OVERVIEW OF STANDARD

INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING WEIGHTS

INTRODUCTION
Toassistmembersincompletingtheirfinaldeclarations,VALIPAChascollaboratedwithpackaging
manufacturerstodrawupadocumentthatprovidesinformationontheweightsofthemostcommonlyused
itemsofindustrialpackaging.
Thisoverviewisdesignedtobeusedbypartiesresponsibleforpackagingwhoareunabletoobtaininformation
abouttheindustrialpackagingforwhichtheyareresponsible,forexamplebecauseaforeignsupplierfailsto
providethenecessarydata,becauseitresellstheproductswithoutseeingthepackagingorbecauseitistoo
difficulttoweighthepackaginginquestion.
Pleasenote,however,thatitisinallcasespreferabletousedatatakenfromactualmeasurementsratherthan
theinformationsuppliedhere.Theweightofagiventypeofpackagingcanvarysignificantlyduetothewayin
whichitismade,themanufacturer,etc.Whereawiderangeofweightshasbeenrecordedforonetypeof
packaging,thedatagivenisaweightedaveragetakingintoaccountthemarketsharesofthevariouspackaging
itemsordetailedvalueinformationbasedononeormoreexamples.
Thisdocumenthasbeendrawnupinconjunctionwithpackagingmanufacturersandusers.Itwillbeupdated
regularlytotakeintoaccountnewtypesofpackaging,changesintheweightofpackagingitems,etc.
Wehopethatpartiesresponsibleforpackagingwillfindthisinitiativeusefulincompletingtheirdeclarations
andprovidingtheinformationrequiredbyVALIPAC.

ThisEnglishversionisonlyatranslationoftheFrenchandDutchdocumentandisprovidedforreferenceonly.Intheeventofany
conflictordiscrepancybetweentheoriginalFrench/DutchversionandthisEnglishversion,theFrenchandDutchversionshall(forall
intentsandpurposes)prevailandbetreatedasthecorrectversion.

VALIPACvzwKoninginAstridlaan59bus111780Wemmel
Tel.02/456.83.33Fax02/456.83.20info@valipac.bewww.valipac.be
1

Basicinformationonthemostcommonpackagingitems
Thetablebelowgivesageneralindicationoftheweightsofthemostcommonlyuseditemsofpackaging.
Thesefigures,whichcanbeusedforprovisionaldeclarations,giveageneralindicationoftheweightsofvarious
packagingitems.However,infinaldeclarationsyoushouldusetheexactweightsasdetailedintherelevant
sectionsofthisdocument.

Packagingtype

Weight(generalindication)

Page

Metaldrum220litres

17kg

p.3

Plasticdrum220litres

9kg

p.3

Drums

IBCs
IBC1000l+metalchassis+plastic+woodenpallet 18kgplastic,30kgmetal,20kgwood p.5
Plasticfilms

Shrinkwraparoundpallet

250g

p.6

Palletcovers

Palletcover

1kg

p.7

Bags

Plasticbag,25kg,chemicalindustry

102g

p.7

Plasticbag,50kg,constructionindustry

68g

p.7

Plasticbag,50litres,gardeningindustry

56g

p.7

Pallets

Woodenpalletpool

25kgpermsurfacearea

p.9

Woodenpalletsingleuse

15kgpermsurfacearea

p.9

Plasticpallet

26kgpermsurfacearea

p.10

Cardboardboxes

Corrugatedcardboard,small(31x31x21cm)

250g

p.12

Corrugatedcardboard,large

2kg

p.13

Bigbags

Bigbags

1,5kg

p.14

Miscellaneouspackagingitems

p.15

Tableofdensities

p.16

1.DRUMS
1.1.Metaldrums

a.Observations
Themetaldrumspackaginggroupcontains:
screwtopdrums(closeddrums);
drumswithlids(liddeddrums).
Theweightofonetypeofdrummayvaryconsiderablydependingonthemanufacturer,model,thicknessofthe
metalused,etc.Theweightsspecifiedforliddeddrumsincludetheweightofthe(plastic)lid.Thetablebelow
indicatesthemeanvaluesfoundontheBelgianmarket.

