How Much Does Diesel Weigh per Gallon? About 7.1 lb.
Weight per gallon for every common fuel, what a drum, tote, tank or tanker load weighs, and how temperature moves the number.
A US gallon of #2 diesel weighs about 7.1 lb (3.2 kg) at 60°F. The DOE's Transportation Energy Data Book lists low-sulfur diesel at 7.08 lb/gal; EPA's default density for ultra-low sulfur #2 works out to 7.04 lb/gal. That's about 0.84–0.85 kg per liter.
It isn't one fixed number. Weight per gallon changes with the crude, the refinery, the grade and the temperature: about 0.5% for every 10°F. Diesel is heavier than gasoline (about 6.0–6.5 lb/gal) and lighter than water (8.34 lb/gal).
Diesel weight per gallon vs. other fuels
Figures are per US gallon at or near 60°F. Use the single number for quick math and the range when a decision is close to a limit.
| Fuel | lb per gallon | kg per liter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 diesel / ULSD | ≈ 7.0–7.1 | 0.84–0.85 | The standard on-road and off-road grade. Dyed off-road diesel weighs the same as clear. |
| #1 diesel | ≈ 7.07 | 0.85 | EPA default figure. Usually described as the lighter, kerosene-type grade, but published figures vary (see note). See #1 vs #2. |
| Winter blend | Between #1 and #2 | — | A #1/#2 mix, so its weight depends on the blend ratio. |
| Biodiesel B100 | ≈ 7.3 | 0.88 | Heavier than petroleum diesel. |
| Biodiesel B20 | ≈ 7.1 | 0.85 | Calculated: 80% ULSD + 20% B100. |
| Renewable diesel (R99/R100) | ≈ 6.4–6.7 | 0.765–0.800 | Noticeably lighter. Meets ASTM D975 anyway. |
| Heating oil (#2 fuel oil) | ≈ 7.0–7.1 | 0.84 | Same distillate family as #2 diesel. |
| Jet A / kerosene | ≈ 6.5–7.0 | 0.775–0.840 | Jet A spec range. EPA default for jet fuel: 6.79 lb/gal. |
| Gasoline | ≈ 6.0–6.5 | 0.72–0.78 | About 0.9 lb per gallon lighter than diesel. |
| Water | 8.34 | 1.00 | Heavier than diesel, so water sinks to the tank bottom. |
| DEF | ≈ 9.1 | 1.087–1.093 | ISO 22241 range at 68°F. Heavier than water. |
Petroleum figures: DOE Transportation Energy Data Book (gasoline 6.0–6.5, diesel 7.079 lb/gal at 60°F) and EPA 40 CFR 98 Table MM-1 default densities, converted to lb/gal. ASTM D975 sets no density limit for US diesel; Europe's EN 590 allows 820–845 kg/m³ (6.84–7.05 lb/gal). Sources disagree on #1 diesel: it's generally described as the lighter, kerosene-type grade, but EPA's default is 7.07 lb/gal and Engineering ToolBox lists 7.3, so treat it as a range and ask for the actual density if it matters. Renewable diesel: Neste data sheet, 765–800 kg/m³. Jet A: ASTM D1655, 775–840 kg/m³.
The grades themselves (cetane, cold flow, sulfur, where each is used) are covered in diesel fuel grades explained. This page sticks to weight.
By volumeHow much does diesel weigh by the drum, tote, tank and load?
Fuel weight only, at 7.1 lb/gal. Add the container: the drum, tote, transfer tank or trailer weighs extra, and the manufacturer's spec sheet lists it.
| Gallons | Typical container | #2 diesel (lb) | #2 diesel (kg) | Renewable diesel (lb, at 6.5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One gallon | 7.1 | 3.2 | 6.5 |
| 5 | Jerry can | 36 | 16 | 33 |
| 10 | Small equipment tank | 71 | 32 | 65 |
| 50 | Large pickup or equipment tank | 355 | 161 | 325 |
| 55 | Steel drum | 390 | 177 | 358 |
| 100 | Pickup transfer tank | 710 | 322 | 650 |
| 119 | Portable tank | 845 | 383 | 774 |
| 150 | One semi saddle tank | 1,065 | 483 | 975 |
| 275 | IBC tote | 1,953 | 886 | 1,788 |
| 300 | Semi with two 150-gal tanks | 2,130 | 966 | 1,950 |
| 330 | IBC tote | 2,343 | 1,063 | 2,145 |
| 500 | Jobsite or generator tank | 3,550 | 1,610 | 3,250 |
| 1,000 | Generator base or bulk tank | 7,100 | 3,221 | 6,500 |
| 4,400 | Large tank-wagon drop | 31,240 | 14,170 | 28,600 |
| 7,500 | Full transport (tanker) load | 53,250 | 24,154 | 48,750 |
Rounded. At the low end of the #2 range (7.0 lb/gal), take about 1.4% off. Tank sizes vary by truck and manufacturer: use your own capacity in the formula below. Sizing a tank by consumption? Use the diesel tank size calculator.
By the thermometerDoes cold diesel weigh more? How temperature changes weight per gallon
Yes, per gallon. Diesel shrinks as it cools and expands as it warms. The pounds of fuel don't change, but they fit into fewer or more gallons. Cold diesel packs more weight into each gallon, and warm diesel packs less.
| Fuel temperature | lb per gallon | vs. 60°F | Gallons that hold the same fuel as 1,000 gal at 60°F |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0°F (-18°C) | 7.30 | +2.8% | 973 |
| 20°F (-7°C) | 7.23 | +1.9% | 982 |
| 40°F (4°C) | 7.17 | +0.9% | 991 |
| 60°F (15.6°C) | 7.10 | Reference | 1,000 |
| 80°F (27°C) | 7.03 | -0.9% | 1,010 |
| 100°F (38°C) | 6.97 | -1.9% | 1,019 |
Calculated from Measurement Canada's volume correction factors for diesel (840 kg/m³ at 15°C, ASTM/API table 54B), applied to diesel that weighs 7.10 lb/gal at 60°F. Rule of thumb: about 0.5% per 10°F.
