Isopropyl alcohol is sold in 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums, 275- and 330-gallon IBC totes, tank trucks and rail cars. The 55-gallon drum is the industrial default and holds about 360 lb of 99% IPA. Totes suit 250–700 gallons a month; tank truck economics start once you consistently move 4,000 gallons or more per delivery.
What are the standard isopropyl alcohol package sizes?
Net weights below use 6.55 lb per US gallon, calculated from the density of 99% isopropyl alcohol — 0.785 g/cm³ at 68 °F, per PubChem (CID 3776). Gross weight adds the container tare.
| Package | US gallons | Net weight, 99% IPA (lb) | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-gallon bottle / case | 1 | 6.6 | Lab and bench use |
| 5-gallon pail | 5 | 32.8 | Maintenance, small cleanrooms |
| 55-gallon drum | 55 | 360 | Production line, standard industrial order |
| 275-gallon IBC tote | 275 | 1,802 | Mid-volume manufacturing |
| 330-gallon IBC tote | 330 | 2,162 | Mid-volume manufacturing |
| Tank truck (approx. 4,500 gal) | 4,500 | 29,480 | Continuous high-volume use |
| Rail car (approx. 20,000 gal) | 20,000 | 131,020 | Plant with rail siding and storage |
Tank truck and rail capacities vary by equipment. Confirm the figure with your carrier before you plan a load.
What size drum does isopropyl alcohol ship in?
The standard is a 55-gallon (208-liter) UN-rated drum, in either tight-head steel or high-density polyethylene. Because IPA is a flammable liquid, the drum must be UN-rated for Packing Group II service and, for many operations, grounded and bonded during transfer. Steel drums are the usual choice where static dissipation and closed-loop pumping matter; poly drums are used where trace metal pickup is a concern.
A 30-gallon drum is available for smaller runs and tighter storage cabinets. For the full rundown of drum construction and UN markings, see our guide to chemical drum sizes and how to read a GHS label on a drum.
When should you buy IPA in a tote instead of drums?
Switch to a 275- or 330-gallon IBC tote when drum handling becomes the cost rather than the chemical. Practical triggers:
- You are opening more than five drums a month. One tote replaces five 55-gallon drums, which cuts connect/disconnect cycles and the associated vapor exposure and spill risk.
- You are paying for drum disposal or reconditioning. Tote programs consolidate that into one return.
- You need a stable pump-out point. Totes sit on a fixed pallet base with a bottom valve, which is easier to plumb than a drum pump.
Drums stay the better answer when you run multiple IPA concentrations, need small lot segregation for quality reasons, or have a flammable storage cabinet sized for drums only. Our side-by-side on drum vs IBC tote vs bulk covers the tradeoff across the catalog.
When does bulk tank truck or rail make sense for IPA?
Bulk delivery requires a receiving tank, a flammable-liquid transfer system, and enough throughput that the tank turns over before product quality or inventory carrying cost becomes a problem. As a rule of thumb, tank truck economics open up once you consistently take 4,000 gallons or more per delivery; rail requires a siding and storage sized in the tens of thousands of gallons. The tradeoff is a lower cost per gallon against higher fixed infrastructure and a larger single-point inventory exposure. Our comparison of rail vs. truck for bulk chemical shipping walks through the freight side.
Does IPA concentration change the package weight?
Yes. Isopropyl alcohol is lighter than water, so aqueous grades weigh more per gallon than 99%. A 70% USP grade contains roughly 30% water by volume, and water weighs 8.345 lb/gal against IPA’s 6.55, so the same 55-gallon drum comes in heavier. Do not reuse a 99% net weight on a 70% shipping document — take the density from the certificate of analysis for that lot. The differences between 70%, 91% and 99%, and between USP and technical, are covered in our IPA grades guide, and the per-gallon math is in how much a gallon of isopropyl alcohol weighs.
How is isopropyl alcohol packaging regulated for shipping?
Isopropanol is a DOT flammable liquid. Its closed-cup flash point is 12 °C (53 °F), which places it in the most restrictive commonly shipped solvent tier.
| Shipping attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Proper shipping name | Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) |
| UN number | UN 1219 |
| DOT hazard class | 3 — Flammable liquid |
| Packing group | II |
| Flash point (closed cup) | 12 °C / 53 °F |
| Boiling point | 82.3 °C / 180.5 °F |
Classification is per the hazardous materials table at 49 CFR 172.101; flash point and boiling point are from PubChem CID 3776. Every package must carry a UN specification marking matching Packing Group II, and shipping papers must show the class and UN number. More on solvent classification in our DOT hazmat classes for solvents guide.
What sizes and grades of IPA does RightPath stock?
RightPath Industries carries isopropyl alcohol across the concentration range — IPA 99%, 91%, 70% (including USP grade with WFI water), and diluted grades down to 10.5% — plus IPA 99% meeting TT-I-735A Grade A/B and ASTM D770. The full range sits in our alcohols category. Pull the current safety data sheet before you specify a package.
How do you order isopropyl alcohol from RightPath?
Tell us the concentration, the grade or spec you have to meet, the package size, and the delivery ZIP code. RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-headquartered distributor stocking more than 8,000 chemicals, and quotes go out the same day. Request bulk pricing for an all-in landed cost, freight and accessorials included.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons are in a drum of isopropyl alcohol?
A standard IPA drum holds 55 US gallons (208 liters). A 30-gallon drum is available for smaller volumes. A 55-gallon drum of 99% IPA contains about 360 lb of product.
How much does a 55-gallon drum of IPA weigh?
About 360 lb (163 kg) net for 99% isopropyl alcohol, based on 6.55 lb per gallon. Aqueous grades such as 70% weigh more per gallon because of their water content.
What is the largest container isopropyl alcohol ships in?
Rail car, at roughly 20,000 gallons. Below that, tank trucks carry about 4,500 gallons and IBC totes carry 275 or 330 gallons.
Can isopropyl alcohol ship in plastic containers?
Yes. IPA ships in UN-rated high-density polyethylene drums and pails as well as steel. The container must carry a UN specification marking valid for Packing Group II flammable liquids.
Is a 275-gallon tote of IPA cheaper than five drums?
Usually on a per-gallon basis, because one tote replaces five drums of handling, freight units, and container disposal. Compare the landed cost, not the base price — drum deposits, pump-out labor, and accessorial charges all move the real number.