b.Weights
Metaldrums
Capacity(litres)
210250
100150
75
60
2030

Weight(kg)
Closeddrums
17,220,8
12,515,0
4,7
4,3
1,82,1

Liddeddrums
18,3
/
/
/
/

1.2.Plasticdrums

a.Observations
Theplasticdrumspackaginggroupcontains:
screwtopdrums(drumsforliquids);
drumswithlids(liddeddrums).
Theweightofdifferentdrumsofthesamecapacitycanvaryconsiderablydependingonmanufacturer,model,type,
etc.Thetablebelowshowsthemostcommontypesasillustratedinthephotograph.
Theweightsindicatedfordrumsforliquidsincludetheweightofthe(plastic)screwtops.Theweightsgivenfor
liddeddrumsincludetheweightofthelids.Theweightsofthemetalhoopsandtheinnerlineraregivenseparately.
Capacity(litres)
Roundbarrels
30
100150
75
60
2030
Squarebarrels
50
60
120

Plasticdrums(liddeddrums)
Weight(kg)
Druminner&liner
1,5
12,515,0
4,7
4,3
1,82,1
Barrel
2,5
2,6
5,6

Hoop
0,28
0,29
0,46
0,46
0,66
//
//
//
Liddeddrums

Capacity(l)
Weight(kg)

6,2
0,4

10
0,5

Plasticdrums(drumsforliquids)
12,5
20
25
30
0,6
1,0
1,3
1,4

60
2,7

120
5,5

220
8,6

Drumsforliquids

Drumsforliquids

1.3.Cardboarddrums

a.Observations
/

b.Weights

Capacity(l)
Weight(kg)

<50
2,2

Cardboard drums
50100
100150
3,6
6,00

150200
8,7

2.IBCS
a.Observations
TheweightofIBCsofthesamecapacitycanvaryconsiderablydependingonthemanufacturer.Varioustypesof
IBCscanbeusedonwooden,metalorplasticpallets.Whereapplicable,thetablebelowindicatesthe
correspondingweightswithawooden,metalorplasticpallet.
b.Weight

IBCs
Capacity(l)

Plastic(kg)

TypeA
520
115
980
145
TypeBNobase
500
37
800
45
1000
45
TypeBWithbase
800
45
1000
45
TypeCWoodenpallet
640
12,1
820
16,6
1000
18,2
1250
21,0
TypeCMetalpallet
640
12,1
820
16,6
1000
18,2
1250
21,0
TypeCPlasticpallet
600
21,4
800
25,9
1000
27,8
1250
30,3

Weight
Metal(kg)

Wood(kg)

/
/

/
/

101
94
118

/
/
/

118
130

/
/

26,1
29,9
31,8
38,0

15,2
19,4
20,4
15,9

31,8
42,6
46,3
47,3

/
/
/
/

26,1
29,9
31,8
38,0

/
/
/
/

3.PLASTICFILM
a.Observations
Inthissection,bothshrinkwrapandclingfilmaredescribed.Theweightoftheclingfilmaroundapalletis
determinedbyseveralparameters.Thegraphbelowgivestheweightoffilmuseddependentontwomain
parameters:thewrappingheightandthenumberofwrapsmade.Inthecaseofshrinkwrap,thetablegivesthe
weightof1000moftransparentwrapdependentontherollheightandthethicknessofthefilm.
b.Weight
Weightperpallet

Weightperpallet

Heavilywrapped

Weight(grams)

Moderately wrapped

Lightly wrapped

Weightper1000mroll

Plasticfilm
Height(cm)

10
20
45
50
75
100
120

17
1,6
3,1
7,0
7,8
11,7
5,6
8,8

20
1,8
3,7
8,3
9,2
13,8
18,4
22,1

Weight
Thicknessofplasticfilm(mm)
23
25
2,1
2,3
4,2
4,6
9,5
10,4
10,6
11,5
15,9
17,3
21,2
23,0
25,4
27,6

