How Much Does A 5 Gallon Jug Of Water Weigh? You'll Be Surprised!

How Much Does a 5 Gallon Jug of Water Weigh? You’ll Be Surprised! By Brian aka WifiBum • Updated: 06/21/22 • 3 min read • The Gear You Need

Water is surprisingly heavy. Can you carry 5 gallons (or 20L) by yourself? Or do you need a smaller container?

How Much Does a 5 Gallon Jug of Water Weigh?

A full 5 gallon jug of water weighs 42 lbs plus the weight of the jug.

The best 5-gallon container is the Scepter water can.

Scepter 5 Gallon BPA Free Water Container 5.0 $49.99

I use two of these on most trips along with a few Nalgenes. It typically will last me up to 8 to 10 days for one person.

View Details View the 2.5 Gallon Option 01/26/2026 12:02 pm GMT

I recommend a jug with a secure handle at that weight. It should also be durable because of how much it weighs.

One example of an easy-to-carry jug is a Scepter water container 5-gallon jug. Designed originally for military use, but now a favorite of hobbyists because of its durability, large handle, and ability to last a long-time.

How Many Pounds is 5 Gallons of Water?

5 gallons of water weighs 42lbs. If you can’t carry 42lbs, many brands offer 2.5 gallons at a weight of 21lbs.

How To Carry 5 Gallons of Water?

Here is a photo of me carrying a 5-gallon Scepter (read my Scepter water can review). It has a strong handle and is easy for most adults to carry short distances.

A lot of 20L water jugs are marketed as 5 gallons and it’s close enough for me!

Read my guide about the best water jugs for carrying water.

Whether you’re bringing water for camping trips, overlanding, road tripping, or even filling the home culligan, let’s talk about the best solutions.

What to Look for in a Large Water Jug?

The best water jug not only needs to be durable, it needs to be easy to transport. Secure and durable handles are something to look for along with the thickness of the plastic.

Scepter 5 Gallon BPA Free Water Container 5.0 $49.99

I use two of these on most trips along with a few Nalgenes. It typically will last me up to 8 to 10 days for one person.

View Details View the 2.5 Gallon Option 01/26/2026 12:02 pm GMT

If you’ve ever tried carrying a culligan-type water jug before, you know it’s awkward. Most 5 gallon jugs are either awkward to carry, flimsy plastic, or hard to clean.

Where Can You Fill a 5 Gallon Jug?

Most grocery stores and some gas stations have water filling stations.

If you want great-tasting water, I suggest looking for locations with Primo (link to their locations) or google “water filling station.” Most are required to inspect the equipment on a regular basis. It’s noticeably better than tap water in most areas.

How Much Does a 3 Gallon Jug of Water Weigh?

3 gallons of water weighs 25 lbs.

What are the Best Water Storage Containers?

The best camping water containers guide will help you choose depending on your needs.

Spoiler alert, I use a 5 gallon jug! Read about the Scepter water can and spout.

Curious how much water to bring camping? Read my article explaining how to determine this amount!

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Brian aka WifiBum

I'm the founder of Wifibum. In 2018, I left my corporate gig to work for a company that allowed 100% remote work in order to spend more time outdoors. I write about my personal experiences with gear, trips, and more. Learn more About Me. You can also follow me at Wifibum on Instagram

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