Fuel Weight Calculator
Calculate the weight of diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and 9 other fuels by volume, at industry-standard 60°F density. Diesel weighs about 7.1 lbs per gallon; gasoline about 6.07.
DOT transport limits, tank pad load calculations, and crane capacity for tank pulls all depend on accurate fuel weight. A full 10,000-gallon UST holds ~71,000 lbs of diesel, heavier than most boom trucks can lift.
| Volume | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gallon | 7 | 3 | a small bag of sugar |
| 5 gallons (jerry can) | 36 | 16 | a bag of cement |
| 42 gallons (1 barrel) | 298 | 135 | an adult lion |
| 55 gallons (drum) | 391 | 177 | a vending machine |
| 275 gallons (home tank) | 1,953 | 886 | a small SUV |
| 1,000 gallons (small UST) | 7,100 | 3,221 | a Ford F-350 pickup |
| 10,000 gallons (commercial UST) | 71,000 | 32,205 | a fully-loaded semi-trailer |
Maximum legal payload by truck type: Diesel #2
| Truck class | GVWR (lbs) | Cargo payload (lbs) | Max gallons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-axle truck (Class 6) | 26,000 | 14,000 | 1,972 |
| 3-axle truck (Class 7) | 33,000 | 18,000 | 2,535 |
| Tractor-trailer (Class 8) | 80,000 | 48,000 | 6,761 |
Weights calculated using industry-standard density at 60°F. Actual fuel density varies with temperature, sulfur content (for diesel), and ethanol content (for gasoline). For custody-transfer or compliance applications, use direct density measurement. Truck payload limits are federal maximums; state limits may be lower.
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Fuel is sold by the gallon but moved, stored, and regulated by the pound. This calculator converts between the two. Pick a fuel, enter a volume in gallons, liters, 42 gallon barrels, or 55 gallon drums, and it returns the weight in pounds, kilograms, US tons, and metric tonnes.
The people who need this number are rarely curious bystanders. Fuel haulers need it because highway weight limits are enforced in pounds, not gallons. Crane operators sizing a tank pull need to know what a full or partially full tank weighs before they rig it. Engineers checking a tank pad or a mezzanine floor need the dead load. Generator owners need to know whether a basement day tank is within what the structure was designed to carry.
The tool covers twelve liquids: diesel #1 and #2, regular and premium gasoline, Jet A, heating oil #2, kerosene, E10 and E85 ethanol blends, B20 and B100 biodiesel, and water as a reference. A comparison mode puts any two side by side, and an optional temperature adjustment refines the density for hot or cold fuel.
How the math works
The core calculation is one multiplication: gallons times density in pounds per gallon. Everything else is unit handling around that product.
The densities are the substance of the tool. Each fuel's pounds per gallon figure comes from the ASTM specification governing that product at the standard reference temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Diesel #2 is 7.10 pounds per gallon under ASTM D975, and heating oil #2 shares that figure because it is chemically the same cut. Regular gasoline is 6.07 pounds per gallon under ASTM D4814, premium slightly more at 6.15. Jet A is 6.71 under ASTM D1655. Kerosene is 6.82, E85 is 6.59, B100 biodiesel is 7.33, and water sits at 8.345 pounds per gallon per NIST. Every fuel is lighter than water, which is why spilled petroleum floats.
Volume units convert before the multiplication: a liter is 0.264 gallons, a barrel is fixed at 42 gallons, a drum at 55. Weight outputs convert after it: kilograms at 0.4536 per pound, US tons at 2,000 pounds, metric tonnes at 1,000 kilograms.
The temperature option applies a linear correction. Petroleum expands as it warms, so a gallon of hot fuel contains less mass than a gallon of cold fuel. When enabled, the calculator reduces density by 0.07 percent for every degree Fahrenheit above 60, and raises it by the same amount below. That single coefficient is a reasonable average across the petroleum products listed, though each fuel's true expansion rate differs slightly. Water is exempt from the correction since the coefficient is petroleum specific.
Comparison mode runs the identical calculation twice and reports the difference. Select two fuels and the same volume, and the tool shows both weights, the per-gallon density gap, and the percentage difference. This is useful when a tank changes service, for example a UST converting from gasoline to diesel storage, because the same gallons suddenly weigh about 17 percent more and every downstream load assumption shifts with them.
If you do not know your volume yet, the tank volume calculator computes it from tank dimensions and feeds the same density table.
When to use this
Planning a fuel transport. A hauler quoting a job needs to know whether 3,500 gallons of diesel fits on one truck legally. At 7.10 pounds per gallon that cargo weighs 24,850 pounds, which exceeds a Class 7 straight truck's payload and pushes the job to a tractor-trailer.
Sizing a crane for a tank pull. A contractor removing a UST that still holds product has to lift fuel weight plus the steel. The calculator gives the liquid portion instantly, and a delivery driver's last ticket plus a stick reading gives the volume to plug in.
