How many 55-gallon drums fit in a 45ft high cube?
55-gallon drums of 585 × 585 × 880 mm (also called 200 L drums, 205 L steel drums) in a 45-foot high-cube container (45HC) — inner dimensions 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Upright, single layer (not stacked). 32% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 20,240 kg (73% 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.
An extra 1.5 m of length over a 40HC, popular for European intermodal moves where a 45ft box matches a 13.6 m trailer.
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 | 32% | 20,240 kg (73% of payload) |
| Drums stacked two high (only if the drum, lid and cargo allow it) | 125 | 3 | 44% | 27,500 kg (100% of payload) |
How many 45ft high cubes for a given order?
| 55-gallon drums | 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45ft high cubes 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 45ft high cube?
92 55-gallon drums of 585 × 585 × 880 mm fit in a 45ft high cube (inner dimensions 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm), upright, single layer (not stacked). That uses 32% of the 86.0 m³ available and weighs about 20,240 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 45ft high cube?
Typical inner dimensions are 13,556 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,698 mm high (533.7 × 92.6 × 106.2 in), giving 86.0 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 27,600 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 73% of the 27,600 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.