How Many Drums Fit on a Plastic Pallet?

Many in the pallet industry would reflexively answer four. That's because a 48x48 drum pallet can easily hold four 55 gallon drums without hanging over.

Everything from caustic chemicals to the raw ingredients used in the food we eat moves in 55 gallon drums. So, it should come as no surprise that the 48x48 drum pallet is the second most popular pallet size in the US. Popular? Yes. The only solution? Far from it.

Drum pallets like this plastic CP9 can transport diesel for the petroleum industry, glycerin for pharmaceutical manufacturers, chicken soup for food processors and so much more.

​Pallet Sizes for 55 Gallon Drums

It doesn't matter if your drums are holding orange juice concentrate or automotive lubricants, measurements matter. Make sure you're paying attention to those outside dimensions. Also, there's a good chance there will be spills. Choose easy-to-clean plastic for long life in these sizes:
   

• 48x48 Plastic Drum Pallet
  Specifically designed to hold four 55-gallon drums without overhang. Available with optional perimeter tabs to help prevent drums from shifting.
  
  
• CP9 Plastic Pallet
  CP9 plastic chemical pallets are 1140x1140 mm (or 45x45 inches) and are universally recognized as the standard for cubing out shipping containers when exporting drums.
  
  
• 48x45 Drum Pallet
  Interrupted lips dotted along the perimeter of this plastic pallet contain four 55-gallon drums and allow shippers to double-stack pallets.
  
  
• 44x44 Chemical Drum Pallet
  Less popular than the 48" square pallet, these pallets can be harder to source. Extend your search to used 44x44 drum pallets and the equivalent 1140x1140 metric size.
  
  
• 48x40 3-Drum Pallet
  When your storage or transport space requirements dictate your pallet size, 48x40 plastic pallets can handle three 55-gallon drums.

Barrels and Other Drum Sizes

So far we have only talked about 55 gallon drums, but many sizes exist. There are 30 gallon wooden barrels used for warehousing beers and spirits. Wine fermented and aged in stainless steel drums include 16 and 25 gallon sizes in addition to 55 gallons. No matter what size barrel or drum you use, there are pallets capable of storing, stacking and transporting your specific drum size. There are even opportunities to swap your barrel racks for pallets to save storage space.

And, finally, a little schooling. Did you know that the 55-gallon drum we know so well in the US is actually called a 44-gallon drum in other parts of the world. Why the difference? The drum is actually 200 liters in size. A US conversion rounds to 55 gallons, but the conversion to imperial gallons (used in places like the UK and Canada) makes it 44 gallons. Exact capacities can vary depending on construction. Interesting, right?

Need help figuring out the best plastic pallet for your drums? Tell us about your product and drum storage below or get in touch.

Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales & Marketing