Fish tank weight chart
Find your tank in the chart. "Filled" means water, two inches of gravel and a few rocks, but not the stand.
| Tank | Empty | Water only | Filled, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 gallon | 8 lb4 kg | 40 lb20 kg | 60 lb30 kg |
| 10 gallon | 13 lb6 kg | 75 lb35 kg | 105 lb50 kg |
| 15 gallon | 16 lb7 kg | 110 lb50 kg | 155 lb70 kg |
| 20 gallon high | 25 lb11 kg | 150 lb70 kg | 205 lb95 kg |
| 20 gallon long | 19 lb9 kg | 150 lb70 kg | 205 lb95 kg |
| 29 gallon | 39 lb18 kg | 215 lb100 kg | 295 lb135 kg |
| 30 gallon breeder | 27 lb12 kg | 225 lb100 kg | 315 lb145 kg |
| 37 gallon | 61 lb28 kg | 275 lb125 kg | 380 lb170 kg |
| 40 gallon breeder | 42 lb19 kg | 300 lb135 kg | 405 lb185 kg |
| 40 gallon long | 52 lb24 kg | 300 lb135 kg | 410 lb185 kg |
| 55 gallon | 89 lb40 kg | 410 lb185 kg | 570 lb260 kg |
| 65 gallon | 90 lb41 kg | 485 lb220 kg | 650 lb295 kg |
| 75 gallon | 102 lb46 kg | 560 lb255 kg | 755 lb345 kg |
| 90 gallon | 140 lb64 kg | 675 lb305 kg | 910 lb415 kg |
| 120 gallon | 161 lb73 kg | 900 lb410 kg | 1,190 lb540 kg |
| 125 gallon | 142 lb64 kg | 935 lb425 kg | 1,220 lb555 kg |
| 150 gallon | 265 lb120 kg | 1,125 lb510 kg | 1,535 lb695 kg |
| 180 gallon | 228 lb103 kg | 1,350 lb610 kg | 1,770 lb805 kg |
| 210 gallon | 305 lb138 kg | 1,575 lb715 kg | 2,080 lb945 kg |
For a tank that is not on the chart, or to add your own stand, rocks and sand, use the aquarium weight calculator.
The quick rule: about 10 pounds for every gallon
A US gallon of fresh water weighs 8.34 pounds. A liter weighs one kilogram. Then you add the glass, the gravel and the rocks.
For a fast answer, multiply the tank's size in gallons by 10. A 20 gallon tank weighs about 200 pounds filled. A 55 weighs about 550 to 600. In metric, a filled tank weighs about 1.25 kilograms for every liter of its size.
Salt water is a little heavier than fresh, by about 2.5%. Reef tanks also carry a lot of rock, so they often reach 12 pounds per gallon.
Where the weight comes from
Take a 55 gallon tank:
- Water is the biggest part: about 410 pounds.
- The glass tank itself: about 90 pounds.
- Gravel: about 55 to 65 pounds.
- Rocks and decor: often 10 to 30 pounds, more if you love rockwork.
Together that is about 570 pounds, before the stand. That is more than three grown adults standing on one small patch of floor, all day, every day, for years.
Can my furniture hold it?
For tanks up to about 10 gallons, a strong, level desk or counter is fine.
Above that, use a stand made for aquariums. Normal furniture is built to hold books and lamps. It is not built to hold hundreds of pounds for years, and it is often made of chipboard that swells and gives way when it gets wet.
A good stand does three things:
- it supports the whole bottom edge of the tank, all the way round,
- it is level, front to back and side to side,
- and it does not rock or twist when you push it.
A tank that sits unevenly is under strain. That strain is what cracks glass and splits seams.
Can my floor hold it?
A concrete ground floor will carry any home aquarium.
Wooden floors need more thought as tanks get bigger:
- Up to about 55 gallons: fine on almost any sound floor.
- 55 to 125 gallons: put the tank against a load-bearing wall, with its length running across the floor joists (the beams under the floor), so several joists share the weight.
- Over 125 gallons, or any big tank upstairs: ask a structural engineer or an experienced builder first. The answer depends on your joists, and no chart can see those.
Never move a tank with water in it
Even a small tank should be emptied before you move it. Water sloshing from side to side twists the glass and can break the seams. Drain it down to the gravel, or empty it fully, and carry it from underneath with two people.
Questions and answers
How much does a 10 gallon fish tank weigh?
About 13 pounds empty and about 105 pounds filled with water, gravel and decor.
How much does a 55 gallon fish tank weigh?
About 90 pounds empty and about 570 pounds filled, before the stand. With a typical stand, plan for around 650 pounds.
How much does a gallon of aquarium water weigh?
Fresh water weighs 8.34 pounds per US gallon, or 1 kilogram per liter. Salt water is about 2.5% heavier.
Can I put a 20 gallon tank on a dresser?
A filled 20 gallon tank weighs about 205 pounds. A solid wood dresser may carry that, but chipboard furniture often cannot, and it fails when it gets wet. A stand made for aquariums is the safe choice.
Can a second floor hold a 75 gallon tank?
Usually yes, if the floor is sound, the tank stands against a load-bearing wall and its length runs across the joists. A filled 75 gallon tank weighs around 750 pounds before the stand, so if you are unsure, ask a builder to look.