46 x 38 x 36 in octagon gaylord boxes
The 46 x 38 x 36 inch octagon is the standard octabin: one maker lists 2,200 lb capacity on a 1,300 lb test triple-wall bin that weighs 29 lb empty, built for resin, powders and produce.
The numbers
46 x 38 x 36 in octagon gives you a 46 x 38 footprint. Its volume works out to 36.4 cubic feet (46 x 38 x 36 = 62,928 cubic inches, divided by 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot).
| Detail | Value | How it is figured |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | 46 x 38 in | Outside, as the trade quotes it |
| Height | 36 in | Set-up height |
| Volume | 36.4 cu ft | 46 x 38 x 36 / 1,728 |
| Rated capacity | 2,200 lb | octagon, 1,300 lb test triple wall, listed by one maker |
| Capacity per cubic foot | 60.4 lb | 2,200 / 36.4 |
| Pallet | 48 x 40 in standard | This footprint fits inside a standard 48 x 40 pallet, leaving 2 in along the 48 in side and 2 in along the 40 in side uncovered. |
What this size carries here
Eight walls instead of four mean the corners are angled, and angled corners resist bulging under dense, flowable loads. That is why this is the size melon growers, resin buyers and powder handlers keep asking for. The listed capacity of 2,200 lb is the highest of any size in this family, almost half again the rating of the plain 48 x 40 x 36.
Outside dimensions on one maker's bin are 47 x 39 1/8 x 37 1/2 inches, which sits on a 48 x 40 pallet with a fraction of an inch to spare on each side. Another maker lists a 46 x 38 x 36 octagon-bottom triple-wall box rated 1300#/ECT-155 at about 22.9 lb. Weights differ because constructions differ, and the weight of the empty box matters when it counts against a truck limit.
In the Delaware Valley you see it on the South Jersey melon farms of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties, in resin plants around Bristol and New Castle, and at packing sheds that stage squash before the Vineland auction. See melon growers and resin and regrind.
Load arithmetic
For the 46 x 38 x 36 in octagon box, the deck of a 48 x 40 pallet is 1,920 square inches. The footprint covers 1,748, or 91 percent of it. Weigh what you plan to put in, then see where you land against the 2,200 lb rating (octagon, 1,300 lb test triple wall, listed by one maker).
| Share of rating | Pounds | Pounds per cubic foot | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 percent | 550 | 15.1 | Light |
| 50 percent | 1,100 | 30.2 | Comfortable |
| 75 percent | 1,650 | 45.3 | Working load |
| 90 percent | 1,980 | 54.4 | Near the limit |
Stay in the first three rows for a used box. A box below Grade A has already given up some of its rating.
The same volume in other units
Growers, plants and carriers each count in different units, so here is 46 x 38 x 36 in octagon in the ones they use. A bushel is 1.2445 cubic feet, a cubic yard is 27, a US gallon is 0.1337 and a liter is 0.0353. Fill level matters: a box filled to 32 of its 36 inches holds 32.4 cubic feet, because the top four inches are for flaps and settling.
| Unit | Number | Conversion used |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic inches | 62,928 | 46 x 38 x 36 |
| Cubic yards | 1.35 | 36.4 / 27 |
| US bushels | 29.2 | 36.4 / 1.2445 |
| US gallons | 272 | 36.4 / 0.13368 |
| Liters | 1,031 | 36.4 / 0.035315 |
| Floor area | 12.14 sq ft | 46 x 38 / 144 |
Asking for it
Ask for it with a liner if the load is resin, powder or fruit, and with a lid if the stack will sit. Tell us wall count if you know it, the bottom you need and the date.
One thing to watch
Octagons do not nest well, so plan storage between uses. Knock them flat or stack them set up in a dry space.
Questions people ask
What is the standard octabin size?
46 x 38 x 36 inches inside, on a 48 x 40 footprint.
What does it weigh empty?
One maker lists 29 lb; another lists about 22.9 lb for a different construction.
What does it carry?
Resins, powders and produce such as watermelons, cantaloupes and squash.
Sources
- Uline 46 x 38 x 36 octagon bulk bin, last reviewed November 11, 2026
- Virginia Tech: pallet overhang and box compression strength, last reviewed November 11, 2026