How Much Does an Empty 5 Gallon Bucket and Lid Weigh? (2024)

Whether you’re planning how much of an item you’ll be able to store in your bucket or how much you’ll be able to comfortably haul, it’s important to understand how heavy your5 gallon bucket may be once you load it up with product. And while it doesn’t require any calculus,5 gallon bucket dimensions and weight vary based on the shape of the bucket, the type of plastic it's made from, the type of lid you use (if you’re using one at all), and the contents of your bucket.

In this blog, we’re exploring the average weight of empty buckets, how much weight buckets can actually support, and how heavy you can expect your bucket to be when it’s filled with common items. Let’s dive in.

How Much Does an Empty 5 Gallon Bucket and Lid Weigh?

On average, an empty5 gallon bucket with a lid weighs about three pounds. This may vary based on a number of different factors. For example, some 5 gallon buckets have thicker plastic walls than others. This can impact weight. Additionally, different styles of lids may be slightly heavier than others. For example, a two-piece gamma lid may weigh slightly more than a basic non-gasket lid.

Without its lid, a 5 gallon bucket weighs between one and two pounds on average.

How Much Weight Can You Put in a 5 Gallon Bucket?

Generally speaking, 5 gallon buckets can support about 125 pounds of weight when being carried by the handle.

However, the full answer to this question is a bit more complex. When it comes to buckets, their weight limit is a product of the thickness of the plastic used to make the bucket and how sturdy the handle is. For example, a lighter-weight 5 gallon bucket (one that falls on the lighter end of the weight spectrum when empty) may hold a bit less than a heavier 5 gallon bucket. Additionally, a sturdier handle may be able to support slightly more weight than a weaker handle.

The main thing to keep in mind is this: if you intend to move your 5 gallon bucket around by the handle, it’s best to keep the weight limit at 125 pounds.

Wondering how much a 5 gallon bucket weighs when filled with various items? We’ve compiled a list of a few common questions we hear to help you plan out just how much your bucket will weigh.

How Much Does a 5 Gallon Bucket of Water Weigh?

A customary gallon of water weighs, on average, about 8.34 pounds. Doing the math, that means that 5 gallons of water weighs 41.7 pounds. This is, however, an approximation. The weight may vary based on the type of water (saltwater versus tap water) and the temperature of the water.

How Much Does a 5 Gallon Bucket Weigh Full of Dirt?

If you’re doing yard work, you might be wondering how much dirt you can haul in a 5 gallon bucket. A gallon of dirt weighs approximately 11 pounds. That means that 5 gallons of dirt weighs about 55 pounds. However, the weight of dirt varies quite a bit depending upon factors like how wet the dirt is, how dense it is, the composition of the dirt, and if there are rocks or other debris mixed in.

How Much Does a 5 Gallon Bucket Filled with Sand Weigh?

Sand weighs approximately 13.4 pounds per gallon. However, this is assuming the sand is dry. Wet sand may weigh as much as 16 pounds per gallon. With some quick math, we can find that sand may weigh between 67 and 80 pounds, depending on if it’s wet or dry. Debris may impact the weight of sand, too

How Much Does a Full 5 Gallon Bucket Paint Bucket Weigh?

Paint weighs between six and 12 pounds per gallon. That means that, on average, you can expect 5 gallons of paint to weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. This is a pretty huge range, and it is because the weight of paint varies based on the brand and what type of paint it is—acrylic, latex, enamel, or oil-based.

ePackageSupply.com: Your Source for 5 Gallon Buckets

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No matter what you’re planning to store in your buckets, ePackageSupply has you covered. All of our buckets are food grade, which means they’re perfect for all your needs: from industrial food suppliers to crop farmers, home planters, and DIY-ers. And, with a variety of lid offerings, you can customize your bucket to fit your exact needs. Explore all of our bucket and lid offerings on our website, and reach out to us today if you have any questions.

*ePackage exclusively sells official Gamma Lid® products.

How Much Does an Empty 5 Gallon Bucket and Lid Weigh? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Does an Empty 5 Gallon Bucket and Lid Weigh? ›

On average, an empty 5 gallon bucket with a lid weighs about three pounds. This may vary based on a number of different factors. For example, some 5 gallon buckets have thicker plastic walls than others.

How much does a full 5 gallon bucket weigh? ›

The weight of the average plastic pail is about 2lbs, and 5 gallons of water weighs about 42lbs. Therefore, a 5 gallon bucket of water will typically weigh around 43-46lbs, depending on the fill-level as well as the specific bucket that you're using.

How much does an empty bucket weigh? ›

Weight: Plastic pails are significantly lighter than steel pails, weighing approximately 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg). Wall Thickness: Plastic pails generally have a wall thickness of about 0.075 to 0.090 inches (1.9 to 2.3 mm).

How much does a 5 gallon bucket of wet sand weigh? ›

Here is how much sand these item will hold: 5 gallon bucket = 70 pounds of dry clean play sand (80 to 90 lbs if wet sand) Large Plastic Garbage can (50 or 55 gallon size) = 700 to 770 lbs if play sand is dry.

How much does 5 gal of water weigh? ›

A US gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, thus 5 gallons weights 41.7 pounds.

How much does an empty 5 gallon bucket weigh with lid? ›

On average, an empty 5 gallon bucket with a lid weighs about three pounds. This may vary based on a number of different factors. For example, some 5 gallon buckets have thicker plastic walls than others. This can impact weight.

How much does a 5 gallon water jug weigh empty? ›

One Us gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds. 5 gallons of water = 5x8. 3 = 41.5 pounds plus the weight of the jug. The jug alone weighs about half a pound or so depending on the style.

Which is heavier a bucket of sand or water? ›

Point out that as long as the volumes are equal, sand is a material that is heavy for its size compared with water. For samples of any size - as long as the size of the samples is the same, sand will weigh more than water.

How heavy is 5 gallons of paint? ›

The weight of paint can vary depending on the type and brand, but a general estimation is that 1 gallon of paint weighs around 10 pounds. So, a 5 gallon bucket of paint would weigh approximately 50 pounds.

How much does a 5 gallon bucket of potting soil weigh? ›

It will depend on type and saturation, but using a typical specific gravity for soil of 1.3 (g/cc), gives 54 pounds of soil for 5 gallons, if filled. Plus 3 pounds for the empty bucket.

How much does a 5 gallon bucket of honey weigh? ›

Approximately 58 lbs of our raw honey in a 5 gallon pail. Shipping is included in the total price.

How heavy is a gallon of milk? ›

A gallon of milk weighs 8.6 lb, and a quart of milk weighs 2.15 lb.

How much does a 5 gallon bucket of concrete weigh? ›

A: Fresh concrete is heavy: A good rule of thumb is about 150 pounds/cubic foot. That translates to about 100 pounds for a 5-gallon bucket full of concrete, or as much as 800 pounds in a standard-sized contractor's wheelbarrow load.

How much does a 5 gallon bucket full of dirt weigh? ›

It will depend on type and saturation, but using a typical specific gravity for soil of 1.3 (g/cc), gives 54 pounds of soil for 5 gallons, if filled.

How full is a full 5 gallon bucket? ›

Here's a general rule if there are no marks or lines within the bucket: the area where the handle anchors into the bucket marks approximately 5 gallons. When filling a 5 gallon bucket with a substance, be sure to leave some headspace.

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