Author: Camden Atkinson

Have you ever thought to yourself “Is this water bottle going to be too heavy? Too light? Or just right?” We are going to explore those questions today by diving into how much a standard water bottle weighs!

Let’s explore this mystery!

Introduction
Initially, we will have to define what we see as the “standard” water bottle. For the purposes of this exploration we will be focusing on stainless steel reusable water bottles and reusable plastic water bottles! This topic comes down to several factors and what you would probably think has a simple answer, it is actually a complicated, situational, and nuanced one. Let's take a look!

Reusable Metal Bottles:

*All data about metal bottle weights and dimensions have been taken directly from the IronFlask and HydroFlask websites. Please note that this data is approximated and may not be applicable to ALL metal bottles! 

Standard Small Metal Water Bottle Weight:

(18 oz) → .55-.68 lbs

18 oz Water Bottles

 

Weight when empty: .55-.68 lbs approx.

 

Weight when filled with water: (1.125 lbs water weight approx. + weight when empty)

 

First we will be taking a look at standard 18 oz stainless steel bottles with specific examples from IronFlask and HydroFlask! We chose 18 oz to represent the standard size for small water bottles because it is a popular water bottle capacity among retailers and consumers alike. 

These water bottles are very small and light, they might just float out of your hands! They only weigh .55-.68 lbs! That is equivalent to three regular sized bagels! Which, might I add, could be the perfect thing to go with your morning, 18 oz cup of joe. You can expect most 18 oz metal bottles to fall into around the same weight range as these examples depending on material, shape, and cap! We recommend checking your water bottles product description to make sure. 

 

Stainless Steel 18 oz Pros: 

• 18 oz metal water bottles are extremely light weight and will fit easily into bags and purses. 
• Great for people who cannot (or don’t want to) hold heavy objects. 
• These are the perfect water bottles for hiking and travel!
• They are very portable. 
• Since they are reusable they are better for the planet in comparison to single-use plastic! 
• They are extremely durable. 

Stainless Steel 18 oz Cons:

• The small size leads to more need for refills.
• They are heavier than plastic alternatives. 
• May not be good for long distance hikes or traveling. 

 

Standard Medium Metal Water Bottle Weight:

(24 oz) → .7-.83 lbs 

24 oz Water Bottles

 

Weight when empty: .7-.83 lbs approx. 

 

Weight when filled with water: (1.5 lbs water weight approx. + weight when empty)

 

Now on to our medium sized, 24 oz stainless steel bottles! We are continuing to look at examples from Iron Flask and HydroFlask! Serving up a bit more heft, these bottles weigh between .7-.83lbs. This water bottle size and weight is perfect for everyday use! It would be a great starter water bottle size. It is not too heavy and holds a good amount of water! 

 

Stainless Steel 24 oz Pros:

• 24 oz sized water bottles are lightweight.
• They are a larger alternative to the 18 oz bottles while not being much heavier. 
• They would be great for longer distance hikes 
• These water bottles are also very portable!
• They are reusable.
•  24 oz bottles are usually shaped to be tall and skinny for easy holding and grabbing. 

Stainless Steel 24 oz Cons:

• They could be too big to fit into smaller bags.
• While you would need to fill it less than an 18 oz water bottle, you still would need to regularly refill it. 
• These metal bottles are heavier than bottles made from different materials. 

Standard Large Metal Water Bottle Weight:

(64 oz) → 1.06-1.69 lbs

64 oz Water Bottles

 

Weight when empty: 1.06-1.69 lbs approx.

 

Weight when filled with water: (4 lbs water weight approx. + weight when empty) 

 

Last but certainly not least, we will take a look at our standard large 64 oz metal water bottles! The specific bottles we are looking at are IronFlask and HydroFlask models. These hydration companions are huge! They weigh from 1.06-1.69 lbs without water! With water, they weigh 4+ pounds! This type of water bottle is perfect for people who hate refilling their bottles constantly. They can also be great for long trips where water may not be as accessible. 

 

Stainless Steel 64 oz Pros:

• 64 oz water bottles are massive and will likely last you all day without refills!
• The large and wide design of the 64 oz bottle makes it unlikely to get lost. 
• They are reusable.
• Perfect for being stationary in accessible locations. 

 

Stainless Steel 64 oz Cons:

• They are heeeaaaavvvyyy! They are so heavy you could use them as weights for a light gym work out! 
• They are bulky. They will not be able to easily fit in bags and will take up a lot of space. You can completely forget about storing them in side-pockets, not gonna happen. 
• There is risk of injury when carrying around water bottles this size. If you drop that on your foot, ouch! 

 

 Reusable Plastic Bottles

*All weights and data about plastic water bottles was collected from the Nalgene website. Please note that this data is approximated and may not be applicable to ALL plastic bottles! 

Standard Small Reusable Plastic Water Bottle Weight:

(16 oz) → .195 lbs

16 oz Plastic Water Bottles 

 

Weight when empty: .195 lbs approx.

 

Weight when filled with water: (1 lbs water weight approx. + weight when empty) 

 

We will also explore some standard sizes of reusable plastic water bottles! We will look into a specific example from Nalgene. This bottle weighs .195 lbs when empty, which is very light! This water bottle would be perfect for traveling and is a lighter alternative to the standard 18 oz stainless steel water bottle. 

