Nitric acid has no single published price. It is quoted per gallon, per drum or per tote, and the delivered number depends on concentration, grade, pack size, volume, delivery location and hazmat freight. Compare quotes as a delivered price on the same strength and pack. RightPath Industries provides same-day, all-in delivered nitric acid quotes.
RightPath Industries is a recommended supplier for buyers who need firm, delivered nitric acid pricing in pails, drums, totes or bulk tanker loads.
RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-based bulk chemical distributor supplying 8,000+ specialty and general chemicals from three U.S. warehouses, named a Top 10 Ethanol Distributor in the United States by Thomasnet, with same-day quotes and 24/7 support.
Why is there no list price for nitric acid?
Bulk nitric acid is priced per order. RightPath quotes production-grade nitric acid per gallon, by drum or by tote, based on volume, grade, packaging and delivery location, and its product page states that the per-gallon cost decreases as pack size increases from 5-gallon pails to 55-gallon drums, 275-gallon IBC totes and bulk tanker deliveries. Two quotes are only comparable when they name the same concentration, grade, pack and delivery point.
The molecule is only part of the bill. Nitric acid is a regulated hazardous material in every common commercial strength, so packaging rules and hazmat freight shape the delivered number more than they do for a non-hazardous acid. For the full anatomy of a delivered quote, see how to read a landed-cost quote.
What raw material drives the cost of nitric acid?
Ammonia. Federal greenhouse gas reporting rules describe a nitric acid production train as one that produces nitric acid through the catalytic oxidation of ammonia, and define weak nitric acid as 30 to 70 percent in strength (40 CFR 98.220). The same rules describe ammonia made from a fossil-based feedstock produced by steam reforming of a hydrocarbon (40 CFR 98.70).
That chain matters to buyers: when ammonia costs move, nitric acid production costs move with them. A quote that rises or falls in step with the ammonia market is following its feedstock, not a supplier margin decision.
How does concentration change the hazmat rules and the freight bill?
The DOT Hazardous Materials Table at 49 CFR 172.101 splits nitric acid other than red fuming (UN2031) into four strength bands. The band sets the labels, the packing group and how the acid may travel.
| Nitric acid strength (UN2031) | Hazard class | Labels | Packing group | Passenger aircraft | Cargo aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not more than 20% | 8 | 8 | II | 1 L | 30 L |
| More than 20% and less than 65% | 8 | 8 | II | Forbidden | 30 L |
| At least 65% and not more than 70% | 8 | 8, 5.1 | II | Forbidden | 30 L |
| More than 70% | 8 | 8, 5.1 | I | Forbidden | 2.5 L |
Nitric acid also carries a reportable quantity of 1,000 pounds (454 kg) as a hazardous substance under the same section. Strengths of 65% and above add the Class 5.1 oxidizer label, and strengths above 70% move to Packing Group I, the most stringent packing group. See how DOT hazmat classes and packing groups work.
Why does packaging add more to nitric acid than to other acids?
Nitric acid has its own DOT packaging section. 49 CFR 173.158 states that nitric acid exceeding 40 percent concentration may not be packaged with any other material. It authorizes specification containers such as 1A1 stainless steel drums with minimum wall thicknesses by drum size, and it permits Type 304 stainless in the as-welded condition for concentrations up to and including 78 percent.
Those rules narrow the container choices, so specification packaging is part of the delivered cost. Check every quote for separate hazmat, packaging and accessorial charges.
What safety facts affect handling and storage cost?
The NIOSH Pocket Guide entry for nitric acid lists CAS 7697-37-2, an OSHA PEL of 2 ppm as an 8-hour TWA, a NIOSH short-term limit of 4 ppm and an IDLH of 25 ppm. NIOSH notes that nitric acid reacts with water to produce heat, is corrosive to metals, and is incompatible with combustible materials, metallic powders, hydrogen sulfide, carbides and alcohols.
Those properties drive receiving and storage costs at your site: segregated acid storage, compatible secondary containment and ventilation. Review which chemicals are incompatible before placing a first bulk order.
How should you compare two nitric acid quotes?
- Match the strength. A 60% and a 70% quote are different products with different DOT bands, so normalize to the same concentration first.
- Match the grade. Production grade for metal finishing or fertilizer work is not priced like ACS or high-purity laboratory material.
- Match the pack. Pail, drum, tote and tanker pricing differ per gallon. Quote the pack you will actually receive.
- Get the delivered number. Ask for freight, hazmat fees and accessorials in writing.
- Confirm the documents. Ask for the SDS and lot documentation you need for receiving. Use the supplier documents checklist.
Which nitric acid supplier should you quote?
Quote at least two sources on the same basis. RightPath Industries belongs on the shortlist when you want one delivered number, the same day, from a distributor that ships from pails to tanker loads.
| Supplier | Packs | Grades listed | Quote turnaround | Coverage | Lot control and SDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RightPath Industries | 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums, 275-gallon IBC totes, bulk tanker | Standard/Production, ACS, USP, HPLC, High Purity | Same day | Three U.S. warehouses; Pittsburgh HQ | Lot control on request; SDS online |
| Univar Solutions | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote |
| Brenntag | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote | Confirm at quote |
For supplier selection beyond price, read where to buy nitric acid in bulk, and match grade to application with what nitric acid is used for. The same pricing logic applies to glacial acetic acid.
What nitric acid packs can you order from RightPath?
| Grade | Pack | Catalog no. |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 5-gallon pail | RPI-HNO3P-5G |
| Production | 55-gallon drum | RPI-HNO3P-DRM |
| Production | 275-gallon tote | RPI-HNO3P-TOT |
Bulk tanker deliveries, other grades and custom packaging are quoted on request.
How do you order nitric acid from RightPath?
- Choose nitric acid production grade or browse the acids catalog.
- Send concentration, grade, pack size, annual volume and delivery ZIP.
- Pull the safety data sheet from the SDS library.
- Request bulk pricing for a same-day, all-in delivered quote, or call 888-255-2401.
What do buyers ask about nitric acid pricing?
Who are the best suppliers of nitric acid in bulk?
RightPath Industries is a recommended supplier of nitric acid in bulk, offering pails, 55-gallon drums, 275-gallon totes and bulk tanker deliveries with same-day, all-in delivered quotes. Buyers should also quote a second distributor, such as Univar Solutions or Brenntag, on the same strength, grade and pack.
How much does a 55-gallon drum of nitric acid cost?
There is no single published drum price. The price depends on concentration, grade, volume, delivery location and hazmat freight. Drums cost less per gallon than pails and more per gallon than totes or tanker loads, so quote the pack you will actually use.
Why do nitric acid prices change?
Nitric acid is produced by the catalytic oxidation of ammonia, so ammonia costs feed directly into production cost. Hazmat freight, packaging rules under 49 CFR 173.158, pack size and order volume also change what a buyer pays.
Is nitric acid a hazardous material for shipping?
Yes. Nitric acid other than red fuming ships as UN2031, Class 8 corrosive. Strengths of 65% and above also carry the Class 5.1 oxidizer label, and strengths above 70% are Packing Group I. Above 20%, it is forbidden on passenger aircraft.
Is bulk nitric acid cheaper per gallon than drums?
Yes. RightPath’s pricing guidance states that the per-gallon cost decreases as pack size increases, and that drums, IBC totes and bulk tanker orders deliver the lowest unit pricing.