How Many Pounds of Corn in a 55 Gallon Drum? 4 Quick Facts
A clean, dry 55-gallon drum holds about 330 pounds of shelled corn at 15% moisture, which works out to roughly 5.9 bushels of usable space. This guide walks through the math, shows how corn type and moisture shift the number, and covers safe loading, storage, and quick field checks.
A standard 55-gallon steel or plastic drum holds:
- Shelled corn (15% moisture): about 330 lbs
- Cracked corn: about 310 to 320 lbs
- Ear corn (loose fill): about 200 to 210 lbs
- Corn meal (medium grind): about 280 to 300 lbs
Numbers shift with moisture level, packing, and how high you fill the drum.
Contents
- 1 What determines the weight of corn in a drum
- 2 How many pounds of shelled corn fit in a 55 gallon drum
- 3 How corn type changes the pounds per drum
- 4 How moisture content shifts corn weight per drum
- 5 How to calculate pounds of corn in any drum
- 6 Common mistakes when filling a drum with corn
- 7 Safety and storage notes for corn in drums
- 8 FAQs about Pounds of Corn in a 55 Gallon Drum
- 9 Final thoughts
What determines the weight of corn in a drum
Three factors set the number: drum volume, corn bulk density, and moisture content. A 55-gallon drum gives you about 7.35 cubic feet of usable space. Shelled corn weighs around 45 pounds per cubic foot at standard moisture. Multiply the two, and you land near 330 pounds.
Bulk density shifts when the corn is cracked, ground, or still on the cob. Moisture adds weight but reduces storable grain per pound of fill. Packing also changes the math. A lightly filled drum holds less than one tapped down during loading.
Learn more: Bags of Corn on a Pallet
How many pounds of shelled corn fit in a 55 gallon drum
Shelled corn at 15% moisture fits about 330 pounds in a standard drum. The math is clean:
- 55 gallons = 7.35 cubic feet
- 1 bushel = 1.2445 cubic feet
- 7.35 ÷ 1.2445 = 5.9 bushels
- 5.9 bushels × 56 lbs per bushel = 330 lbs
The 56-pound test weight per bushel is the US standard for No. 2 yellow corn, set by USDA grain grading rules. Good quality corn with plump kernels hits that number reliably. Light or damaged corn comes in under it.
How corn type changes the pounds per drum
Not every form of corn packs the same way in a 55 gallon drum.
Shelled corn flows and settles tight, giving the highest weight at around 330 lbs.
Cracked corn has more air gaps between broken pieces, so it packs to about 310 to 320 lbs per drum. Cracked grain works well for livestock feed, but you lose a bit of density.
Ear corn on the cob leaves large voids. Loose fill runs about 200 to 210 lbs per drum. The kernel weight pulled off those ears is roughly 150 to 170 lbs of shelled grain.
Corn meal or fine ground corn varies with the grind. Medium grind lands near 280 to 300 lbs in a sealed drum.
How moisture content shifts corn weight per drum
Moisture adds water weight, but wet corn spoils fast in a sealed drum. Standard storage corn sits at 13 to 15% moisture. Below 13%, corn weighs less and kernels shrink slightly. Above 15%, you risk mold, heating, and insect activity.
A grain moisture tester helps you check incoming corn before sealing it up. I walked through my top picks for a reliable grain moisture testing unit in a separate guide. For long storage, dry corn to 13% or lower. For short-term feed use, 14 to 15% works if the drum stays cool and shaded.
How to calculate pounds of corn in any drum
Use this formula for any round container:
- Find the drum volume in cubic feet. Gallons × 0.1337 = cubic feet. A 55-gallon drum gives 7.35 cubic feet.
- Pick the bulk density. Shelled corn averages 45 lbs per cubic foot. Cracked corn runs 42 lbs. Ear corn loose runs around 28 lbs.
- Multiply volume by density. Example: 7.35 × 45 = 330 lbs shelled.
- Adjust for fill level. A 90% full drum holds 90% of the calculated weight.
For a 30-gallon drum, you get 4 cubic feet, which holds about 180 lbs of shelled corn. For a 100-gallon tank, around 13.37 cubic feet, you fit roughly 600 lbs.
Common mistakes when filling a drum with corn
A few errors show up on every farm sooner or later.
- Overfilling past the rim. Corn settles after a day or two, which creates pressure on the lid.
- Skipping moisture checks. A single wet load ruins the whole drum within weeks.
- Ignoring foreign material. Stalks, cob pieces, and dust raise spoilage risk and lower pack density.
- Using a dirty drum. Old residue carries mold spores and pests into fresh grain.
- Sealing warm corn. Hot grain sweats inside the drum, driving moisture into the top layer.
For a wider look at clean intake habits, I broke down the full post-harvest corn handling routine in another piece.
Safety and storage notes for corn in drums
Drums stored outdoors swing in temperature and pull moisture through any cracked seal. Keep them shaded, elevated on pallets, and dry. Check the lid gasket every few months.
Pest pressure grows fast in loose drums. Weevils and Indian meal moths find their way into unsealed lids. A tight rubber gasket and a silica gel pack cut the risk sharply.
Never climb into a drum of loose grain. Shelled corn behaves like quicksand under body weight and engulfs a person in seconds. Grain entrapment kills experienced farmers every year. The Iowa State University extension publishes clear safety guides on this if you run larger storage.
Label every drum with the fill date and moisture reading. Rotate oldest stock first. For a broader look at container choices, my grain storage method comparison covers drums, silos, and bins.
FAQs about Pounds of Corn in a 55 Gallon Drum
How many bushels of corn fit in a 55 gallon drum?
A standard 55-gallon drum holds about 5.9 bushels of shelled corn. That matches roughly 330 pounds at 15% moisture. Ear corn drops the figure closer to 3.5 bushel-equivalents because of cob volume.
Does a plastic drum hold the same weight as a steel drum?
Yes, the internal volume is identical at 55 gallons. Both hold around 330 lbs of shelled corn. Steel handles heat and stacking better, while food-grade plastic avoids rust and works fine for indoor feed storage.
How long does corn stay good in a sealed 55 gallon drum?
Properly dried corn at 13% moisture keeps for one to two years in a sealed, pest-free drum. Add oxygen absorbers or a CO2 flush, and shelf life stretches to three or four years for whole kernels.
How much shelled corn does a 30 gallon drum hold?
A 30-gallon drum holds about 180 pounds of shelled corn, or roughly 3.2 bushels. The formula scales directly with volume, so half the drum size gives you half the grain capacity.
Can I store wet corn in a 55 gallon drum?
No. Corn above 15% moisture molds fast in a sealed drum. Dry the grain to 13 to 14% first. A quick check with a moisture tester before filling saves the whole load from going bad.
Final thoughts
A 55-gallon drum holds around 330 pounds of shelled corn at standard moisture, and the number shifts with grain type, packing, and dryness. Run the volume-times-density formula for your own setup, keep the drum clean and sealed, and check moisture before loading. Solid habits at fill time protect the grain for months.