30
28
5,5
12,4
13,8
20,7
27,6
33,1

35
3,2
6,4
14,5
16,1
24,2
32,2
38,6

4.PALLETCOVERS
a.Observations
Theweightofasyntheticcovercanvaryinaccordancewiththefollowingparameters:
heightofthecover(definedbythestackedheightofthepallet),
widthofthecoverandthewidthofthefold(definedbythepalletdimensions),
thicknessofthecover.
Owingtothehighlyvariablecharacteristicsofthecoversused,theyhavebeencataloguedaccordingtothefollowing
parameters:
stackedheightofthepallet,
palletdimensions.
Thefiguresinthetablebelowareforcoverswithathicknessof125mmandadensityof920kg/m.
b.Weight

Palletcovers
Pallet
dimensions(cm)

100
0,85
1,09
1,12
1,18
1,23
1,26

80x100
100x120
110x110
114x114
110x130
120x120

125
0,98
1,24
1,27
1,33
1,39
1,42

Weight(kg)

Stackedheight(cm)
150
1,10
1,39
1,42
1,49
1,55
1,58

175
1,23
1,54
1,57
1,64
1,71
1,74

200
1,36
1,69
1,72
1,79
1,87
1,90

5.BAGS
5.1.Plasticbags

Theweightofaplasticbagcanvaryinaccordance
withthefollowingparameters:
heightofthebag,
widthofthebag,
widthofthefold,
typeofplasticused(PEBPorPEHD),
thicknessoftheplastic.
Thetablehasbeendrawnuptakingintoaccountthefollowingfactors:
thewidthofthefold,onbothsides,
represents20%ofthewidthofthebag,
thebagsaremadeofPEBPwithadensityof920kg/m.

Plasticbagsweightinfunctionofthedimensionsandfilmthickness
Weight(gr)
Filmthickness

Bagheight(cm)
75m

50
60
70
80
90
100

39
46
54
62
70
77

50
60
70
80
90
100

48
58
68
77
87
97

60
70
80
90
100

70
81
93
104
116

100m
Width:40cm
52
62
72
82
93
103
Width:50cm
64
77
90
103
116
129
Width:60cm
93
108
124
139
155

150m

200m

77
93
108
124
139
155

103
124
144
165
185
206

97
116
135
155
174
193

129
155
180
206
232
258

139
162
185
209
232

185
216
247
278
309

Paperbags

Type

5.2.Paperbags
a.Observations
Giventhegreatvarietyofbagsonthemarket,weightsare
indicatedforthemostcommontypesofbagsonly.Paperbagsare
oftenmadeofseverallayersincludingaPEfilm.Sincetheweight
oftheplasticfilmislessthan15%,thesebagscanberecorded
underrecyclablepaper/cardboardintheVALIPACdeclaration.
b.Weight

Weight
(gr)

Animalfood
25kg
148
50kg
228
Cement
50kg
150
Plaster
25kg
109
25kg
154
Chemicalproducts
50kg
228
Sand
50kg
166
Minerals
25kg
175

Dimensions(cm)
(width(B)xheight(A)
xdepth(C))
50x70x13
60x93x13
51x62x12
40x48x11
50x54x14
60x61x17
52x66x13
40x70x14

6.PALLETS
6.1.Woodenpallets
a.Observations
Theweightdatasuppliedestablishadistinctionbetweenpalletswhicharereusedwithintheframeworkofan
externalpool(e.g.CHEPpallets,Europallets)andpalletswhichdonotformpartofsuchasystem.
Pallets,whichcannotbereusedaspartofanexternalpool,varygreatlyintype,dimensions,strength,shape.
Theweightsofthesepalletsaregivenaccordingtotwoeasilyrecognizableandmeasurablecriteria,whichare
significantintermsofweight:
dimension(length,width),
construction(heavyduty,mediumstrength,lightweight).
Thestrengthofapalletisdeterminedbythreefactors:
woodthickness(16,18or22mm),
numberoflongitudinalsectionsontheupperface(70,80or90%cover),
eyedimensions.
Thepalletweightshavebeencalculatedonthebasisthattheyareconstructedoflightwoodsuchaspineorpoplar
withadryweightofapprox.550kg/m.
b.WeightReusable"pool"pallets

PRS(CP)pallets
Type
PRS6(CP6)
PRS7(CP7)
PRS8(CP8)
PRS9(CP9)

