55 Gallons of Water Weight

Whether your product is stored in a plastic drum, steel drum or fiber drum, a 55 gallon drum can be a heavy amount to move and transport with nothing inside. But what if that same drum needs to be filled with 55 gallons of water for your customer?

It is important to keep in mind how heavy 55 gallons of water is when transporting a drum. If it is heavier than expected, it may be difficult to get it onto a pallet, pallet jack or truck for shipping. This can lead to a potential injury or needing more resources to move it.

So how does gallons translate into the weight of a drum? We will break down in this article what a 55 gallon drum is used for, how much 55 gallons of water weighs, how that changes the weight of the drum and more to make the process easier for your business.

What Is a 55 Gallon Drum?

A 55 gallon drum (also known as a barrel or storage barrel) is the most common size used for any industry, from food and beverage to manufacturing, holding anything from chemicals and oils to hazardous materials and fragrances. They are well known for their long term storage and durability. There are three materials that this style of drums are made of: plastic, steel and fiber.

55 Gallon Plastic Drums

55 gallon plastic drums are available in two different styles: open head (with a removable cover) and tight head (the cover is sealed on top with fittings to add or remove content).

55 gallon plastic drums are a popular choice for a wide variety of industries, including chemicals, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, waste, dyes, pigment, soaps, detergents, and more. There are also UN rated options available for hazardous materials as well as FDA Compliant options for food and beverage products.

55 Gallon Steel Drums

55 gallon steel drums are available in the same open head and tight head styles. 55 gallon steel drums are a great choice for storing and shipping liquid products, including oils, syrups and glues. Tight head steel drums are used for chemicals, oils and more.

They are available in carbon steel and stainless steel. 55 gallon stainless steel drums are primarily used to store chemicals, food, water, or wine. Stainless steel drums are known for their strength and corrosion resistance.

55 Gallon Fiber Drums

55 gallon fiber drums are a reliable option for dry products in the food and pharmaceutical industries. 55 gallon fiber drums can weigh between 16 and 20 pounds.


How Tall Is a 55 Gallon Drum?


Both tight head and open head 55 gallon plastic drums are measured with a height of 35 inches. With steel drums, open head drums have a height of 34.5 inches and tight head drums have a height of 35.25 inches. Finally, fiber drums have a height between 34 inches and 37 inches.

How Wide Is a 55 Gallon Drum?


Similar to the height of the drum, the diameter can change depending on the material. 55 gallon plastic drums have a diameter between 23 and 24 inches. Steel drums have an inside diameter of 22.5 inches and an outside diameter of 23 inches. Fiber drums can range between 21 inches and 23 inches in diameter.

How Many Ounces Are in a 55 Gallon Drum?


To measure out how many ounces would fit in a 55 gallon drum, it would be equivalent to around 7,040 fluid ounces or 208.2 liters. 55 gallons of water can take up about 7.36 cubic feet.

How Much Does an Empty 55 Gallon Drum Weigh?


The weight of a 55 gallon drum can depend on the material it is made out of. It can also differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.

55 gallon plastic drums can weigh anywhere from 23 and 25 pounds. 55 gallon steel drums can weigh between 38 and 48 pounds. Finally, 55 gallon fiber drums can weigh in a range between 16 and 20 pounds.


How Much Does 55 Gallons of Water Weigh in Pounds?


55 gallons is the unit of capacity of a 55 gallon drum. It does not give any insight into how much is 55 gallons in pounds.

55 gallon water weight can be determined by:

Density of Water x Gallons x 8.3454

The number 8.3454 is the conversion that needs to be made to convert density into pounds per gallon.

So, we know that water has a density of 1 g/ml and 55 gallons of water are in a 55 gallon drum.

1 (g/ml) x 55 gallons x 8.3454 = 459

So we can say for certainty that the drum will be at least 459 pounds with 55 gallons of water inside. However, that is solely measuring the content inside.

How Much Does a 55 Gallon Drum of Water Weigh?


The weight of the container will also need to be considered to answer this question.

If you were to put 55 gallons of water into a plastic drum, the weight can be between 480 and 484 pounds. For a steel drum, it will be heavier, ranging between 497 and 507 pounds. Finally, fiber drums will be on the lighter side, ranging between 475 and 479 pounds.

How Many Gallons Per Inch Are in a 55 Gallon Drum?


Drums can come in different sizes based on the manufacturer and if there are any attachments (lids, rings, etc.) Please keep in mind there is no true standard 55 gallon drum measurement. Measurements can vary slightly by a couple inches depending on how the manufacturer created it.

Plastic drums are typically 35 inches tall, meaning that both open head and tight head 55 gallon plastic drums have a 1.571 gallons per inch measurement. 

In comparison, steel drums differ slightly. Open head steel drums have an average height of 34.5 inches, measuring a gallon per inch at 1.594. Tight head steel drums, because of the sealed lid, measure at 35.25 inches, leading to a gallons per inch amount of 1.56.

Finally, fiber drums have heights ranging from 34 inches to 37 inches, their gallons per inch are between 1.486 and 1.618.

What Is the Maximum Weight a 55 Gallon Drum Can Support While Floating?


In order to determine how much weight a 55 gallon drum can float, there are a couple of factors to keep in mind.

As we determined, the weight of a gallon of water is 8.3454 pounds. Multiplying that by 55 gives us 459 pounds. However, to determine how much weight it can float, the calculation requires us to subtract the weight of the drum.

Based on the drum, here are the following results:

 

 

Drum Type

 

55 Gallon Water Weight

 

Drum Weight

 

Floating Weight

Plastic 459 lbs. 23-25 lbs. 434-456 lbs.
Steel 459 lbs. 38-48 lbs. 411-421 lbs.
Fiber 459 lbs. 16-20 lbs. 439-443 lbs.

Factors That Affect Water Weight

Two main factors can affect the weight of water in a 55 gallon drum: temperature and pressure.

How Temperature Impacts Water Weight

When looking at the weight of water in a 55 gallon drum, if the water's temperature increases, the weight of water decreases. Alternatively, if the temperature of the water decreases, the weight of the water increases.

If you heat water, especially water molecules, their kinetic energy causes them to expand, decreasing the density of the water. 

The opposite can be true for cold water. As the water molecules get closer together and increase in density, the overall weight of the water increases.

How Pressure & Depth Impact Water Weight

The other two factors that change a 55 gallon drum water weight is depth and pressure.

If you fill a 55 gallon drum with water and place it in the ocean, the weight of the water inside the drum will increase due to the surrounding pressure that comes with putting the drum at a lower depth. It is also because of the amount of pressure put on the surrounding water at the deep side of the water to bring it back up to the surface.


See the Value in a 55 Gallon Drum?

The Cary Company has a wide variety of 55 gallon drums, including plastic, steel and fiber options. We also sell a wide collection of drum accessories, including liners, wrenches, plugs, heaters and more.

Have some questions about our drums or want to find the perfect one for your product? We have product specialists who can answer any questions and find the perfect drum for your company. Give us a call at 630-629-6600 or email us at sales@thecarycompany.com!

We also have information on the reconditioning process for 55 gallon steel drums, using 55 gallon steel drums as BBQ smokers, and more.