Sell Your IBC Tanks
Get top dollar for your used tanks
Get a Selling Quote
Tell us about the tanks you want to sell
Why Sell to TankFlow Solutions?
Fair Prices
Competitive offers based on condition and market value
Quick Process
Fast evaluation and payment
Easy Transaction
Simple, hassle-free selling experience
We Pick Up
Pickup service available for large quantities
Any Condition
We buy tanks in all conditions
Bulk Purchases
Special rates for large quantities
What We Buy
Acceptable Tanks
- • 275-gallon IBC totes
- • 330-gallon IBC totes
- • Food-grade tanks
- • Chemical-grade tanks
- • UN-rated tanks
- • Slightly damaged tanks
- • Tanks needing cleaning
- • Bulk quantities
Factors Affecting Price
- •Condition: Better condition = higher price
- •Cleanliness: Clean tanks fetch better prices
- •Quantity: Bulk sales get premium rates
- •Previous contents: Food-grade worth more
- •Certifications: UN-rated increases value
Detailed Selling Information
What We Buy and How Much We Pay
We purchase IBC tanks in virtually any condition, from pristine like-new units to damaged containers suitable only for parts recovery or recycling. Our fair, transparent pricing is based on multiple factors that determine the tank's resale value and usefulness in the secondary market.
Premium-Value Tanks (Highest Prices)
These characteristics command our top purchase prices:
- • Like-new condition with minimal use (only 1-2 fill cycles)
- • Food-grade certified with complete documented history
- • UN-rated certification for hazardous materials transport
- • NSF or FDA certified markings clearly visible and intact
- • Contained only clean substances: water, juice, glycerin, or vegetable oil
- • All original valves, caps, and gaskets present and functional
- • Spotlessly clean interior with no staining, residue, or odors
- • Steel cage completely free from rust, dents, or structural damage
- • Wooden or plastic pallet in excellent condition, no rot or breaks
- • Recent manufacture date (within last 5 years preferred)
Typical Price Range: $80-$150 per tank
Bulk quantities (50+) can fetch premium above top range
Standard-Value Tanks (Fair Prices)
Still valuable with fair market pricing:
- • Moderate use history (3-8 fill cycles) but remains fully functional
- • Minor cosmetic wear on cage or pallet but structurally sound
- • Contained common industrial chemicals or cleaning solutions
- • Some interior staining present but no contamination concerns
- • May need valve replacement or minor gasket repairs
- • Light surface rust on cage (not affecting structural integrity)
- • Standard industrial use history with typical wear patterns
- • Requires basic cleaning but bladder remains intact
- • Pallet shows wear but remains functional for forklift handling
- • Older manufacture dates acceptable (5-10 years)
Typical Price Range: $30-$70 per tank
Price depends heavily on exact condition and previous contents
Even Damaged Tanks Have Value!
Don't assume damaged tanks are worthless. We actively purchase tanks with significant damage for parts recovery, repair, and recycling programs. Every IBC tank contains valuable materials:
- • Cracked or punctured bladders (cage and pallet still valuable)
- • Broken or missing valves and caps (easily replaceable)
- • Damaged or bent steel cages (bladder may be salvageable)
- • Broken or rotted pallets (top assembly components still usable)
- • Heavily stained or discolored bladders (recyclable HDPE plastic)
- • Tanks with strong odors or residue (parts recovery viable)
- • Very old tanks with extensive use (metal recycling value)
- • Incomplete tanks or partial assemblies (individual parts have value)
Recycling Program: Even tanks completely unsuitable for resale contain 50-70 pounds of recyclable HDPE plastic (bladder) plus approximately 40-60 pounds of recyclable steel (cage). We pay fair prices based on current scrap material values, typically $10-25 per damaged tank depending on what's salvageable.
Maximize Your Tank Value - Seller Tips
Before You Sell - Preparation Tips
- 1.Basic Cleaning Pays Off: Even a simple water rinse to remove loose residue can increase value by $5-15 per tank. Buyers pay more for tanks they can immediately inspect and grade.
- 2.Document Previous Contents: Maintain records of what was stored in your tanks. Food-grade history documentation can increase value by 20-30% compared to "unknown contents."
- 3.Keep All Parts Together: Don't discard or lose valves, caps, or gaskets - even if damaged. A complete tank (even with bad valves) is worth more than incomplete units.
- 4.Store Properly: Keep tanks out of direct sunlight if possible. UV exposure degrades HDPE plastic over time, reducing resale value. Store on level ground to prevent pallet damage.
- 5.Photograph Certification Labels: Take clear photos of all certification markings (UN rating, FDA stamps, NSF labels) before they fade. These photos can verify high-value certifications.
What Reduces Tank Value
- !Unknown Previous Contents: Tanks with no documentation of previous use lose 25-40% of value due to buyer uncertainty and liability concerns.
- !Hazardous Chemical History: Tanks that held toxic, corrosive, or hazardous materials have limited resale markets and command significantly lower prices (often recycling-only value).
- !Strong Persistent Odors: Chemical smells that remain after rinsing indicate permeation into plastic, limiting reuse options and reducing value by 30-50%.
- !Excessive Rust or Corrosion: Heavy rust that compromises structural integrity makes tanks unsuitable for safe reuse. Light surface rust is acceptable, but extensive corrosion limits value.
- !Missing Critical Components: Tanks sold without bottom valves lose $10-20 in value. Missing top caps reduce value by $5-15. Buyers prefer complete, ready-to-use units.
Selling Process - Simple, Fast, and Fair
Initial Contact & Information Gathering
Fill out our online form or call us directly. We need basic information: quantity of tanks, general condition, previous contents (if known), and your location. The more details you provide, the more accurate our initial quote can be.
Timeline: We respond to all inquiries within 4 business hours, often much faster. Urgent sales receive same-day attention.
Evaluation & Preliminary Quote
Based on your description and any photos you provide, we'll issue a preliminary quote range. For large quantities (50+ tanks) or potentially high-value tanks (food-grade, like-new condition), we can arrange an on-site inspection for precise assessment and final pricing.
Timeline: Preliminary quotes typically issued within 24 hours. On-site inspections scheduled within 3-5 business days if needed.
Agreement & Logistics Coordination
Accept our offer and we coordinate the logistics. You can self-deliver tanks to our Phoenix facility (best for small quantities), or we arrange pickup (standard for bulk sales). We handle all loading if you provide forklift or loading dock access. For very large quantities (100+), we can arrange commercial freight pickup.
Options: Self-delivery (immediate), local pickup (1-5 days), freight pickup (5-10 days depending on distance).
Final Inspection & Quick Payment
Upon delivery or pickup, we conduct a final inspection to verify condition matches description. If all matches (which it usually does), payment is processed immediately. For self-deliveries, we can often issue payment same-day. For pickup orders, payment is made within 1 business day of receiving tanks at our facility.
Payment Methods: Business check, wire transfer, or ACH direct deposit - your choice. We never delay payment unnecessarily.
Common Questions Answered
A: We adjust the offer fairly based on actual condition. If tanks are significantly worse than described, we'll re-quote before proceeding. You're never obligated to accept a revised offer.
A: Pickup is free for quantities of 20+ tanks within 100 miles of Phoenix. For smaller quantities or longer distances, we may deduct nominal transport costs from the purchase price (typically $2-5 per tank).
A: Absolutely! We buy any quantity from single tanks to truckloads. Small quantities typically require self-delivery to our facility, but we're always happy to purchase even one tank if you can bring it to us.