Drum and Tote Shipping Costs Explained

Understanding the Cost Breakdown for Drums and Shipping

When purchasing industrial containers like drums or IBC totes, it’s important for customers to understand not just the product pricing, but also how shipping costs are calculated. This breakdown helps clarify what you’re paying for and why.

1. Drum Pricing

Drum prices can vary based on several factors:

• Type of Drum: Steel, plastic, or fiber drums each have different manufacturing costs.
• Size and Capacity: Larger drums typically cost more due to material usage.
• Condition: New vs. reconditioned drums can significantly affect pricing.
• Quantity Ordered: Bulk orders often qualify for volume discounts.

For example, a standard 55-gallon reconditioned plastic drum might cost around $25–$35 each, while a new steel drum could range from $50–$70.

2. Shipping Costs

Shipping is where things can get tricky, especially for freight shipments. Here’s how we typically break it down:

• Distance: The farther the destination, the higher the cost.
• Freight Class: Drums are bulky and often fall into higher freight classes, which increases the rate.
• Residential vs. Commercial Delivery: Residential deliveries often incur surcharges due to limited access and liftgate requirements.
• Accessorial Charges: These include fees for liftgate service, appointment scheduling, or inside delivery.

For instance, shipping a pallet of drums to a commercial address in a major metro area might cost $150–$250, while the same shipment to a residential address could be $250–$400 due to added surcharges.

What Is a Surcharge?

A surcharge is an additional fee added to the base cost of a service. In shipping, surcharges are often applied for special delivery conditions—like delivering to a residential address or needing a liftgate to unload heavy items. These fees help carriers cover the extra time, labor, or equipment required.

3. Transparency Matters

We always strive to provide clear, upfront pricing to our customers. By breaking down the costs, we help customers make informed decisions and avoid surprises.

So, lets get into it!

Scenario 1: 4 Drums on 1 Pallet

• Drum Price: $23 each
• Shipping to Commercial Address: $120
• Total Cost (Commercial): $212
• Cost per Drum (Commercial): $53.00

With Residential + Liftgate Surcharges

• Surcharges: $60 (residential) + $40 (liftgate) = $100
• Total Cost (Residential): $312
• Cost per Drum (Residential): $78.00

Scenario 2: 16 Drums on 2 Skids

• Drum Price: $23 each
• Shipping to Commercial Address: $155
• Total Cost (Commercial): $523
• Cost per Drum (Commercial): $32.69

With Residential + Liftgate Surcharges

• Surcharges: $100
• Total Cost (Residential): $623
• Cost per Drum (Residential): $38.94

FTL vs. LTL Shipping

LTL (Less Than Truckload)

• Used for smaller shipments that don’t fill an entire truck.
• Your freight shares space with other shipments.
• Priced based on weight, freight class, distance, and accessorials (e.g., residential delivery, liftgate).
• More handling and longer transit times.

FTL (Full Truckload)

• You reserve the entire truck, typically for shipments around 20,000–45,000 lbs.
• Ideal for bulk orders.
• Less handling, faster delivery, and lower cost per unit.
• Pricing is usually flat-rate or mileage-based.

Full Truck Load Cost Scenarios Using $23 Drums

Industry Average FTL Shipping Cost:

Estimated at $1,200 for a load around 20,000 lbs.

Option 1: Palletized Drums

• Drums per Truck: 208
• Total Product Cost: 208 × $23 = $4,784
• Total Cost (with FTL Shipping): $4,784 + $1,200 = $5,984
• Cost per Drum: $28.77

Option 2: Loose-Loaded Drums

• Drums per Truck: 324
• Total Product Cost: 324 × $23 = $7,452
• Total Cost (with FTL Shipping): $7,452 + $1,200 = $8,652
• Cost per Drum: $26.70

Key Takeaways

• Loose-loading maximizes truck space and reduces cost per drum by over $2 compared to palletized shipping.
• Palletized shipments are easier to handle and preferred by many carriers and receivers.
• FTL becomes cost-effective when shipping large quantities, especially compared to LTL where shipping costs per drum can be significantly higher.Loose loading is a packing method where drums are placed directly into the truck without pallets. This maximizes space and allows for significantly more drums per load—up to 324 drums in a standard 53′ trailer. However, this method is only available for full truckload (FTL) shipments.
• Loose Loading: For Full Truck Loads Only!

• Why Loose Loading Is FTL-Only

  • Handling Requirements: Loose-loaded drums require careful stacking and unloading, which is not feasible for less than truck load shippers.
  • Space Optimization: Since you’re using the entire truck, our expert drum handlers can pack drums tightly without needing to accommodate other freight.
  • Carrier Restrictions: Most carriers won’t accept loose-loaded freight unless the entire truck is dedicated to one customer.

Drum Size Matters

The number of drums that fit on a pallet and or ultimately in a truck—depends heavily on drum size.

The cutoff point for choosing between LTL and FTL depends on several factors:

• Drum size: Smaller drums fit more per pallet and per truck.
• Order volume: Larger orders benefit from FTL pricing.

Want to have a go at figuring product cost + shipping? Do you want to play around with different shipping cost amounts?

OR

Do you know your shipping cost? Do you need to figure out what your product will cost you when it lands?

Check out our calculator special made for just that!

Rates and Flexibility

The rates mentioned above are examples only and can vary widely based on:

• Fuel prices
• Shipping distance
• Delivery location (residential vs. commercial)
• Drum size and quantity
• Seasonal demand

That said, we work with brokers who specialize in drum freight and have been in the industry for years. This means we can get your shipment to you fast and affordably, no matter the size or destination.

Expert Handling from Start to Finish

Shipping drums—whether it’s a few pallets or a full truckload—requires more than just booking a truck. It takes expertise to ensure everything is done safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Our team has years of experience in the drum industry and understands the nuances of handling these shipments.

From booking the right carrier to optimizing the load configuration, we make sure your drums are packed securely and shipped in the most economical way possible. Whether you’re shipping 55-gallon drums or smaller 30- or 16-gallon containers, we know how to maximize space and minimize cost.

For smaller shipments, we offer negotiated LTL rates with multiple carriers—some of the best in the business. Whether you’re shipping a few drums or a partial pallet, we can quote you:

• Directly on our website
• Or over the phone for a custom quote

Contact us today to find the most efficient and cost-effective way to get your drums delivered.