Jerry Can Dimensions: NATO 20L Standard, Size Chart & More

The standard 5-gallon (20-liter) jerry can measures 18.5 inches tall, 13.5 inches long, and 6.5 inches wide. Below, you’ll find every size, material, and mounting detail you actually need — not just the numbers, but how to use them.

Standard Jerry Can Dimensions by Capacity

5-Gallon (20-Liter) Jerry Can Dimensions

The 20-liter can is the workhorse size across the USA. Most metal versions land at 18.25-18.5 inches tall, 13.5 inches long, and 6.5 inches wide. Plastic HDPE models run slightly bigger — closer to 18.3 x 14.3 x 6.9 inches — because of thicker walls and safety spouts.

10-Liter Jerry Can Dimensions

A 10-liter can typically measures 14-16 inches tall, 10-11 inches long, and 5-6 inches wide. Empty weight sits around 2-2.5 pounds, making it a comfortable one-hand carry for agricultural or marine use.

25-Liter Jerry Can Dimensions

Step up to 25 liters and height climbs to 18-20 inches, with length around 14-16 inches and width near 7-8 inches. These are built for industrial handling, not casual lifting — filled weight can top 55 pounds.

Small and Extra-Large Sizes

On the compact end, a 5-liter can runs about 10-12 inches tall. On the oversized end, 30-liter-plus containers reach 19-21 inches, needing two-person lifts once full.

Jerry Can Dimensions by Material Type

Material changes the numbers more than most buyers expect. Steel, plastic, and aluminum each carry their own height, wall thickness, and weight profile.

Steel (NATO Standard) Jerry Can Dimensions

The original NATO military specification sets steel cans at exactly 17.75 inches tall, 13.5 inches long, and 6.5 inches wide. This spec dates back to WWII-era German fuel can design, later adopted by allied forces for its stackability and pour control. Brands like Wavian still build to this exact spec today.

Plastic (HDPE) Jerry Can Dimensions

HDPE cans from Scepter run 18.3 x 14.3 x 6.9 inches — roughly half an inch taller and wider than steel. The extra size comes from EPA-mandated flame arrestors and automatic shut-off spouts, not sloppy manufacturing.

Aluminum Jerry Can Dimensions

Aluminum matches steel’s footprint (17.75 inches tall) but drops empty weight to 5-6 pounds, about 40% lighter. Racing and aviation crews favor it for that strength-to-weight tradeoff.

How to Measure Jerry Can Dimensions for Mounting, Racks & Storage

This is where most guides stop short — and where fabricators actually get stuck. Real-world builders on forums like IH8MUD have flagged this exact gap for years: published spec sheets rarely match what you need to weld a rack.

Base (OD) vs. Rack Cutout (ID) — Know the Difference

The can’s outer dimension (OD) is what you measure with a tape. But your rack’s inner dimension (ID) needs breathing room — typically an extra half-inch to inch per side. Skip this, and a can with a raised bead seam simply won’t drop in.

Account for Beads, Welds & Plastic Swelling

Steel cans often have a pressed bead near the base that adds thickness. Plastic cans expand in heat — a Scepter can that fits snugly in winter can bind in a rack by July. Build with a known reference can mocked up in place, not just a tape measure and guesswork.

Vehicle Storage: Truck Beds, SUVs & Trunks

A standard 6.5-foot truck bed holds up to four 5-gallon cans with proper DOT-approved securing. SUV cargo areas typically fit two cans; sedan trunks manage one 5-gallon or two 2.5-gallon cans.

Shelf Clearance & Stacking Limits

Give a 5-gallon can 19-22 inches of vertical clearance for easy lifting. OSHA guidance generally caps stacking at three 20-25L cans high, always on pallets — never bare concrete.

Jerry Can Size Comparison: What Does 20 Liters Actually Look Like?

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Jerry Can vs. Everyday Objects

A standard 12 fl oz soda can stands 4.83 inches tall. A 5-liter jerry can is roughly twice that height — compact enough for a trunk, tall enough to hold real volume. A full 20-liter steel can, by comparison, is about as tall as a golf club headcover stacked on a shoebox.

Are Jerry Cans a Standard Size?

Not universally — but close. The 20-liter (5-gallon) NATO spec acts as the de facto global benchmark, and most manufacturers stay within an inch or two of it. Smaller and larger capacities scale up or down from that baseline, so “standard” really means consistent within a capacity tier, not one-size-fits-all.

Choosing the Right Jerry Can Dimensions for Your Use Case

Size selection isn’t just about volume — it’s about regulation and purpose too.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Gas Can Dimensions

Type 1 cans (pre-2009 EPA design) use simple spouts and measure slightly shorter, often around 17 inches. Type 2 cans add child-resistant caps and automatic shut-off valves, pushing height up 2-3 inches. California’s CARB-compliant versions run even taller due to vapor recovery hardware.

Best Size for Off-Roading, Emergency Prep & Home Storage

Off-roaders and overlanders lean on 5-gallon cans for the 150-200 extra miles of range they provide. Emergency kits favor 2.5-gallon sizes since smaller volumes rotate and refresh faster. Home fuel storage for generators usually sticks with the standard 20-liter can for simplicity.

FAQs About Jerry Can Dimensions

What are the dimensions of a 20 litre jerry can?

A 20-liter jerry can measures about 17.75–18.5 inches tall, 13.5 inches long, and 6.5 inches wide for steel; plastic versions run slightly larger at roughly 18.3 × 14.3 × 6.9 inches.

Are jerry cans a standard size?

Mostly, yes. The 20-liter NATO specification serves as the global benchmark, and most brands stay within an inch or two of it — though exact size varies slightly by material and manufacturer.

What are the dimensions of a 10l jerry can?

A 10-liter jerry can typically stands 14–16 inches tall, with a 10–11 inch length and 5–6 inch width, weighing roughly 2–2.5 pounds empty.

How big is one jerry can?

It depends on capacity, but the most common single can — the 5-gallon (20L) size — measures around 18 inches tall by 13.5 inches long by 6.5 inches wide.

How big is a 25l jerry can?

A 25-liter jerry can measures approximately 18–20 inches tall, 14–16 inches long, and 7–8 inches wide, with filled weight often exceeding 55 pounds.

What are the dimensions of a 20 litre water can?

A 20-liter water jerry can uses the same footprint as a fuel version — about 18.5 inches tall, 13.5 inches long, 6.5 inches wide — but is built from food-grade, BPA-free HDPE instead of fuel-rated plastic.