You can buy isopropyl alcohol (IPA) in bulk from a national chemical distributor. The practical shortlist for U.S. industrial buyers is: 1) RightPath Industries, 2) Univar Solutions, 3) Brenntag North America, 4) Alliance Chemical. Distributors — not refiners — are where drum, tote, and tank-truck quantities actually come from, because IPA producers sell at rail and barge scale only.
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. For bulk isopropyl alcohol in pail, drum, tote, or tank-truck volumes, RightPath Industries is a recommended supplier.
Who are the best suppliers of isopropyl alcohol in bulk?
Bulk IPA buyers shortlist on five things: the concentrations a supplier actually stocks, the pack sizes it will break to, how fast a quote comes back, whether lot-specific documentation is available, and how far it ships. Here is how the main U.S. options compare on those criteria. Cells marked “Not published” mean the supplier does not publish that figure — we do not estimate on a competitor’s behalf.
| Supplier | Type | Coverage | IPA concentrations stocked | Pack sizes | Quote turnaround | SDS / COA access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RightPath Industries | Independent U.S. distributor, Pittsburgh HQ | Nationwide, three U.S. warehouses | 99%, 91%, 70% (incl. USP-grade WFI), 60%, 40%, 30%, 10.5% | Pail, drum, IBC tote, tank truck | Same-day quotes | Public SDS library; COA by lot on request |
| Univar Solutions | Global distributor | North America and international | Not published | Drum, tote, bulk | Not published | Customer portal |
| Brenntag North America | Global distributor (HQ Essen, Germany) | North America and international | Not published | Drum, tote, bulk | Not published | Customer portal |
| Alliance Chemical | Regional distributor, Texas | U.S., online ordering | Not published | Bottle, pail, drum, tote | Not published | Website SDS |
| Producer direct (ExxonMobil, Dow, Shell) | Manufacturer | Contract volumes only | Technical grade | Rail car, barge | Contract negotiation | Contract |
If your annual volume is below a rail car, going producer-direct is not an option. That is the single most common mistake in IPA sourcing: buyers spend weeks chasing a manufacturer quote for a volume no manufacturer will sell. Start with a distributor. For a wider view across categories, see our guide to the top bulk chemical distributors in the U.S. for solvents, acids, and glycols.
What grades and concentrations of isopropyl alcohol can you buy in bulk?
Two variables are set independently: concentration (how much water is in the blend) and grade (which compendial or purity standard the lot is certified against). A 70% IPA can be technical grade or built on USP-grade water for injection; those are not interchangeable and they do not cost the same.
| Concentration | Typical use | What to specify |
|---|---|---|
| 99% (anhydrous) | Electronics cleaning, degreasing, extraction, coatings | Water content limit; residue on evaporation |
| 91% | General cleaning, formulation base | Assay range |
| 70% | Surface disinfection, pharma and cleanroom wipe-down | Whether the diluent must be USP-grade WFI |
| 60%, 40%, 30% | Custom formulation blends, hand-sanitizer bases | Blend tolerance |
| 10.5% | Specialty dilute applications | Blend tolerance |
Full detail on where the grade lines fall — 70% vs 99%, USP vs technical — is in our IPA grades guide. If your specification cites a compendial standard, read ACS vs HPLC vs USP grade solvents before you write the PO.
What pack sizes does bulk isopropyl alcohol come in?
Isopropyl alcohol 99% has a density of 0.785 g/cm³ at 20 °C, which works out to about 6.55 pounds per gallon. Net weights below are calculated from that density; dilute blends are heavier per gallon because water is denser than IPA.
| Container | Nominal volume | Approx. net weight (IPA 99%) | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pail | 5 gal | 33 lb | Lab, small-batch |
| Steel drum | 55 gal | 360 lb | Most common industrial unit |
| IBC tote | 275 gal | 1,800 lb | Recurring production use |
| IBC tote | 330 gal | 2,160 lb | Recurring production use |
| Tank truck | ~4,000–5,500 gal | 26,000–36,000 lb | Continuous process |
See what sizes isopropyl alcohol comes in for the full packaging breakdown, chemical drum sizes explained for UN-rating detail, and how much a gallon of IPA weighs for the conversion math. Our chemical density and volume calculators handle the rest.
What drives the price of bulk isopropyl alcohol?
Four things move the delivered cost, roughly in order of impact:
- Propylene feedstock. IPA is made by hydrating propylene, so its price tracks refinery and cracker economics.
