Dimensions / Industrial & logistics / Steel drums / 30 gallon
A 30-gallon steel drum holds about 113.5 litres (ICC) and is roughly 19 in across and 28 3/4 in tall: Uline’s open top S-14364 is 19 in (483 mm) at the lid, 18 in (457 mm) inside and 28 3/4 in (730 mm) tall, 34 lbs empty, and its closed top S-14365 is 18 3/4 × 28 5/8 in and 23 lbs. Greif, North Coast Container, Mauser and Skolnik all make it with either head; Mauser builds its intermediate drums in 14, 16 and 18 in diameters. Uline rates its open top at 660 lbs for solids but only 375 lbs for liquids. ISO 15750 does not cover this size, so ask your maker for its own drawing.
| At the lid | Inside | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 483mm19 in | 457mm18 in | 730mm28 3/4 in |
Sources: Uline (S-14364). Checked October 2026.
Uline’s 30 gal open top is filled in, on a 1200 × 1000 pallet and in Triton’s 20 ft. Enter your fill and density; each check uses the numbers in the tables on this page.
Sizes in millimetres, weights in kilograms. 1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 US gal = 3.785 L; water is 1 kg/L.
Standing upright, 2 × 2 drums of 483 mm fit inside the 1200 × 1000 mm pallet: 4 per pallet, enough for your 4.
Uline’s S-14364 is 19 in (483 mm) across the lid. Nobody publishes a count per pallet for this size, so the check counts by diameter.
Upright in straight rows, one layer takes 12 × 4 = 48 drums; 2 high that is 96, enough for your 96.
The CTU Code: with small drums, offset stowage in the grooves of the row before is more effective than straight rows.
Each drum is 110 L × 1 kg/L + 15.4 kg = 125.4 kg; 96 drums make 12038 kg, 16342 kg under the 28380 kg maximum payload.
Uline rates its 30 gal open top at 660 lbs for solids but 375 lbs for liquids.
Shipping samples or small batches in 30-gallon drums? Photograph one, mark its diameter and height in SizeMarker and send it with the order.
Mark a photoNo drum maker’s own 30-gallon drawing could be fetched; these are distributors’ figures.
| Drum | Diameter × height | Empty weight; UN mark |
|---|---|---|
| Uline S-14364, open top18 in (457 mm) inside; bolt ring | 19 in (483 mm) at the lid × 28 3/4 in (730 mm) | 34 lbs (15.4 kg); 1A2/X400/S and 1A2/Y1.5/150 |
| Uline S-19414, open top, lined18 7/8 in leaving out the bolt | 20 7/8 in outside × 28 7/8 in with the lid | 34 lb; 1A2/X400/S and 1A2/Y1.5/150 |
| Uline S-14365, closed top2 in and 3/4 in openings | 18 3/4 × 28 5/8 in | 23 lbs; 1A1/X1.8/300 |
| Skolnik CQ3013, closed headSold by CP Lab Safety; 1.5/0.9/1.5 mm | 18.75 × 28.5 in | 1A1/Y1.2/300 |
| Skolnik CQ3007, open headSold by Spill 911 and ICC; 12-gauge bolt ring | 30 gallons (113.5 litres) | 42 lbs; 1A2/X235/S, 1A2/Y1.5/150 |
| Berlin Packaging tight head, 120 LThe nearest metric drum | 455 × 785 mm | 120 L |
| Mauser intermediate drumsOpen and tight head | 14, 16 and 18 in diameters | 6.5–35 gallons |
Sources: Uline (S-14364) · Uline (S-19414) · Uline (S-14365) · CP Lab Safety (Skolnik CQ3013) · Spill 911 (Skolnik CQ3007) · ICC Compliance Center · Berlin Packaging (tight head 120 L) · Mauser (brochure)
| Guide | Size or rule |
|---|---|
| Rated load, open topUline S-14364 | Solids 660 lbs; liquids 375 lbs |
| Rated load, closed topUline S-14365 | 450 lbs |
| Steel, open topUline; top, body, bottom | 1.4/1.1/1.1 mm, against 1.0/1.0/1.0 mm on its 55 gal open top |
| Steel, closed topUline; top, body, bottom | 1.1/0.8/1.1 mm, against 1.2/0.9/1.2 mm on its 55 gal closed top |
| Both heads at 30 galGreif; North Coast Container | Greif S30BR open head and S30TH tight head; NCC tight heads in 16, 20, 30 and 55 gal |
| Bolt ring torqueMauser, intermediate drums | 12 ga forged lug ring: not less than 50 ft-lbs; other bolt rings: not less than 8 ft-lbs |
| ISO 15750Scope | Open heads of 208, 210 and 216.5 l only |
| Largest UN steel drum49 CFR 178.504 | 450 L (119 gallons); 400 kg net |
| Filling liquids49 CFR 173.24a | Not completely full at 55 °C (131 °F) |
Sources: Uline (S-14364) · Uline (S-14365) · Greif · North Coast Container (tight head) · Mauser (closing instructions) · ISO 15750-1 · 49 CFR 178.504 · 49 CFR 173.24a
| Guide | Size or rule |
|---|---|
| 20 ft insideTriton | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm; 28,380 kg payload |
| 483 mm drums in Triton’s 20 ftOur calculation, straight rows | 4 across × 12 rows = 48 a tier; 96 two high (1,460 mm) |
| 483 mm drums on a 1200 × 1000 palletOur calculation | 2 × 2 = 4, none over the edge |
| 1200 × 1200 mm drum palletTransoplast | 4 steel drums of 200 litres or 8 smaller drums |
| Offset or straight rowsCTU Code | With small drums offset packing is more effective; with greater diameters, soldier stow |
Sources: Triton (20ft) · Transoplast · CTU Code
About 19 in across and 28 3/4 in tall. Uline’s open top is 19 in (483 mm) at the lid, 18 in inside and 28 3/4 in (730 mm) tall; its closed top 18 3/4 × 28 5/8 in; Skolnik’s closed head 18.75 × 28.5 in.
30 gallons is 113.5 litres (ICC). The nearest metric steel drum is 120 L: Berlin Packaging’s tight head is 455 × 785 mm.
Uline rates its open top at 660 lbs for solids but 375 lbs for liquids, and its closed top at 450 lbs. The UN mark sets the limit for dangerous goods: 1A2/X400/S means solids up to 400 kg gross.
Yes: Uline’s lined 30 gal open top is 20 7/8 in outside with the bolt and 18 7/8 in without it. Plan pallets and containers with the larger figure.
Yes. Greif makes an S30BR open head and an S30TH tight head, North Coast Container lists 30 gal tight heads, and Mauser makes intermediate drums open and tight head in 14, 16 and 18 in diameters.
The CTU Code says offset packing works better with small drums, straight rows with larger ones. In straight rows, 483 mm drums go 4 across × 12 rows = 48 a tier in Triton’s 20 ft, by our calculation.
Buyers ordering smaller lots ask for 30-gallon drums with the right head and UN mark, the gross weight per drum and how many go on a pallet. Mark the real drum, ring and height on your own product photo in SizeMarker, as in the picture at the top, and send one product card for WhatsApp or WeChat.
