Diesel, Gasoline and Oil Storage Tanks
A fuel storage tank keeps diesel, gasoline or oil on your site, farm or base so equipment, fleets and backup generators refuel where they work. Decide first whether the tank sits above ground, goes underground or only has to last for one job, then choose the type that fits.
What fuel and oil storage is
It is a tank that holds flammable or combustible liquids, such as diesel, gasoline, heating oil or lube oil, until you dispense them. The aboveground steel tanks on this page meet UL 142, the Underwriters Laboratories standard for steel aboveground tanks for flammable and combustible liquids. Buried steel tanks can be built to UL 58 and UL 1746, the Underwriters Laboratories standards for steel underground tanks and their external corrosion protection. Facilities that store oil above the federal thresholds, and could reach waterways, generally need a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan.
The problem to solve
- What you store and how much. Start with the liquid (diesel, gasoline, lube oil or used oil) and how much you need on hand. Those two answers narrow the tank type and its fittings.
- Above ground or buried. Aboveground steel tanks sit on saddles, brackets or a skid. A buried tank is quoted per project and needs the burial depth, the soil conditions and whether traffic will cross it.
- Leaks and spills. A double-wall tank holds a leak from the inner tank, and the space between the walls can be checked. Berms and liners placed under steel tanks and bladders catch a spill.
- Fire code. Indoor or outdoor placement, the distance to buildings and the fire marshal's requirements shape the choice. Confirm the approvals your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requires before you order.
- One job or a remote site. A construction job, a relief operation or a remote base may need fuel only for a while. A collapsible fuel bladder sets up on the ground and moves to the next site.
Solutions
Aboveground steel tanks (UL 142)
3,000 to 20,000 gallonsSaddle tanksHorizontal tanks on steel saddles, single or double wall, for a fixed spot at a fleet yard, fueling station or generator site.See saddle tanks
150 to 2,000 gallonsFarm fuel tanksAboveground steel tanks for diesel on the farm; the smaller sizes can be ordered online.See farm fuel tanks
150 to 20,000 gallonsSkid tanksBuilt on a skid base, single or double wall, so you can move the tank around a construction site, farm or remote job.See skid tanks
Up to 30,000 gallonsFire-tested tanks (Flameshield)Double-wall steel with 2-hour fire-tested performance, certified to Steel Tank Institute (STI) specifications, for fuel stations and backup fuel at hospitals.See Flameshield tanks
251 to 1,215 gallonsFuelCube and TransCube tanksDouble-wall steel tanks with 110% containment, in kits with a gauge, pump or trailer. A TransCube is US Department of Transportation (DOT) certified to move full.Shop FuelCube and TransCube
Underground steel tanks
Fuel bladders for temporary or remote storage
130 to 200,000 gallonsFuel bladder tanksFlexible tanks for diesel, Jet A and oil that adapt to uneven ground, for job sites, emergencies and temporary storage. Smaller sizes move easily from site to site.See fuel bladder tanks
50,000 gallonsSurplus military fuel bladdersOnce military-owned collapsible bladders for diesel and Jet A, each with an assembly kit, lifting straps and a ground cloth; surplus supply is limited.See military fuel bladders
Sizing and guides
- SPCC secondary containment requirements
What the SPCC rule covers for oil storage and what sets the containment volume.
- Secondary containment for fuel and diesel tanks
Berms, drive-through berms and liners that catch a leak or spill around fuel tanks.
- Steel or fiberglass for buried diesel
Why underground diesel goes in steel tanks, and what fiberglass tanks store instead.
Questions we hear
Which fuel tank fits my site?
For a fixed spot above ground, choose a saddle tank. To move the tank around the site, choose a skid tank or a FuelCube. For fire-tested storage, look at Flameshield. If the tank goes underground, Act100 and Permatank steel tanks are quoted per project from the capacity, the liquid, the burial depth and whether traffic will cross it. For one job or a remote site, use a fuel bladder.
Can I bury a fiberglass tank for diesel?
Our fiberglass tanks are not built for fuel, so buried diesel is quoted in steel. Act100 pairs steel with a fiberglass outer coating and Permatank with a fiberglass outer tank: the steel gives structural strength and the fiberglass prevents corrosion. Our fiberglass tanks store other liquids, such as drinking water, gray water and some chemicals.
Do I need a double-wall tank?
A double-wall tank holds a leak from the inner tank, and the space between the walls can be checked for leaks. Whether you need one depends on your SPCC plan, your fire marshal and the site. With a single-wall tank, a containment berm or liner under the tank catches a spill.
What about a tank for a pickup, a shop or used oil?
Truck bed transfer tanks, auxiliary tanks and waste oil tanks are under Fuel & Oil Tanks in the Shop by Product menu. For motor oil and other lubricants in a shop, rectangular lube oil tanks run from 120 to 1,000 gallons.
Request a quote: Fuel and Oil Storage
Send the fuel, the capacity, single or double wall, indoors or outdoors, and the base or pad; a tank specialist replies with pricing and freight.
