IBC Totes: Capacity, Markings and Measuring

The two standard Intermediate Bulk Containers hold 275 and 330 gallons (about 1,000 and 1,250 litres) in a blow-molded bottle inside a galvanized cage on a pallet base. The cage is square; the bottle isn't quite — rounded corners and a sloped drain sump mean a pure rectangular model reads slightly high near the bottom.

That's why the molded graduations on the bottle are your best friend: most totes carry litre and gallon marks on a corner rib. Use those as anchors and our 275 / 330 chart for in-between depths; the chart page states its rectangular-approximation caveat plainly.

Weight discipline matters more with totes than any tank their size, because they move: 275 gallons of water is about 2,300 lb plus 130–200 lb of tote. Forklift ratings, trailer axles and floor loading all need the full number, which is why our chart pages show litres alongside gallons.

One safety note that surprises people: never put fuels or combustibles in a standard poly tote that isn't rated for them — the common food-grade HDPE bottle carries no flammable-liquids listing. For water, fertilizer (a full 275 of UAN 32 is over 3,000 lb — check the sizes page), and wash water, they're hard to beat.