This is why the fuel industry measures at 60°F. NIST Handbook 44 sets 15°C (60°F) as the reference temperature for temperature-compensated petroleum meters. A wholesale meter with automatic temperature compensation reports net gallons: the volume the fuel would take up at 60°F. On a hot summer day, a terminal can load more gross gallons than the net gallons on the bill of lading, and in winter it's the reverse. Same fuel, same pounds, same energy.
Cold changes more than weight. Below its cloud point, #2 diesel starts to form wax. See what temp diesel gels and how to prevent gelling.
Why it mattersWhy diesel weight matters on the job
For most buyers, weight per gallon is trivia. It stops being trivia when the fuel rides on a truck, sits on a roof or crosses a scale.
Payload and transfer tanks
A full 100-gallon transfer tank is about 710 lb of diesel before the tank, pump and hose. Add tools and a crew and a three-quarter-ton pickup can run out of payload quickly. Check the door-jamb payload rating and the axle ratings, not just the bed space.
Gross and axle limits
Federal limits on the Interstate are 80,000 lb gross, 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem. A 7,500-gallon diesel load is about 53,000 lb of fuel alone, so weight, not tank volume, caps a diesel load. Posted bridges and site access roads can be lower still.
Structural loads
A 1,000-gallon generator base tank holds about 7,100 lb of diesel. On a roof, mezzanine or elevated pad, the structural engineer needs the full-tank weight plus the tank and set. More on rooftop generator fueling.
Hazmat and freight
Under 49 CFR 171.8, a liquid container over 119 gallons is "bulk packaging". A full 119-gallon tank is about 845 lb of diesel. What you can haul without hazmat rules is covered in how much fuel you can transport without hazmat.
At 8.34 lb/gal, water sinks below diesel and collects on the tank floor, where it feeds microbial growth and corrosion. That's why tanks are drained and sampled from the bottom. See how water in diesel damages engines.
How to calculate diesel weight
Weight (kg) = gallons × 3.22, or liters × 0.85
Gallons = weight (lb) ÷ 7.1
- Get the real volume. Use the gallons actually in the tank, not the nameplate capacity. Tanks are rarely filled to 100%.
- Pick the right factor. 7.1 lb/gal for #2 diesel or B20, 6.5 for renewable diesel, 7.3 for B100. Use a lab density if you have one.
- Adjust for extremes. If you're close to a limit, add about 0.5% per 10°F below 60°F, or take it off above.
- Add the hardware. Tank, pump, hose reel and mounting are on the manufacturer's spec sheet.
Example: a service truck carrying a 100-gallon transfer tank at 90% full holds 90 gallons. 90 × 7.1 = 639 lb of diesel, plus the tank. Going the other way, if you have 1,500 lb of payload left for fuel, that's 1,500 ÷ 7.1 = about 211 gallons.
Your invoiceVolume vs. weight: what you actually pay for
Diesel is sold by the gallon, not the pound. At the pump and on most delivery tickets, you pay for volume. Three things follow from that:
Check how your gallons were measured
Under NIST Handbook 44, an invoice from a temperature-compensating meter must say the volume was adjusted to 60°F. If your ticket shows both gross and net gallons, net is the 60°F figure.
Not every gallon does the same work
DOE figures: ULSD 128,488 Btu/gal, renewable diesel 123,710 (about 4% less, because it's lighter) and B100 119,550 (about 7% less, despite being heavier). Expect slightly more gallons for the same work. See R99 renewable diesel.
Fewer, bigger drops
Every delivery has a fixed cost for the truck, driver and route. Bulk delivery spreads it across more gallons, which lowers the cost per gallon.
Skip the transfer tank
If payload is the constraint, keep fuel on site with a rental tank (119 to 17,000 gallons) or have it pumped straight into equipment with mobile fleet fueling.
Diesel delivered by the gallon, sized to your tanks
FuelGo delivers dyed off-road and clear on-road diesel, gasoline, DEF and R99 renewable diesel nationwide: 20 to 4,400 gallons per drop, and transport loads up to 7,500 gallons. We fill site tanks, generators and rental tanks, or fuel equipment and trucks directly. Dispatch runs 24/7/365.
Tell us the tank and roughly how much you burn: get a free quote or call 800-720-4546. A dispatcher replies within the hour.
Common questionsDiesel weight FAQ
How much does a gallon of diesel weigh?
Is diesel heavier than gasoline?
Is diesel heavier than water?
How much does a 55-gallon drum of diesel weigh?
How much does 100 gallons of diesel weigh?
Does cold diesel weigh more?
How much does a full semi tank of diesel weigh?
How much does a full tanker of diesel weigh?
Sources: DOE Transportation Energy Data Book, Ed. 40, ch. 6 · AFDC Fuel Properties Comparison · EPA 40 CFR 98 Table MM-1 · Engineering ToolBox, fuel densities · AFDC, Renewable diesel · Neste MY Renewable Diesel data sheet · ExxonMobil World Jet Fuel Specifications · Measurement Canada, diesel volume correction factors · NIST Handbook 44 (2026), sec. 3.30 · USGS, water weight · Irving Oil DEF data sheet (ISO 22241) · FHWA size and weight limits · 49 CFR 171.8, bulk packaging