Jerry can dimensions matter more than most people think. A can that doesn’t fit your truck rack, trunk or shelf is a headache.
The standard jerry can size is 20 liters, or about 5.3 US gallons. It stands roughly 18.5 inches tall. Below you’ll find exact measurements, a size chart, and tips for choosing the right can.
Table of Contents
Standard Jerry Can Size: How Big Is It?
What is the standard size of a jerry can? A standard jerry can holds 20 liters (5.3 US gallons), according to Wikipedia’s jerrycan entry. Most steel versions measure about 18.5 inches high, 13.5 inches long and 6.5 inches deep (47 × 34 × 16.5 cm). Makers like Anvil Off-Road and Wavian list these exact numbers.
The slim, rectangular shape is deliberate. It lets cans stack tight on a truck or trailer. German engineers designed it in the 1930s. In World War II, a single 2.5-ton US truck could haul 875 gallons of fuel in jerry cans.
Three details shape the size:
- Steel gauge: The Anvil can uses 0.035-inch steel. Wavian uses 0.9 mm cold-rolled steel.
- Empty weight: Steel cans run about 6 to 12 pounds, depending on the brand.
- Full weight: Gasoline weighs roughly 6 pounds per gallon, so a full can lands near 40 pounds. That’s heavy for one hand.
Always leave a little headroom when you fill. Fuel expands as it warms, so a brim-full can is a risk.
Jerry Can Dimensions Chart: Height, Width & Depth
What are the different sizes of gas jerry cans? US gas cans come in 1, 1.25, 2, 2.5 and 5 gallon sizes. Metric cans come in 5, 10 and 20 liter sizes. Here are measured examples from real product listings:
| Capacity | Type | Approx. size (in) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 L (1.3 gal) | Steel | 4.7 × 9.4 × 12.2 | HTS Spares |
| 5 L (1.3 gal) | HDPE plastic | 7.5–8.3 × 5.9–6.7 × 11–12.6 | Gold Coin Polyplast |
| 1.25 gal | Plastic gas can | 13.5 × 8.5 × 8.75 | No-Spill |
| 2.5 gal | Plastic gas can | 13.5 × 8.25 × 12.5 | No-Spill |
| 5 gal | Plastic gas can | 14 × 11.25 × 17.5 | Russo Power |
| 20 L (5.3 gal) | Steel jerry can | 13.5 × 6.5 × 18.5 | Wavian |
Sizes shift a little between brands. Molds, spouts and wall thickness all change the final numbers. Check the spec sheet before you buy.
5-Liter vs 5-Gallon Jerry Can Dimensions
What are the dimensions of a 5-liter jerry can? A 5-liter can is small. The steel version measures about 4.7 × 9.4 × 12.2 inches and weighs around 5 pounds empty. The plastic HDPE version runs about 7.5–8.3 × 5.9–6.7 × 11–12.6 inches. It uses a 38 mm or 45 mm neck and weighs only 180 to 350 grams. People use it for oil, coolant and cleaners.
A jerry can is designed for fuel and utility storage, but container dimensions vary widely depending on what they’re made to hold. If you’re comparing storage containers for food and pantry use, explore this guide to food can dimensions for standard heights, diameters, and common sizes in inches and centimeters.
What are the dimensions of a 5-gallon jerry can? A steel 5-gallon jerry can measures about 18.5 inches tall, 13.5 inches long and 6.5 inches deep. Its true capacity is 5.3 gallons. A plastic 5-gallon gas can has a different shape. It is shorter and fatter: 17.5 inches high, 14 inches deep and 11.25 inches wide. It takes up far more floor space than the slim steel can.
Quick math: 1 US gallon equals 3.785 liters. So a 5-liter can is only 1.3 gallons. A 5-gallon can is nearly four times bigger. Don’t mix them up.
How to Choose the Right Jerry Can Size
Match the can to the job. Then check the rules.
- Small engines and mowers: a 1 to 2.5 gallon can is easier to lift and pour.
- Trucks, Jeeps and trailers: the 20 L steel can saves space because of its thin profile.
- Home or farm storage: several small cans beat one huge can for weight and safety.
Measure your rack, trunk or cabinet first. Check depth too, not just height.
Color tells you the fuel. Cans are coded red for gasoline, yellow for diesel and blue for kerosene. Green is often used for other liquids. Rules like Virginia’s code require this coding on new plastic cans.
Know the rules:
- California’s air board limits permeation from plastic cans to 0.4 grams per gallon per day.
- OSHA says a gas can for worksites is a closed container of no more than 5 gallons.
- Look for EPA, CARB and DOT labels. Some steel cans, like the Anvil, are marked “not for water.”
Store cans upright in a shaded, ventilated spot. Never fill one in a truck bed or trunk. Vapors pool in low, enclosed spaces.
FAQs
What is the standard size of a jerry can?
20 liters, or 5.3 US gallons. It measures about 18.5 × 13.5 × 6.5 inches.
What are the dimensions of a 5-liter jerry can?
Steel: about 4.7 × 9.4 × 12.2 inches. HDPE plastic: about 7.5–8.3 × 5.9–6.7 × 11–12.6 inches.
What are the dimensions of a 5-gallon jerry can?
Steel: about 18.5 inches tall, 13.5 inches long and 6.5 inches deep. Plastic gas cans are wider, around 17.5 × 14 × 11.25 inches.
What are the different sizes of gas jerry cans?
Common US sizes are 1, 1.25, 2, 2.5 and 5 gallons. Metric sizes are 5, 10 and 20 liters. See the chart above.
Conclusion
The standard jerry can is 20 liters and about 18.5 inches tall. Smaller 5-liter and 1 to 2.5 gallon cans suit lighter jobs. Always check the real jerry can measurements from the maker, then match the size, color and rules to your use.
Rehmaan Khan is a Measurement Content Researcher Specializing in MLmeasurement, Size Guides, Charts, and Simple Educational Measurement Content.