The dimensional change is small. The operational difference is not. A correctly specified conical steel drum is filled, closed, palletized, stacked and handled using the same familiar industrial practices as a conventional steel drum. Its tapered geometry matters most after the drum is empty, when one drum can nest inside another.
Dimensions: inches and millimeters
Top diameter, internal
- Imperial
- 22.0 in
- Metric
- 560 mm ± 2 mm
Top diameter, external
- Imperial
- 22.7 in
- Metric
- 576 mm ± 2 mm
Bottom diameter, external
- Imperial
- 20.8 in
- Metric
- 528 mm ± 2 mm
Bottom diameter, internal
- Imperial
- 20.5 in
- Metric
- 520 mm ± 0.5 mm
Height, external
- Imperial
- 37.8 in
- Metric
- 960 mm ± 3 mm
Rolling bead spacing
- Imperial
- 2.0 in
- Metric
- 51 mm ± 2 mm
Weight: drum, lid and ring
- Imperial
- 23.1 lb ± 4%
- Metric
- 10.47 kg ± 4%
Working capacity
- Imperial
- Around 58 US gal
- Metric
- Around 220 L
| Specification | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Top diameter, internal | 22.0 in | 560 mm ± 2 mm |
| Top diameter, external | 22.7 in | 576 mm ± 2 mm |
| Bottom diameter, external | 20.8 in | 528 mm ± 2 mm |
| Bottom diameter, internal | 20.5 in | 520 mm ± 0.5 mm |
| Height, external | 37.8 in | 960 mm ± 3 mm |
| Rolling bead spacing | 2.0 in | 51 mm ± 2 mm |
| Weight: drum, lid and ring | 23.1 lb ± 4% | 10.47 kg ± 4% |
| Working capacity | Around 58 US gal | Around 220 L |
Steel thickness
Body
- Imperial
- 25–22 gauge; 24 standard
- Metric
- 0.5–0.8 mm; 0.7 mm standard
Bottom
- Imperial
- 25 gauge
- Metric
- 0.5 mm
Lid
- Imperial
- 25 gauge
- Metric
- 0.5 mm
Locking ring
- Imperial
- 24 gauge
- Metric
- 0.6 mm
| Part | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Body | 25–22 gauge; 24 standard | 0.5–0.8 mm; 0.7 mm standard |
| Bottom | 25 gauge | 0.5 mm |
| Lid | 25 gauge | 0.5 mm |
| Locking ring | 24 gauge | 0.6 mm |
Gauge equivalents are approximate and vary by steel type. A 0.9 mm body is available for specific requests with volumes above 10,000 drums per year.
- Steel
- Carbon steel DC01
- Steel tolerance
- EN 10130 / EN 10131
- Marking
- Ink-jet progressive number and date
- Pallet
- 44.9 × 44.9 × 102.4 in; 100 drums
Same job when full. A major change when empty.
When full
Familiar filling, closing, palletizing, stacking and handling practices. Performance and reliability come from choosing the correct body thickness, lining, closure and certification for the product and operating conditions.
When empty
Tapered walls allow the drums to nest. That small geometric difference changes empty transport, warehouse density, line-side storage, collection and reconditioning.
Full-drum storage limits
Maximum storage height depends on body thickness and drum weight. The limits below use four full drums per pallet; maximum weight is shown per drum.
25 gauge (0.5 mm)
- Maximum storage height
- 3 pallets (1 + 2)
- Maximum drum weight
- 463 lb (210 kg)
24 gauge (0.6 mm)
- Maximum storage height
- 3 pallets (1 + 2)
- Maximum drum weight
- 529 lb (240 kg)
24 gauge (0.7 mm)
- Maximum storage height
- 4 pallets (1 + 3)
- Maximum drum weight
- 463 lb (210 kg)
22 gauge (0.8 mm)
- Maximum storage height
- 4 pallets (1 + 3)
- Maximum drum weight
- 529 lb (240 kg)
| Body thickness | Maximum storage height | Maximum drum weight |
|---|---|---|
| 25 gauge (0.5 mm) | 3 pallets (1 + 2) | 463 lb (210 kg) |
| 24 gauge (0.6 mm) | 3 pallets (1 + 2) | 529 lb (240 kg) |
| 24 gauge (0.7 mm) | 4 pallets (1 + 3) | 463 lb (210 kg) |
| 22 gauge (0.8 mm) | 4 pallets (1 + 3) | 529 lb (240 kg) |
The large difference is empty-drum logistics
The advantage reaches beyond the drum supplier. End users need fewer inbound trailers, fewer warehouse positions and less line-side floor space before filling. After use, nested empties take far less space for internal storage, collection or movement to reconditioning.
Empty drums per pallet
- Conical
- Up to 100
- Straight-sided
- About 4
Empty drums per 53-foot trailer
- Conical
- About 2,000
- Straight-sided
- About 290
Truckloads per 10,000 empties
- Conical
- 5
- Straight-sided
- 35
Transport CO₂ per drum
- Conical
- Up to 35% lower
- Straight-sided
- Baseline
| Measure | Conical | Straight-sided |
|---|---|---|
| Empty drums per pallet | Up to 100 | About 4 |
| Empty drums per 53-foot trailer | About 2,000 | About 290 |
| Truckloads per 10,000 empties | 5 | 35 |
| Transport CO₂ per drum | Up to 35% lower | Baseline |
Why a new drum matters around food and beverages
No unknown previous contents.
A new drum has no previous fill history. It has never carried toxic, incompatible or unknown prior contents, giving food and beverage processors a clear starting point that a reconditioned drum cannot provide. The selected lining, bag, lid and certification must still be confirmed for the product, fill temperature and destination.
Confirm the fit for your operation
Tell us the product, fill temperature, annual volume, lining and lid needs, required food or UN certification, handling equipment and destination. We will confirm the documented drum configuration for the application.
Ready to compare for your operation?
Tell us your product, volume and destination and we will recommend the right conical steel drum.
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