Weight(kg)
23
27
27
25

Type
EuroEpal

Weight(kg)
25

Dimensions(cm)
120x100
130x110
114x 114
114x114

Europallets
Dimensions(cm)
80x120

CHEPpallets
Dimensions(cm)
100x120
80x120
60x80

Weight(kg)
28
25
11

b.WeightReusable"pool"pallets

CPpallets
Type
CP1
CP2
CP3
CP4
CP5
CP6
CP7
CP8
CP9

Weight(kg)
22
17
22
23
16
23
27
27
25

Otherpallets,singleuse

Dimensions(cm)
100x120
80x120
114x114
110x130
76x114
120x100
130x110
114x114
114x114

Dimensions
(cm)

light
10
11
12
13
13

80x120
100x120
110x110
110x130
120x120

Weight(kg)
Strengthoftheconstruction
medium
heavy
14
21
16
24
16
24
17
26
18
26

6.2.Plasticpallets

a.Observations
Therearevarioustypesofplasticpallets.Thetablebelowdetailsonlythemostcommon.
b.Weight
Thetablebelowcanbeusedtodeterminetheweightofapalletbasedontypeanddimensions.Thevarioustypes
areillustratedinthefigurebelow.

Plasticpallets
Dimensions(cm)
TypeA
120x80
120x100
TypeB
120x130
120x100
140x118
TypeC
120x120
120x120
TypeD
120x100
120x100
TypeE
60x80
40x60
CHEPpoolpallet
80x120
40x60

Weight (kg)

Comments

17
21

upperfaceclosed
upperfaceclosed

25
23
20

upperfaceperforated,4wayentry
upperfaceperforated,4wayentry
upperfaceperforated,2wayentry

37
38

drumtransport,withflatupperface
drumtransport,withrings

32
38

universalpallet,heavyduty
universalpallet, heavyduty ,upperfaceclosed

6,6
3,2

displaypallet(lightweight)
displaypallet (lightweight)

19
2

10

6.3.Aluminiumpallets
a.Observations
Thetablebelowcanbeusedtodeterminetheweightofapalletonthebasisofitsdimensions.
b.Weight

Aluminiumpallets
Dimensions(cm)
60x40
80x60
80x60
80x120

Weight (kg)
2,0
6,0
4,0
10,5

11

Comments
reinforcedbetweeneyes

7.CARDBOARDBOXES
7.1.Corrugatedcardboardboxes
a.Observations
Corrugatedcardboardboxescomeininnumerablesizes,shapesandweights.

Coveringthemostcommonlyencounteredtype,thedataprovidedhererelates
toanAmericantypebox(seeillustration).Thisisthemostcommontype.
Thevariablesaretheboxdimensionsandthethicknessofthecardboardused.Asaresult,thefollowingbasic
criteriahavebeenchosen:
singlecorrugation450gr/m
doublecorrugation840gr/m
triplecorrugation1370gr/m
b.Weight
Thegraphbelowcanbeusedtodeterminetheweightofaboxonthebasisofthefollowingvalues:
width(cm);
length(cm);
height(cm);
cardboardthickness(single,doubleortriplecorrugation).
Thexaxischartsthesumoflength+width.Theweightcanbereadoffalongtheyaxis.

Single corrugated cardboard

Box height

Weight(grams)

Length+width(cm)

12

Double corrugated cardboard

Box height

Weight(grams)

Weight(grams)

Length+width(cm)
Triple corrugated cardboard

Box height

Length+width(cm)

Length+width(cm)

7.2.Smoothcardboardboxes

a.Observations

Smoothcardboardboxescomeininnumerablesizes,shapes,weights

Itisappropriatetoweighthistypeofboxestodeterminetheweighttobedeclared.

