	Fixable?	Route
Bottle stress cracking	Base radius	41%	No	Granulate bottle, keep cage
Freeze split	Mid-height, at the old liquid line	16%	No	Granulate bottle, keep cage
Contamination beyond wash	Absorbed into the wall	14%	No	Granulate bottle, keep cage
Bottle deformation	Whole wall, from overfill or heat	11%	No	Rebottle
Cage node corrosion	Welded intersections, corner columns	10%	Sometimes	Mill the steel
Missing prior-contents record	Paperwork, not the container	8%	No	Grade C only
Base rail damage	Fork pockets	—	Yes, on steel	Repair or replace base
Gasket failure	Outlet and lid seals	—	Always	Replace, $4

Delivery corridors7 rows

If you sit on a route we already run, small loads become viable.

Scheduled corridors from 800 River Rd
Corridor	Key stops	Frequency	Minimum load	Buy-back
I-76 West	Conshohocken, King of Prussia, Reading, Harrisburg	2× weekly	4 units	Yes
I-95 South	Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Baltimore	2× weekly	4 units	Yes
I-95 North	Trenton, New Brunswick, Newark, Elizabeth	Weekly	6 units	Yes
NE Extension	Lansdale, Quakertown, Allentown, Bethlehem	Weekly	6 units	Yes
US-30 West	West Chester, Downingtown, Lancaster, York	Weekly	6 units	Yes
US-202 North	Doylestown, New Hope, Flemington	Weekly	4 units	Yes
Delmarva	Dover, Salisbury, Easton	Fortnightly	10 units	By arrangement

Conversions12 rows

The arithmetic that comes up daily.

Conversions used every day in this yard
From	To	Multiply by	Worked example
US gallons	Litres	3.785	275 gal = 1,041 L
Litres	US gallons	0.2642	1,000 L = 264 gal
US gallons of water	Pounds	8.34	275 gal = 2,294 lb
Pounds	Kilograms	0.4536	2,425 lb = 1,100 kg
Inches	Millimetres	25.4	48" = 1,219 mm
Cubic feet	US gallons	7.481	51 ft³ = 381 gal
Cubic yards	Cubic feet	27	1.4 yd³ = 37.8 ft³
psi	Feet of head (water)	2.31	1.7 psi = 3.9 ft
Feet of head	psi	0.433	24 in stand = 0.87 psi
gpm	Litres per minute	3.785	70 gpm = 265 L/min
kg CO₂e	Miles not driven	2.5	88 kg = 220 miles
kg CO₂e	Mature trees, one year	0.0476	88 kg = 4.2 trees

Vocabulary, in twelve lines

IBC: Intermediate bulk container — anything between a drum and a tanker, in practice 110–550 gallons on a forkliftable base.
Composite IBC: An HDPE bottle inside a welded steel cage on a pallet base. The 275 and 330 gallon workhorses.
Tare: Empty weight of the container: 125–135 lb for a 275, 140–155 lb for a 330.
Gross mass: Container plus contents. Most 275s are rated to 2,800 lb; exceed it and the bottle bulges rather than bursts.
Node: A welded intersection in the cage where load actually transfers. The correct place to inspect.
S60x6: The standard outlet thread: 60 mm OD, 6 mm pitch buttress. Hand tight only.
Prior contents: What the container last held, logged against the original label. The single most consequential fact about any used tote.
Rebottle: A new HDPE bottle fitted into an inspected existing cage — virgin interior, 38% less embodied carbon than new.
Food grade: FDA-compliant resin plus an edible-only prior history plus a documented wash. All three, together.
UN 31HA1: Marking for a composite IBC approved for liquids. Belongs to the assembly and carries a service life.
Regrind: Granulated recycled HDPE. Post-industrial IBC regrind goes to pipe, conduit, pallets — never food contact.
Avoided burden: Environmental cost that did not occur because a container was reused instead of manufactured. Not an offset.

All 58 terms

The yard, in numbers

18,412: containers returned to service, rolling 12 months
91.9%: of intake leaves as a container, not as feedstock
1.62M kg: CO₂e avoided against a new-container baseline
543,000 lb: HDPE granulated into clean regrind in 2025
318,000 lb: steel baled to a regional mill in 2025
0 yd³: container material landfilled — six consecutive years
2,600: containers on the ground at the January peak
11%: of offered loads refused, and referred on
22: people at the Norristown yard, four of them drivers
6: states served by our own trucks

Where and when

IBC Totes PA LLC
800 River Rd
Norristown, PA 19406
hello@ibctotespa.com
quotes@ibctotespa.com
No telephone line — written quotes only.

Opening hours
Mon	7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tue	7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wed	7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thu	7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Fri	7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Sat	8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sun	Closed

Next step

Every tote we keep alive is one that never gets made.

Get a written quote Sell us your empties

330 gallons: same floor, seven more inches, 20% more product.

275 versus 330, on the numbers that decide it.

Three places the extra seven inches costs you.

Rack beam openings

Box truck door headers

Gravity-feed geometry

Fit, value, stacking.

330 gallon IBC — FAQ

The 275 gallon tote

Weight chart

Storage & stacking

The figures behind this page.

The detail, in full.

Asked and answered.

Further questions

Related reading.

The 275, in full

A rack geometry post-mortem

Loading arithmetic

Twelve reference sheets, because you should not have to ask us for a number.

Every tote we keep alive is one that never gets made.