Plastic jerry cans look much the same, but the right one depends on what you’re putting in it, how much you need to carry, and how you’ll pour from it. Choose the wrong one and you could end up with a can that’s too heavy to lift, a tap that doesn’t fit, or packaging that isn’t approved for what you’re sending.
This guide takes you through the five things to check, with recommendations from our plastic jerry cans range.
The short answer
For most uses, a 20 or 25 litre food grade, UN approved jerry can with a 60 mm (DIN61) cap is the best all-rounder. It’s suitable for water, food liquids and many chemicals, stacks safely, and takes a screw-on tap. Choose 5 or 10 litres if the can will be carried a lot or you need smaller quantities, and an anti-glug Ecovent can if you pour by hand often. Plastic jerry cans like these are not for petrol.
1. What will you put in it?
- Drinking water, food or drink ingredients: choose a jerry can described as food grade. Most of our 5 to 30 litre cans are food grade. Check each product page.
- Chemicals you’ll transport as dangerous goods: you need a UN approved jerry can whose approval covers your product. See step 3.
- Detergents, oils, agricultural products and other non-hazardous liquids: most HDPE jerry cans are suitable. Check compatibility with your liquid’s safety data sheet.
- Petrol: don’t use a general purpose plastic jerry can. In the UK, plastic petrol containers are limited to 10 litres and must be designed and marked for petrol. See the HSE guidance on storing petrol.
HDPE (high density polyethylene) resists a wide range of chemicals, but not all of them. Suitability depends on the exact liquid, its concentration and temperature, and how long it stays in the can. If in doubt, ask our team.
2. What size do you need?
A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so a full 25 litre can weighs over 26 kg. Think about who will lift it, and how far they’ll carry it.
| Size | Full weight (water) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 litres | About 5 kg | Samples, small quantities, retail packs, vehicle top-ups |
| 10 litres | About 10.5 kg | Easy carrying, smaller users, garden and field use |
| 20 litres | About 21 kg | The standard size for water, chemicals and food liquids |
| 25 litres | About 26 kg | Maximum capacity per can, pallet loads, fixed dispensing with a tap |
| 30 litres | About 31.5 kg | Bulk filling and static storage, rather than carrying |
If cans will be moved by hand regularly, two 10 litre cans are often more practical than one 20 litre can.
3. Do you need UN approval?
A UN approved jerry can has been tested to carry dangerous goods. You’ll need one if you’re sending hazardous liquids by road, sea or air, or if your customer or carrier requires it.
The UN mark on the can tells you what it’s approved for. For example, 3H1/Y1.9/100 on our 5 litre stackable jerry can means:
- 3H1: a plastic jerry can with a closed (non-removable) head.
- Y: approved for packing groups II and III (medium and low danger).
- 1.9: the maximum relative density of the contents.
- 100: the hydraulic test pressure in kPa.
Our guide to how to read UN approval markings explains the full code. Remember that approval covers the can and its closure together, so always use the cap it’s supplied with.
For water, food and non-hazardous liquids, you don’t need UN approval. Many of our cans are both food grade and UN approved, though, so you can use one can type for everything.
4. Which neck and cap do you need?
The neck size decides which caps, taps and spanners fit. Always match accessories to the neck, not to the can’s capacity.
| Neck | Found on | Tap |
|---|---|---|
| 38 mm | 5 litre jerry can | No tap available |
| 51 mm (DIN51) | 5 litre stackable and 10 litre jerry cans | 50 mm jerry can tap |
| 60 mm (DIN61) | 20, 25 and 30 litre jerry cans | 60 mm jerry can tap (20 and 25 litre cans) |
| 70 mm (DIN71) | 20 and 25 litre anti-glug Ecovent cans | Not compatible with our taps |
All our jerry cans come with tamper-evident (T/E) caps. The ring breaks the first time the cap is opened, so you and your customers can see the contents haven’t been touched. For tight caps, use a 61 mm cap spanner.
5. How will you pour or dispense?
- From a tap: lay a 20 or 25 litre can on its side on a shelf or stand and fit a 60 mm tap. This works well for drinking water, hand wash and catering.
- By hand: an anti-glug Ecovent jerry can has a vent in the neck that lets air in as you pour. That stops the glugging and splashing you get from a standard can, which is safer with chemicals.
- Measuring: our 25 litre jerry can has a volume scale on the side, so you can see how much is left.
Our jerry cans at a glance
Prices are per can, excluding VAT, and correct at November 2026.
| Jerry can | Neck | Food grade | UN approved | Price for 1 | Lowest bulk price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 litre | 38 mm | – | – | £2.93 | £1.67 (270+) |
| 5 litre stackable | DIN51 | Yes | Yes | £6.01 | £3.01 (400+) |
| 10 litre | DIN51 | Suitable for food | – | £7.64 | £3.83 (120+) |
| 20 litre | DIN61 | Yes | Yes | £13.13 | £5.35 (240+) |
| 20 litre anti-glug Ecovent | DIN71 | Yes | Yes | £13.64 | £6.06 (240+) |
| 25 litre with volume scale | DIN61 | Yes | Yes | £14.54 | £5.76 (204+) |
| 25 litre anti-glug Ecovent | DIN71 | Yes | Yes | £14.65 | £7.07 (204+) |
| 25 litre square round (natural or blue) | DIN61 | Yes | Yes | £15.96 | £8.59 (101+) |
| 30 litre (blue) | DIN61 | Yes | Yes | £15.66 | £8.38 (120+) |
The 20 litre jerry can also comes in blue, red, white and green. Colour-coding helps keep water, food and chemicals apart. Standard delivery to mainland UK is free. For pallet quantities or regular orders, ask us for a quote.
Quick picks
- Drinking water at home or on site: 20 litre jerry can with a 60 mm tap. See also our guide to storing emergency water at home.
- Sending chemicals as dangerous goods: a UN approved 20 or 25 litre can, checking the UN mark against your product.
- Pouring chemicals by hand: 25 litre anti-glug Ecovent.
- Filling food products for sale: 25 litre square round, which fits 16 per layer on a 1140 x 1140 mm pallet.
- Small quantities and samples: 5 litre stackable (UN approved and food grade).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best jerry can for drinking water?
A food grade 20 or 25 litre HDPE jerry can with a tamper-evident cap. Add a 60 mm tap if you’ll dispense from it. Keep it out of direct sunlight, and refill it regularly.
What size jerry can should I buy?
20 litres is the standard size and the best balance of capacity and weight. Choose 5 or 10 litres if the can will be carried a lot, and 25 or 30 litres for static storage or pallet loads.
Can I put a tap on a jerry can?
Yes, if the neck matches. Our 60 mm tap fits the 20 and 25 litre cans with a DIN61 neck, and our 50 mm tap fits the 5 litre stackable and 10 litre cans with a DIN51 neck. Taps don’t fit the 70 mm Ecovent cans.
Can I store petrol in a plastic jerry can?
Only in a container designed and marked for petrol. In the UK, plastic petrol containers are limited to 10 litres. General purpose plastic jerry cans, including ours, aren’t designed for petrol.
What does UN approved mean on a jerry can?
It means the can and its closure have passed tests for carrying dangerous goods. The UN mark shows the packing groups, maximum density and test pressure it’s approved for, so check it matches what you’re sending.
Are your jerry cans food grade?
Most of our 5 to 30 litre jerry cans are food grade, made from virgin HDPE. Each product page states whether that can is food grade.
Prices correct at November 2026 and may change. This guide is a general summary. Always check your liquid’s safety data sheet and the current transport rules for dangerous goods. Need help choosing a jerry can? Contact our team.