13

8.BIGBAGS
a.Observations
Bigbagscomeininnumerablesizes,shapes,weights...Thedataprovidedhererelatetotopopeningbigbags
(typeA,seeillustration)andtobigbagswithupperandlowerfillingsleeves(typeB,seeillustration).
Thevariablestobetakenintoaccountarethebasedimensionsandheightofthebigbags.
Bigbagsaremadeofwovenpolypropyleneweighing180or200gr/m.Thereareessentiallythreetypesofbigbags:
nointernalpocket,with80mminternalpocket,coatedwitha30gr/mpolypropylenecoating.
BigbagsmustbeenteredintheVALIPACdeclarationunder(recyclable)plastics.
b.Weight

BigBags
Height(cm)

TypeA
60
100
140
180
220
TypeB
60
100
140
180
220

Basedimensions(cm):91x91
Fabricthickness:180gr/m
internal
nointernal
coated(30
pocket(80
pocket(kg)
gr/m)(kg)
mm)(kg)

Basedimensions(cm):95x95
Fabricthickness:200gr/m
nointernal
pocket(kg)

coated(30
gr/m)(kg)

internalpocket
(80mm)(kg)

0,70
1,25
1,40
2,00
2,10

0,80
1,40
1,60
2,20
2,35

1,20
1,80
2,05
2,80
3,00

0,75
1,30
1,70
2,10
2,30

0,85
1,45
1,90
2,35
2,60

1,45
2,10
2,60
3,20
3,50

1,00
1,55
1,85
2,30
2,45

1,10
1,70
2,05
2,55
2,75

1,70
2,35
2,75
3,40
3,65

1,20
1,70
1,95
2,55
2,70

1,30
1,85
2,15
2,80
3,00

1,90
2,50
2,85
3,65
3,90

14

9.CAGES,COVERSANDOCTABINS

Palletcovers(excl.pallet)
Dimensions(cm) Weight(kg)
100x120x20
12
80x120x20
10

Material
Wood
Wood

Observations
CHEPpoolsystem
CHEPpoolsystem

Cage(excl.pallet)
Dimensions(cm) Weight(kg)
100x120x61
40

Material
Metal

Observations
CHEPpoolsystem

Eurobox
Dimensions(cm) Weight(kg)
100x80x90
55

Material
Metal

Observations
CHEPpoolsystem

Octabins(excl.pallet)
Dimensions(cm) Weight(kg)
100x80x90
55
Huls
107x107x106
1000
107x107x162
1500
107x107x182
1750
Base/cover
105x105x15
/

Material
Metal

Observations
CHEPpoolsystem

21
32
37

Cardboard
Cardboard
Cardboard

Cardboard

15

10.APPENDIX:TABLEOFDENSITIES

Thistableindicatesthedensityofcertainmaterials.Thepartyresponsibleforpackagingmayusethisdatatocarry
outvariouscalculationsitself.

MaterialDensity
Wood550kg/m
Expandedpolystyrenesolid 15kg/m
Expandedpolystyrenechips 7kg/m
Lowdensitypolyethylene922kg/m
Highdensitypolyethylene960kg/m
Bubblewrap73gr/m

Material Density
Extrudedpolyethylene 20kg/m
Corrugatedcardboard(single)450gr/m
Corrugatedcardboard(double)840gr/m
Corrugatedcardboard(triple)1370gr/m
Iron 7210kg/m

Thisdocumenthasbeendrawnupwiththekindcollaborationofthefollowingcompaniesandtradefederations:
Belepa,BelgianIndustrialPlasticPackaging,AssociationBelgedesFabricantsdeCartonOndul,BlagdenPackaging
Europe,BonarPlasticsEurope,Bubble&FoamIndustries,ChepBenelux,DebantPackaging,Dynoplast,EtnFranz
Colruyt,F+BBelgium,GandaBox,HooghovensAluminium,InnovaPackagingSystems,Kegro,KlerksPlastics
Recycling,KunststoffwerkeDraak,Pasec,Totalfina,SCAPackaging,SchtzWerke,Segers&Balcaen,Sotralentz,
VPKPackaging.

Allrightsreserved.Nopartsofthispublicationmaybereproducedordisseminatedinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,reprographic,
photographicorotherprocedurewithoutthepriorwrittenconsentofthepublisher.Thedatacontainedinthisbrochurehasbeencompiledonthebasis
ofthebestavailableinformation.VALIPACmaynotbeheldresponsibleforanydamagethatmayarisefromtheuseofthedatapresentedinthis
document.

16

Version01/2014