How Much Does a Barrel of Oil Weigh?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 07, 2023

A standard-size barrel filled with the most common oils (petroleum oil, crude oil or diesel fuel oils) weighs between 275 and 300 pounds. However, the weight of a barrel of oil varies based on the type of oil in the barrel and the size of the barrel.

A standard-size barrel holds 42 U.S. gallons. If one fills a standard-size barrel with petroleum oil that has a density of 881 kg/m3, then that barrel weighs about 300 pounds. If one fills the same barrel with crude oil with a density of 790 kg/m3, that barrel weighs about 275 pounds. In order to get a metric tonne of oil, one would need about 7.33 barrels of oil.