For contractors who've outgrown 5-gallon pails but aren't ready for tanker delivery, the 275-gallon tote is the right answer. It fits on a single pallet, moves with a forklift, and at roughly $0.10–0.15/gallon cheaper than pails it pays back fast.
What's in a tote
A standard sealcoat tote is a 275-gallon polyethylene IBC inside a galvanized steel cage on a pallet. Filled with asphalt emulsion sealer (AMT), it weighs roughly 2,700–2,800 lbs. Standard 2-inch bottom valve, 6-inch top fill cap, forkliftable from any side.
What to ask before your first tote order
Is it a returnable or one-way tote? Returnable totes carry a deposit ($150–250) refunded when you bring the empty back. One-way totes are slightly more expensive per-gallon but you don't have to manage logistics.
Has the product been agitated recently? Sealer settles. A tote that's been sitting 60+ days should be re-agitated before it leaves the manufacturer.
What's the dilution rate spec? AMT-5000 specifies a tight dilution window (typically 25–35% water by volume depending on application). A manufacturer who can't tell you the dilution spec is a manufacturer to walk away from.
Storage and handling
- Store totes upright on flat ground or pallet rack rated for 3,000 lbs.
- Keep above 40°F — sealer doesn't freeze well and emulsion can break.
- Out of direct sun if you can. Heat accelerates skinning at the top.
- Rotate inventory FIFO — first in, first out.
Pricing benchmarks
Bulk sealer pricing varies with crude markets and the freight situation, so we don't publish prices online. For ballpark: 275-gallon totes of commercial-grade AMT typically run $2.50–4.00/gallon delivered in the Northwest, depending on volume and location. Call for a current delivered quote on your yard address.
When a tote is the wrong answer
If you're sealing under ~3,000 sq ft per week, 5-gallon pails are still cheaper on a project basis because you waste less product to skinning and bottom sludge. If you're sealing over 25,000 sq ft per week consistently, you're past totes and into mini-bulk or tanker territory.
Buying AMT-5000 totes from Summit
We blend Pitch Black AMT-5000 in Kalispell and deliver 275-gallon totes across MT, ID, WA, ND, and SD. First-time contractor buyers get a delivered sample run on the first tote and a phone-line technical contact through the season. Request a quote at /wholesale or call (406) 309-SEAL.
Take the Next Step
Ready to protect your pavement investment? Our team is here to help with expert assessments and customized maintenance plans.
Request a Tote QuoteGet a Free Estimate
Have questions about what you just read? Drop your info and we'll follow up with a personalized assessment.
Related Articles
Bulk Sealcoat Supplier in the Northwest: A Contractor's Sourcing Guide
If you're a paving or sealcoat contractor in the Northern Rockies, your sealer supplier is your single biggest input-cost line. Here's how to source bulk pavement sealer without overpaying on freight or getting stuck with thin product.
Wholesale & ContractorsWho Makes the Best Sealcoat? A Buyer's Guide to AMT-5000 and the National Brands
Three national brands dominate the pavement-sealer category. One regional formulation is built specifically for the Northern Rockies. Here's the contractor-side decision framework.
Asphalt PavingWhat Should Be Included in an Asphalt Paving Bid? A 17-Point Checklist
Most paving bids are impossible to compare because they hide the assumptions that decide the price. Here are the 17 line items that make a proposal decision-quality — and the exclusions that quietly move cost onto the owner.
Asphalt PavingWhen Is Asphalt Paving Season in Northwest Montana?
Paving season in Northwest Montana is set by surface temperature, mat thickness and the length of the working day — not by a date on the calendar. Here's how the window actually works, and how to plan around it.