Checking a floor or pad load. A facility manager installing a 500 gallon day tank indoors needs the full weight for the structural engineer. Diesel #2 in that tank is 3,550 pounds before the tank itself is counted.
Verifying a delivery. Bulk fuel is often metered in gallons but weighed at terminals. A 7,500 gallon load of regular gasoline should weigh about 45,500 pounds of product; a scale ticket far off that figure means something in the paperwork deserves a second look. Buyers who suspect a tank gauge instead of a paperwork problem can find UST inspection and testing services in Texas and the other 49 states through the directory.
Why fuel weight matters for transport and tanks
Federal law caps a five axle tractor-trailer at 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on the Interstate system, per the FHWA truck size and weight program. Gross weight includes the tractor, the trailer, and the cargo, so the binding constraint on a fuel transport is almost always pounds, not tank capacity. States may set lower limits on non-Interstate roads, and axle weight rules bind separately from the gross cap.
The calculator's truck payload table works this logic in reverse. It lists three common configurations: a Class 6 two axle truck at 26,000 pounds GVWR with roughly 14,000 pounds of payload, a Class 7 three axle at 33,000 GVWR and 18,000 payload, and a Class 8 tractor-trailer at 80,000 GVWR and about 48,000 pounds of cargo capacity. Divide payload by the selected fuel's density and you get maximum legal gallons: about 6,760 gallons of diesel on a Class 8, but about 7,900 gallons of regular gasoline, because gasoline is a full pound per gallon lighter.
Density also decides things that never touch a highway. Tank saddle and anchor design, barge and rail loading plans, and the buoyancy calculations that keep an empty UST from floating out of a wet excavation all start from pounds per gallon. For stationary tanks, the inch-by-inch weight column in an inch-by-inch strapping chart ties fill level directly to load.
What this estimate doesn't account for
The densities are specification midpoints at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, not measurements of the fuel in your tank. Real diesel density moves with its sulfur content, seasonal blending, and biodiesel percentage. Real gasoline density shifts with octane, ethanol content, and summer versus winter vapor pressure blends. Two loads of in-spec diesel #2 can differ by a few hundredths of a pound per gallon, which matters at custody-transfer scale.
The temperature correction is a single average coefficient. Lighter products like gasoline expand somewhat faster than the 0.07 percent per degree the tool applies, heavier products somewhat slower. For metering and billing accuracy, the petroleum industry uses fuel-specific volume correction tables rather than one number.
The truck payload figures are illustrative defaults. An actual vehicle's payload is its registered GVWR minus its real curb weight with driver, fuel, and equipment, and axle group limits or bridge formula restrictions can cap cargo below the simple GVWR math. None of this replaces a scale ticket.
Finally, the tool weighs liquid only. Tank shells, skids, pumps, and residual sludge are outside the calculation, and for lifting or structural work those can be a large share of the total.
How much does each fuel weigh per gallon?
Diesel weighs about 7.1 pounds per gallon and gasoline about 6.07 pounds per gallon at the industry-standard 60 F reference temperature. The full table below covers all 12 fuels the calculator supports, with the weight of a 100 gallon delivery for quick math.
| Fuel | lbs / gallon (60 F) | kg / liter | 100 gallons weighs | Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel #2 | 7.10 | 0.851 | 710 lbs | ASTM D975 |
| Diesel #1 | 6.92 | 0.829 | 692 lbs | ASTM D975 |
| Gasoline (Regular) | 6.07 | 0.727 | 607 lbs | ASTM D4814 |
| Gasoline (Premium) | 6.15 | 0.737 | 615 lbs | ASTM D4814 |
| Jet A | 6.71 | 0.804 | 671 lbs | ASTM D1655 |
| Heating Oil #2 | 7.10 | 0.851 | 710 lbs | ASTM D975 |
| Kerosene | 6.82 | 0.817 | 682 lbs | ASTM D3699 |
| Ethanol E10 | 6.15 | 0.737 | 615 lbs | ASTM D4814 |
| Ethanol E85 | 6.59 | 0.790 | 659 lbs | ASTM D5798 |
| Biodiesel B20 | 7.13 | 0.854 | 713 lbs | ASTM D7467 |
| Biodiesel B100 | 7.33 | 0.878 | 733 lbs | ASTM D6751 |
| Water (reference) | 8.35 | 1.000 | 835 lbs | NIST |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a gallon of diesel fuel weigh?
A gallon of #2 diesel weighs about 7.10 pounds at 60°F, the industry-standard reference temperature. #1 diesel (cold-weather grade) is slightly lighter at roughly 6.92 pounds per gallon because it has lower density. Density varies modestly with sulfur content, biodiesel blend ratio, and temperature. Diesel expands about 0.05 percent per degree Fahrenheit warmer than 60°F, so a tank of warm diesel weighs slightly less per gallon than a tank of cold diesel. ASTM D975 defines diesel-fuel specifications.
