The weight of an empty 55-gallon drum depends on what it is made of and how big it is. Empty 55-gallon metal drums weigh about 40 pounds, while empty 55-gallon plastic drums weigh only half as much.
A 55-gallon drum doesn’t have a set weight. Its weight depends on its size and what it’s made of. About 20 pounds is how much a 55-gallon plastic drum weighs. For example, each 55-gallon closed-head drum from Granite Environmental weighs 22.2 pounds. The Lexington Container Company makes steel drums with a 23-inch diameter that are closed and weigh between 34 and 38 pounds each. 55-gallon drums from the same company that are not lined and have a 24-inch diameter weigh 44 pounds each.
