The short answer
The two dominant IBC totes are the 275-gallon (1,040 L) and 330-gallon (1,250 L) caged composite bins. Both sit on the same 40 × 48-inch GMA pallet footprint; the 330 is simply taller (≈53 in vs ≈46 in). That shared footprint is the whole reason IBCs stack, ship, and store so predictably.
Why the footprint matters more than the gallons
Because 275 and 330 totes share a 40 × 48-inch base, you can mix them on the same rack, in the same truck, and on the same forklift without re-planning your space. Twenty totes fit a standard 53-foot dry van floor-loaded (single-stacked), or up to forty double-stacked when contents and cages allow.
When you're planning a room, count floor tiles, not gallons. Two 330s hold more liquid than two 275s in the exact same square footage — which is why high-volume users lean toward the 330 to buy more capacity per dock tile.
Heights, weights, and clearances
Empty caged totes weigh roughly 125–145 lb. Filled with water, a 275 approaches 2,400 lb and a 330 nears 2,900 lb, so rack and floor ratings matter. Add cap clearance above the tote for filling, and valve clearance below for draining into a drum or pump.
- 275 gal: 40 × 48 × 46 in, ≈125 lb empty
- 330 gal: 40 × 48 × 53 in, ≈145 lb empty
- 120 gal low-profile: 40 × 48 × 28 in
- 550 gal steel: 48 × 48 × 60 in
Reused totes, identical specs
A reconditioned tote holds the exact same dimensions and fitments as a new one — it's the same mold, the same cage, the same pallet. You lose nothing on spec by choosing reused, and you keep a 260-pound assembly of HDPE and steel in service instead of manufacturing it again. See our full Size Guide for the interactive table.