How much does a gallon of gasoline weigh?
Regular 87-octane gasoline weighs about 6.07 pounds per gallon at 60°F, and premium 91-93 octane is slightly denser at around 6.15 pounds per gallon. Gasoline weight varies more than diesel because of seasonal Reid Vapor Pressure adjustments, ethanol content (E10 blends weigh slightly more than pure gasoline), and additives. Gasoline expansion is roughly 0.07 percent per degree Fahrenheit, so summer-grade fuel at warm temperatures is meaningfully lighter than winter-grade in the cold. ASTM D4814 governs the specification.
Why does fuel weight change with temperature?
Liquid fuels expand as they warm, so a fixed volume of warm fuel contains less mass than the same volume of cold fuel. The thermal expansion coefficient is roughly 0.05 percent per °F for diesel and 0.07 percent per °F for gasoline. The fuel itself does not lose mass. There is simply less of it per gallon when it is warm. Custody-transfer measurement and EPA SIR reconciliation use temperature correction to a 60°F reference (API MPMS Chapter 11) to make volumes comparable.
What's the difference between weight and mass for fuel?
Mass is the amount of matter in a fuel sample and does not change with temperature or location. Weight is the gravitational force on that mass and varies with the local gravitational field, which on Earth is essentially constant for practical purposes. In day-to-day fuel work, the terms are used interchangeably and pounds is treated as a unit of both. For laboratory or aerospace work, mass is reported in kilograms per ASTM D4052 hydrometer or pycnometer measurement.
How much does a full 275-gallon heating oil tank weigh?
A full 275-gallon residential heating-oil tank weighs roughly 1,953 pounds of fuel (275 × 7.10 lb/gal for #2 heating oil at 60°F), plus the empty steel tank itself which is typically 175 to 250 pounds. Total full weight is approximately 2,150 to 2,200 pounds. This is why floor support matters: a basement floor supporting a full tank carries a concentrated load roughly equivalent to a small car. Tank legs distribute the load over four contact points.
What's the legal weight limit for a fuel delivery truck?
Federal Bridge Formula limits set the maximum gross vehicle weight at 80,000 pounds for a tractor-trailer combination on Interstate highways. Single-unit trucks are limited by axle count and class: a Class 6 two-axle truck is capped at 26,000 pounds GVWR, and a Class 7 three-axle is capped at 33,000 pounds GVWR. State limits on non-Interstate roads can be lower. After subtracting the tare weight of the tractor, trailer, and tank, a Class 8 fuel hauler typically carries roughly 8,000 to 8,500 gallons of diesel before hitting the 80,000-pound federal limit.
How much does a gallon of diesel weigh?
A gallon of diesel #2 weighs 7.10 pounds at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, per the ASTM D975 specification the calculator uses. Diesel #1, the winter blend, is lighter at 6.92 pounds per gallon. A 100 gallon transfer tank in a pickup bed therefore carries about 710 pounds of fuel when full.
Is gasoline heavier than diesel?
No, gasoline is significantly lighter. Regular gasoline weighs 6.07 pounds per gallon against diesel #2 at 7.10, so diesel is about 17 percent heavier for the same volume. That gap is why a tanker trailer can legally haul more gallons of gasoline than diesel before hitting the federal weight ceiling.
Does temperature change how much fuel weighs?
Temperature changes the weight of a gallon, not the weight of the fuel itself. Warm fuel expands, so each gallon contains less mass. The calculator's optional correction adjusts density by 0.07 percent per degree from the 60 degree baseline, which works out to roughly a 4 percent difference between a 30 degree winter delivery and a 90 degree summer one, about 2 percent each side of the baseline.
How much does a full 275 gallon oil tank weigh?
The heating oil alone weighs about 1,953 pounds, which is 275 gallons at 7.10 pounds per gallon. The empty steel tank adds its own shell weight on top of that, and the combined figure varies by manufacturer and gauge, so check the tank's data plate before planning a move or a structural check.
How much does jet fuel weigh per gallon?
Jet A weighs 6.71 pounds per gallon at standard temperature under ASTM D1655. That puts it between gasoline and diesel, close to kerosene at 6.82, which makes sense because Jet A is a kerosene-type fuel. Aviation flight planning typically rounds to 6.7 or 6.8 pounds per gallon depending on temperature assumptions.
How much does a 55 gallon drum of fuel weigh?
A 55 gallon drum of diesel #2 holds about 391 pounds of fuel, a drum of regular gasoline about 334 pounds, and a drum of water about 459 pounds, all before the drum's own weight. The calculator accepts drums as a direct input unit, so multi-drum quantities convert in one step without doing the 55 gallon math by hand.
Densities were compiled by USTContractors.com from ASTM fuel specifications at the industry-standard 60 F reference temperature. Last updated June 2026.
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