How many 55-gallon drums fit in a 40ft container?
55-gallon drums of 585 × 585 × 880 mm (also called 200 L drums, 205 L steel drums) in a 40-foot standard container (40GP) — inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Upright, single layer (not stacked). 36% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 17,600 kg (66% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (80 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.
Twice the floor of a 20ft at the same width and height. Its rated payload is usually a little lower than a 20ft, so dense cargo often maxes out weight before space.
The simple grid estimate is 20 along the length × 4 across × 1 high = 80. Here no mixed pattern beats the best uniform grid, so the engine's plan is exactly that grid (80).
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upright, single layer (not stacked) (headline figure) | 80 | 1 | 36% | 17,600 kg (66% of payload) |
| Drums stacked two high (only if the drum, lid and cargo allow it) | 121 | 2 | 54% | 26,620 kg (100% of payload) |
How many 40ft containers for a given order?
| 55-gallon drums | 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft containers needed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Last one filled to | 13% | 31% | 63% | 25% | 13% | 25% |
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 40ft container?
80 55-gallon drums of 585 × 585 × 880 mm fit in a 40ft container (inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm), upright, single layer (not stacked). That uses 36% of the 67.7 m³ available and weighs about 17,600 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 40ft container?
Typical inner dimensions are 12,032 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,393 mm high (473.7 × 92.6 × 94.2 in), giving 67.7 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 26,700 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?
80 × 220 kg ≈ 17,600 kg, which is 66% of the 26,700 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.