How many 55-gallon drums fit in a 13.6 m trailer?
55-gallon drums of 585 × 585 × 880 mm (also called 200 L drums, 205 L steel drums) in a 13.6 m curtainsider / box trailer (EU) — inner dimensions 13,600 × 2,450 × 2,700 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Upright, single layer (not stacked). 31% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 20,240 kg (84% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (92 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (1 layer)
The answer in detail
A 55 US gallon / 205-litre steel drum is about 585 mm in diameter and 880 mm tall; filled with a water-like liquid it weighs around 220 kg. Drums are modelled here on their square footprint, standing upright and loose (not palletised, not stacked). Palletised drums load as 48 × 48 in pallets, four per pallet.
The standard European semi-trailer. Curtainsiders are loaded from the side, so pallets can be turned freely; the 2,450 mm inner width is what makes three EUR pallets (3 × 800) fit across.
The simple grid estimate is 23 along the length × 4 across × 1 high = 92. Here no mixed pattern beats the best uniform grid, so the engine's plan is exactly that grid (92).
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upright, single layer (not stacked) (headline figure) | 92 | 1 | 31% | 20,240 kg (84% of payload) |
| Drums stacked two high (only if the drum, lid and cargo allow it) | 109 | 3 | 36% | 23,980 kg (100% of payload) |
How many 13.6 m trailers for a given order?
| 55-gallon drums | 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.6 m trailers needed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Last one filled to | 11% | 27% | 54% | 9% | 72% | 43% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many 55-gallon drums fit in a 13.6 m trailer?
92 55-gallon drums of 585 × 585 × 880 mm fit in a 13.6 m trailer (inner dimensions 13,600 × 2,450 × 2,700 mm), upright, single layer (not stacked). That uses 31% of the 90.0 m³ available and weighs about 20,240 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 13.6 m trailer?
Typical inner dimensions are 13,600 mm long, 2,450 mm wide and 2,700 mm high (535.4 × 96.5 × 106.3 in), giving 90.0 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 24,000 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of 55-gallon drums weigh?
92 × 220 kg ≈ 20,240 kg, which is 84% of the 24,000 kg payload — so this load is limited by space, not weight.
How was this number calculated?
By running the Cubestow 3D load-planning engine on the exact dimensions above, allowing rotation on the floor plane only, no stacking and the container's payload limit, then re-validating the plan for overlaps, support and weight. Real loads leave room for dunnage, door clearance and uneven cartons, so treat the figure as the practical maximum.