Valves, threads and fittings, identified properly
There is no single universal IBC thread, which is why half the fittings ordered online do not fit. This page shows you how to measure what you have before you spend anything.
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Measure the outside diameter across the male thread crests on the tote outlet with a caliper. About 61–63 mm is S60x6, the North American standard. About 56 mm is S56x4. Anything around 75–80 mm is a 3-inch outlet. Then choose your valve body by duty (butterfly for general, ball for viscous or hot) and your seat elastomer by chemistry (EPDM default, Viton for aromatics and fats).
Drain, depressurise, clean the thread
Never measure or disturb a fitting on a container holding product. Wipe the thread so dried residue does not add a millimetre and send you to the wrong part.
Caliper across the crests
Measure the male thread's outside diameter at its widest point, twice, 90° apart. Buttress threads are asymmetric in profile but round in section; if your two readings differ by more than a millimetre the boss is distorted and the container needs looking at.
Count the pitch
Measure across six thread crests and divide. S60x6 has a 6 mm pitch — six crests span 36 mm. S56x4 has a 4 mm pitch. This is the check that catches look-alike threads.
Note the outlet nominal size
Measure the bore, not the thread. A 2-inch outlet has roughly a 50 mm clear bore behind the valve; 3-inch is roughly 75 mm.
Choose body and elastomer
Body by duty and temperature, seat and gasket by chemistry. If you are unsure, send the product name — guessing an elastomer is how a transfer becomes a spill.
Threads, valves and couplings
| Designation | Crest OD | Pitch | Where you see it | Adapts to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S60x6 (63 mm buttress) | 61–63 mm | 6 mm | Most NA composite IBCs, 2" outlet | 3/4"–2" NPT, camlock, hose tail |
| S56x4 | ≈ 56 mm | 4 mm | Older and some imported units | 3/4"–2" NPT via adapter |
| S70x6 | ≈ 70 mm | 6 mm | Some European bottles | 2" NPT via adapter |
| 3" buttress | 75–80 mm | 6 mm | 330 gal+ and viscous-product units | 2"–3" NPT, 3" camlock |
| 2" NPT | ≈ 60 mm | 11.5 TPI | Steel and stainless vessels | Standard pipe fittings |
| Tri-clamp 2" | 64 mm ferrule | n/a | Stainless IBCs, CIP service | Sanitary fittings |
| Valve | Flow | Best for | Avoid when | Seat materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2" PP butterfly | Good | General industrial, water, fertiliser | Hot product above 140°F | EPDM, Viton |
| 3" PP butterfly | High | Viscous product, fast decant | Where boss is 2" | EPDM, Viton |
| 2" PP ball | Full bore | Slurries, pastes, abrasives | Tight budgets | EPDM, Viton |
| Stainless ball | Full bore | Hot fill, solvents, CIP | Cost-sensitive water duty | PTFE |
| Gate valve | Full bore | Legacy steel vessels | Any poly tote | PTFE, graphite |
| Type | Half | End connection | Typical use on a tote |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Male adapter | Female thread | Screws onto valve outlet |
| B | Female coupler | Male thread | Threads into a pump inlet |
| C | Female coupler | Hose shank | The hose end you clamp on |
| D | Female coupler | Female thread | Pairs with a male-threaded port |
| E | Male adapter | Hose shank | Hose to coupler, reverse direction |
| F | Male adapter | Male thread | Most common on IBC valve outlets |
| DC / DP | Dust cap / plug | — | Closing an unused half in transit |
Fitting FAQ
What thread is on an IBC tote outlet?
Most North American composite IBCs use S60x6 — a 63 mm buttress thread with a 6 mm pitch, usually written S60x6 and sometimes called a 2-inch coarse buttress. Some units use S56x4, and larger or European-built units may use a 3-inch outlet. The crest diameter is the fastest way to tell them apart: S60x6 measures about 61–63 mm across the male thread crests, S56x4 about 56 mm.
Butterfly or ball valve?
Butterfly for general duty: cheap, compact, quarter-turn, and the seat does the sealing. Ball for high viscosity, abrasive slurries, or where you need genuinely full-bore flow and a more durable seal. Stainless ball valves are the choice for hot product, solvents and anything that will be cleaned in place.
Which camlock type do I need?
Camlock couplings pair a male adapter with a female coupler. Type A is a male adapter with a female thread; Type B a female coupler with a male thread; Type C a female coupler with a hose shank; Type D a female coupler with a female thread; Type E a male adapter with a hose shank; Type F a male adapter with a male thread. For a tote outlet the usual pairing is a Type F or Type A on the valve and a Type C on the hose.
Can I fit a 3-inch valve to a 2-inch outlet?
Not meaningfully — the boss moulded into the bottle sets the outlet size. What you can do is fit a 2-inch valve with a 3-inch downstream adapter to match your hose, which gets you hose compatibility but not extra flow. If you genuinely need 3-inch flow for a viscous product, you need a container built with a 3-inch boss.
Dimensional tables for every format, including outlet heights above the pallet deck, are on the valve sizes reference.
