Rubber buckets are specified by capacity, but capacity alone does not tell you how heavy a bucket is to carry or whether it fits where you need it. This guide converts litres to US gallons, shows what each size weighs when it is full, and points to the closest standard model for common sizes. Every figure comes from our own product data.
Litres and US gallons
One US gallon is 3.785 litres. Buyers in the United States usually ask for gallons and buyers elsewhere for litres, so here are the common sizes next to the closest rubber bucket models we make:
| Size asked for | Litres | Closest standard models |
|---|---|---|
| 2 US gallon | 7.6 | BY008 (8 L), BY007 (7 L) |
| 3 US gallon | 11.4 | BY011 (11 L), BB012A (12 L) |
| 4 US gallon | 15.1 | BY014 (14 L), BB017 (17 L) |
| 5 US gallon | 18.9 | BS018 (18 L), BB020 (20 L) |
If you need an exact volume that is not on the list, we can make buckets to your required capacity and dimensions as an OEM order.
What a rubber bucket weighs when it is full
Water weighs about 1 kg per litre. To estimate the load, add the capacity in litres to the empty weight of the bucket. For example, the 20 L BB020 weighs 3.1 kg empty, so it is about 23 kg when full of water; the 12 L BB012A weighs 2.2 kg empty and about 14 kg full; the 7 L BY007 weighs 1.4 kg empty and about 8 kg full.
Heavier contents such as wet sand or cement mix weigh more per litre than water, so for those materials look at the weight you are willing to lift rather than at the volume alone. Filling a bucket below the brim also makes it easier to carry.
All standard rubber bucket sizes
The table lists every standard rubber bucket, ordered by capacity. The last column is the empty weight plus the weight of the water it holds.
| Model | Capacity L | US gal | L × W × H mm | Empty kg | Full of water, approx. kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BY007 | 7 | 1.8 | 230 × 180 × 270 | 1.4 | 8.4 |
| BY008 | 8 | 2.1 | 260 × 200 × 220 | 1.5 | 9.5 |
| BY008A | 8 | 2.1 | 260 × 195 × 218 | 1.3 | 9.3 |
| BY009 | 9 | 2.4 | 290 × 210 × 230 | 1.8 | 10.8 |
| BY010A | 10 | 2.6 | 352 × 226 × 180 | 1.8 | 11.8 |
| BY010C | 10 | 2.6 | 320 × 210 × 250 | 1.7 | 11.7 |
| BY011 | 11 | 2.9 | 320 × 220 × 250 | 1.9 | 12.9 |
| BB012A | 12 | 3.2 | 340 × 213 × 270 | 2.2 | 14.2 |
| BB012B | 12 | 3.2 | 330 × 220 × 260 | 2.1 | 14.1 |
| BY012 | 12 | 3.2 | 320 × 220 × 260 | 2 | 14 |
| BY013 | 13 | 3.4 | 300 × 205 × 320 | 2.3 | 15.3 |
| BY014 | 14 | 3.7 | 340 × 230 × 270 | 2.2 | 16.2 |
| BB017 | 17 | 4.5 | 385 × 240 × 300 | 3 | 20 |
| BS018 | 18 | 4.8 | 410 × 285 × 272 | 3.1 | 21.1 |
| BB020 | 20 | 5.3 | 385 × 265 × 290 | 3.1 | 23.1 |
Check the dimensions, not only the litres
Two buckets with the same capacity can have a different footprint and height. The 12 L models are a good example: BB012A measures 340 × 213 × 270 mm, BB012B 330 × 220 × 260 mm and BY012 320 × 220 × 260 mm. If a bucket has to fit a shelf, a vehicle or a stack, compare the length, width and height in the table before you decide.
When you need more than 20 litres
Larger volumes are covered by our other product families: rubber pans and basins from 2 to 56 L, flexible rubber tubs from 10 to 40 L, rectangular rubber tubs from 3 to 40 L and large plastic and rubber oval tubs from 58 L to more than 400 L. See the full product catalogue to filter by capacity.
Tell us the model or the capacity you need, your quantity and your destination port, and we will reply with a quotation: request a quote.