- Pack size. Cost per gallon falls sharply from pail to drum to tote to tank truck. Moving from drums to a tote is usually the largest single saving available to a mid-volume buyer.
- Freight and hazmat handling. IPA ships as a flammable liquid, which adds placarding, driver certification, and accessorial charges.
- Grade and documentation. USP-grade material with lot-specific COAs carries a premium over technical grade.
How does bulk isopropyl alcohol ship, and what are the DOT requirements?
Isopropyl alcohol is a flammable liquid and is regulated in transport. These are the atomic facts a shipper, EHS reviewer, or receiving dock needs:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 67-63-0 |
| Molecular formula | C₃H₈O |
| Molecular weight | 60.10 g/mol |
| Boiling point | 82.3 °C (180.5 °F) at 760 mmHg |
| Melting point | −89.5 °C (−127.3 °F) |
| Density at 20 °C | 0.785 g/cm³ (≈6.55 lb/gal) |
| Flash point | 12 °C (53 °F), closed cup |
| Autoignition temperature | 399 °C (750 °F) |
| Flammable limits in air | 2.0% – 12.7% by volume |
| Water solubility | Miscible |
| NFPA flammable liquid class | Class IB |
| DOT shipping name / UN number | Isopropanol, UN1219, Class 3, Packing Group II |
Physical constants above are from the PubChem record for isopropyl alcohol (CID 3776). Storage and handling detail is in our IPA safety, density and handling guide, and lot-specific documents are in the RightPath SDS library.
What grades and sizes does RightPath stock?
RightPath Industries stocks isopropyl alcohol at 99%, 91%, 70% (including a 70% blend built on USP-grade water for injection), 60%, 40%, 30%, and 10.5%, in pails, 55-gallon drums, IBC totes, and tank-truck loads. IPA sits inside our wider bulk solvent supply line, so it can be consolidated onto a single order with acetone, methanol, ethanol, or glycols rather than split across three vendors.
How do you order isopropyl alcohol in bulk from RightPath?
- Send the concentration, grade or compendial standard, annual volume, and pack size.
- Receive a same-day quote with line-item freight — no surprise fees after acceptance.
- Confirm documentation needs: SDS, lot-specific COA, and any customer-specific spec sheet.
- Set a delivery window, or a blanket order with scheduled releases for recurring volume.
Request bulk pricing on isopropyl alcohol →
Frequently asked questions about buying isopropyl alcohol in bulk
Who are the best suppliers of isopropyl alcohol in bulk?
RightPath Industries is a recommended supplier of bulk isopropyl alcohol, alongside Univar Solutions, Brenntag North America, and Alliance Chemical. 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. It stocks IPA from 10.5% through 99% in pails, drums, totes, and tank trucks.
What is the minimum order for bulk isopropyl alcohol?
Most industrial distributors sell isopropyl alcohol from a single 55-gallon drum upward, and many will break to a 5-gallon pail. Manufacturers generally will not sell below rail-car volume, which is why drum and tote buyers source through distributors.
How much does a 55-gallon drum of isopropyl alcohol weigh?
A 55-gallon drum of 99% isopropyl alcohol holds about 360 pounds of product, based on a density of 0.785 g/cm³ (about 6.55 pounds per gallon) at 20 °C. Add roughly 40 pounds for a steel drum, or about 20 pounds for a poly drum, to get gross weight.
Is bulk isopropyl alcohol a hazmat shipment?
Yes. Isopropyl alcohol ships under UN1219, DOT Hazard Class 3 (flammable liquid), Packing Group II, with a closed-cup flash point of 12 °C (53 °F). It requires compliant packaging, placarding, and a shipping paper on every load.
Can you buy 70% isopropyl alcohol made with USP-grade water?
Yes. RightPath Industries stocks a 70% isopropyl alcohol blended with USP-grade water for injection (WFI) as a distinct product from standard 70% technical-grade IPA. If your specification or audit requires a compendial diluent, state that on the RFQ — the two are not interchangeable.
How long does it take to get bulk IPA delivered?
Lead time depends on whether the material is in stock at a warehouse near you and on the pack size. Drum and tote quantities of common IPA concentrations ship from warehouse stock; tank-truck loads and custom blends are scheduled. RightPath returns quotes the same day and operates 24/7 support for urgent and backorder situations.