Related pages
Seven threads, eight camlock types, eighteen fitting lines
Measure first, order second. The crest diameter and the span of six crests identify any outlet thread you will meet in North America.
| Designation | Male crest OD | Pitch | Six crests span | Where you see it | Adapts to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S60x6 (63 mm buttress) | 61–63 mm | 6 mm | 36 mm | Most NA composite IBCs, 2" outlet | 3/4"–2" NPT, camlock, hose tail |
| S56x4 | ≈ 56 mm | 4 mm | 24 mm | Older and some imported bottles | 3/4"–2" NPT via adapter |
| S70x6 | ≈ 70 mm | 6 mm | 36 mm | Some European bottles | 2" NPT via adapter |
| 3" buttress | 75–80 mm | 6 mm | 36 mm | 330 gal+ and viscous-product units | 2"–3" NPT, 3" camlock |
| 2" NPT | ≈ 60 mm | 11.5 TPI | 13.2 mm | Steel and stainless vessels | Standard pipe fittings |
| 2" tri-clamp | 64 mm ferrule | n/a | n/a | Sanitary stainless IBCs | Sanitary fittings |
| 3" tri-clamp | 91 mm ferrule | n/a | n/a | Larger stainless vessels | Sanitary fittings |
| Type | Half | End connection | Typical use on a tote |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Male adapter | Female thread | Screws onto the valve outlet |
| B | Female coupler | Male thread | Threads into a pump inlet |
| C | Female coupler | Hose shank | The hose end you clamp on |
| D | Female coupler | Female thread | Pairs with a male-threaded port |
| E | Male adapter | Hose shank | Hose to coupler, reverse direction |
| F | Male adapter | Male thread | Most common on IBC valve outlets |
| DC | Dust cap | — | Closes a female coupler in transit |
| DP | Dust plug | — | Closes a male adapter in transit |
Body by duty, seat by chemistry
Two independent decisions. Getting the body wrong costs flow; getting the seat wrong costs a spill.
Valve lines — eight bodies with seat options
| Part | Group | Options | Materials | Typical use | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2" butterfly valve | Valves | EPDM, Viton, silicone seat | PP body | Standard composite IBC outlet | Stocked |
| 3" butterfly valve | Valves | EPDM, Viton seat | PP body | 330 gal+ and viscous product | Stocked |
| 2" ball valve, full bore | Valves | EPDM, Viton seat | PP / PE body | Slurries, pastes, abrasives | Stocked |
| 3" ball valve | Valves | EPDM, Viton seat | PP body | High-viscosity decanting | 1–3 days |
| Stainless ball valve | Valves | 2", 3"; PTFE seat | 304 / 316L | Hot fill, solvents, CIP service | 1–3 days |
| Fine-control ball valve | Valves | 2", lever or handwheel | PP | Controlled pail filling | Stocked |
| Tri-clamp butterfly valve | Valves | 2", 3" | 316L, EPDM / PTFE | Sanitary stainless vessels | To order |
| Gate valve | Valves | 2", 3" | Cast iron, PTFE seat | Legacy steel vessels only | To order |
Adapters and couplings — ten lines
| Part | Group | Options | Materials | Typical use | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S60x6 to 3/4" GHT | Adapters | Male / female | PP, nylon, brass | Garden hose connection | Stocked |
| S60x6 to 2" NPT | Adapters | Male / female | PP, nylon | Pipe and pump connection | Stocked |
| S60x6 to camlock | Adapters | Type A, F; 2" | PP, aluminium, 316 | Quick-connect transfer | Stocked |
| S56x4 to S60x6 converter | Adapters | — | PP | Older and imported bottles | 1–3 days |
| Camlock coupler | Adapters | Types A–F, DC, DP | PP, aluminium, 316 | Hose and pump halves | Stocked |
| Hose tail / shank | Adapters | 3/4" to 3" | PP, brass, stainless | Hose clamping | Stocked |
| Reducer / increaser | Adapters | 2"×3", 2"×1.5" | PP, aluminium | Matching an existing hose | Stocked |
| 2.5" fire thread adapter | Adapters | NST / NH | Aluminium, brass | Fire-water draft points | 1–3 days |
| Bulkhead fitting | Adapters | 1/2" to 2" | PP, EPDM gaskets | Through-wall on upcycled builds | Stocked |
Seat and gasket compatibility — 21 media against four elastomers
| Medium | EPDM | Viton (FKM) | Silicone | PTFE | We would fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water, potable & process | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | EPDM |
| Dilute acids (<10%) | Good | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | EPDM |
| Concentrated acids | Poor | Good | Poor | Excellent | PTFE |
| Caustic soda, alkalis | Excellent | Fair | Fair | Excellent | EPDM |
| Liquid fertiliser, UAN | Excellent | Good | Fair | Excellent | EPDM |
| Glycols, coolants, de-icer | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | EPDM |
| Surfactants, detergents | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | EPDM |
| Edible oils, fats | Poor | Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Viton |
| Mineral oils | Poor | Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Viton |
| Aromatic solvents | Poor | Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Viton |
| Chlorinated solvents | Poor | Good | Poor | Excellent | Viton / PTFE |
| Ketones (acetone, MEK) | Fair | Poor | Poor | Excellent | PTFE |