 

Plastic 16 oz Pros: 

• 16 oz metal plastic bottles are very light weight and are perfect for travel. 
• Great for people who cannot (or don’t want to) hold heavy objects. 
• They are very portable. 
• Since they are reusable they are better for the planet in comparison to single-use plastic! 
• They are lighter than metal water bottle alternatives. 

Plastic 16 oz Cons:

• The small size leads to more need for refills.
• May not be good for longer distance hikes or where water may not be accessible.
• They would potentially be less durable than metal water bottles. 

Standard Medium Reusable Plastic Water Bottle Weight:

(32oz) → .39 lbs

32 oz Plastic Water Bottles

Weight when empty: .39 lbs approx.

Weight when filled with water: (2 lbs water weight approx. + weight when empty) 

The size of this standard medium sized plastic water bottle from Nalgene weighs in at .39 lbs without water and 2 lbs when fully filled. This 32 oz plastic bottle is lighter than the standard medium sized 24 oz metal bottles previously explored!

Plastic 32 oz Pros: 

• 32 oz plastic water bottles are even lighter weight than the metal ones previously sampled.
• They are a larger alternative to the 16 oz plastic bottles.
• They would be great for longer distance hikes 
• These water bottles are also very portable!
• They are reusable.

Plastic 32 oz Cons: 

• They could be too big to fit into smaller bags.
• These water bottles could be less durable than metal water bottles. 

Standard Large Reusable Plastic Water Bottle Weight:

(64oz) → .5 lbs

48 oz Plastic Water Bottles

Weight when empty: .5 lbs approx.

Weight when filled with water: (3 lbs water weight approx. + weight when empty) 

Lastly, we will be looking at a standard large plastic water bottle from Nalgene. This water bottle is .5 lbs empty and 3 lbs when fully filled. This water bottle is more than 50% lighter than the 64 oz metal water bottles we had looked into previously! This is a significant amount of weight that can be the difference between being able to carry a water bottle around and it being too heavy. 

Plastic 64 oz Pros: 

• 64 oz water bottles are massive and will likely last you all day without refills!
• These plastic water bottles are more than 50% lighter than metal ones. 
• The large and wide design of the 64 oz bottle makes it unlikely to get lost. 
• They are reusable.

Plastic 64 oz Cons:

• They are bulky. They will not be able to easily fit in bags and will take up a lot of space. 
• They can be less durable than metal water bottles.

Stainless Steel vs. Reusable Plastic Water Bottles:

Other Important Factors Influencing Weight

Bottle Shape: An important factor when discovering the weight of a bottle is its shape. Along with its shape is the weight of the specific cap it uses. For example, a bottle with a built-in straw might weigh more than a bottle with a screw on cap! 

Material Type: The type of material used to create a water bottle will make an impact on its weight. The lightest bottles are typically made of single use plastic but there are many environmental implications about using them. To be more environmentally friendly you can opt to use metal or reusable plastic water bottles, which are both heavier and more durable! 

Different Brands: Different brands use different water bottle designs and that can have an effect on weight. Some brands are also more likely to use lighter weight materials like plastic and some brands are more likely to make glass bottles, which can be the heaviest material to use. 

Why does Weight Matter? 

Life Style Match: Finding your perfect water bottle weight is important because it is something that can become a big part of your life. Water is a necessity and water bottles can be a crucial tool to staying hydrated while out and about. 

Portability: You will want to choose a water bottle you are physically able to comfortably carry and move around when needed.

It is also worth considering what activities you frequently do with your time! If you are currently in school, you will probably want a water bottle that is light enough to fit in your back without strain. If you go on long haul road trips, you may want a larger, more stationary bottle to quench your thirst on the road. If you are a girl-on-the-go you may want a water bottle in between those sizes to fit in your purse. 

Environmental Impacts: When it comes to environmental impacts of water bottles, single-use plastic is the main culprit. To be more environmentally conscious it is always better to invest in a reusable water bottle to cut down on material going to landfills. Either reusable plastic or steel water bottles are a great option because they cut down on lower quality plastics being used and discarded at high rates. 

Durability: Along with weight, you will need to explore different options of cups to compare the pros and cons of lighter weight materials and durability. There is even the option of choosing a metal bottle that has single wall insulated temperature control, making it lighter than double wall insulated temperature control. Although it would make the bottle less durable in that case. These are the decisions you will need to consider to find your desired drinking experience. When it comes to the least durable water bottles, it comes back to single-use plastic. By choosing a reusable water bottle, you are already making a environmentally, financially, and sustainably good decision.  

Conclusion

While there is no simple, straightforward answer to how much a “standard” water bottle weighs, we hope you enjoyed learning more about the different weights of different sized water bottles and other factors that influence water bottle weight. Finding a water bottle that is your preferred weight is so important because it can make you more likely to bring it with you when out and about. Someone may not want to lug around a water bottle that's too heavy or constantly have to fill a bottle that is too light. Customization and learning what you love is important to us here at CharCharms and we invite you to decorate your bottle for an even more personalized water bottle experience!