| Alcohols | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | EPDM |
| Fuels, diesel, kerosene | Poor | Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Viton |
| Juice & syrup concentrate | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | FDA EPDM |
| Brine, pickling liquor | Good | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | Viton |
| Hot fill 140–180°F | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Viton / silicone |
| Hydrogen peroxide (dilute) | Good | Fair | Fair | Excellent | EPDM / PTFE |
| Sodium hypochlorite | Good | Good | Fair | Excellent | EPDM |
| Steam / CIP chemistry | Excellent | Fair | Good | Excellent | EPDM |
| Outdoor weathering & ozone | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | EPDM |
Outlet dimensions by container format
| Format | Nominal | Usable | L × W × H | Tare (steel base) | Gross, water | Outlet | Stack filled | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal standard | 275 gal / 1,041 L | 265 gal | 48 × 40 × 46" | 137 lb | 2,347 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Ex-stock |
| 275 gal tall | 275 gal / 1,041 L | 264 gal | 48 × 40 × 53" | 141 lb | 2,342 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Regular |
| 330 gal standard | 330 gal / 1,249 L | 320 gal | 48 × 40 × 53" | 165 lb | 2,834 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Ex-stock |
| 350 gal | 350 gal / 1,325 L | 338 gal | 48 × 40 × 58" | 172 lb | 2,991 lb | 2" or 3" | 2 high | Occasional |
| 400 gal | 400 gal / 1,514 L | 386 gal | 48 × 46 × 60" | 198 lb | 3,417 lb | 3" buttress | 1 high | Order |
| 550 gal | 550 gal / 2,082 L | 532 gal | 48 × 48 × 72" | 251 lb | 4,688 lb | 3" buttress | 1 high | Occasional |
| 120 gal mini | 120 gal / 454 L | 115 gal | 32 × 32 × 36" | 71 lb | 1,030 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Occasional |
| 180 gal | 180 gal / 681 L | 174 gal | 40 × 40 × 42" | 98 lb | 1,549 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Order |
| Stainless 265 gal | 265 gal / 1,003 L | 258 gal | 48 × 40 × 50" | 285 lb | 2,436 lb | 2" tri-clamp | 2 high | Occasional |
| Stainless 330 gal | 330 gal / 1,249 L | 322 gal | 48 × 40 × 56" | 330 lb | 3,015 lb | 2" tri-clamp | 2 high | Occasional |
| Stainless 400 gal | 400 gal / 1,514 L | 390 gal | 48 × 46 × 62" | 385 lb | 3,637 lb | 3" tri-clamp | 1 high | Order |
| Stainless 500 gal | 500 gal / 1,893 L | 488 gal | 48 × 48 × 68" | 430 lb | 4,600 lb | 3" tri-clamp | 1 high | Order |
Five steps, two minutes, no guessing
- Drain, depressurise and clean the thread. Dried residue adds a millimetre and sends you to the wrong part.
- Caliper across the male thread crests at the widest point, twice, 90° apart. Readings differing by more than a millimetre mean the boss is distorted.
- Measure across six crests and divide. S60x6 spans 36 mm; S56x4 spans 24 mm. This is the check that catches look-alikes.
- Measure the bore, not the thread, for the nominal outlet size — about 50 mm for a 2-inch, 75 mm for a 3-inch.
- Choose body by duty and seat by chemistry. If unsure, send the product name rather than guessing an elastomer.
Which camlock pair for a tote?
Type F or Type A on the valve outlet, Type C on the hose. Cap unused halves with DC or DP in transit.
Garden hose off a tote?
S60x6 to 3/4-inch GHT adapter. Flow is limited by the hose, not the tote.
Can I get full 3-inch flow?
Only from a container built with a 3-inch boss. A downstream increaser gets hose compatibility, not flow.
Butterfly or ball?
Butterfly for general duty and low cost; ball for viscous, abrasive or full-bore needs; stainless ball for hot product and CIP.
Why does my new valve weep on one side?
The boss has probably gone slightly oval. Check for star crazing — distortion there is unrepairable.
Tri-clamp on a poly tote?
No. Tri-clamp belongs on stainless or purpose-built sanitary vessels.
Six fitting mistakes that end a container
Hanging a pump off the valve
Twenty pounds of vibrating diaphragm pump cantilevered on a moulded boss. Support it independently and use a flexible first connection.
Rigid pipe straight into the outlet
Containers move as they fill and empty. Rigid pipe transmits that into the boss root. Fit a union within a foot of the valve.
Using a pipe wrench
It distorts the valve body, which transfers the distortion to the boss. A strap wrench costs less than a valve.
Over-tightening
The gasket does the sealing. Extra torque adds hoop stress at the boss root and nothing else.
Assuming S60x6 because it looks coarse
S56x4 and S70x6 both exist in the used population. Six crests span 24, 36 and 36 mm respectively.
Keeping the seat that came with it
EPDM is the default and the wrong answer for aromatics, fuels and fats. Match the elastomer to the actual liquid.
Sixteen datasets, each published in full
Everything this site measures, with the row count and the page it lives on. None of it is behind a form.