Roth oil tanks: sizes, chart, and cost
A Roth is a double-wall oil tank: a plastic inner tank inside a leak-proof steel outer, which is why it is popular for basements and tight code areas. Roth sizes them in liters, but Americans buy them in gallons, so the first thing most people want is the size translation, then the fill chart. Both are below, using Roth's own numbers.
Roth oil tank sizes, in gallons
Roth's residential tanks are named in liters, which is why a "1000L" is the one your oil company calls a 275. Here is the full lineup with the gallon size people actually search for:
| Roth model | Nominal size | Usable (95% fill) |
|---|---|---|
| Roth 400L | 110 gallon | about 109 gallons |
| Roth 620L | 165 gallon | about 157 gallons |
| Roth 1000L | 275 gallon (tall) | about 263 gallons |
| Roth 1000LH | 275 gallon (low height) | about 254 gallons |
| Roth 1500L | 400 gallon | about 412 gallons |
Nominal is the size dealers quote; usable is what it actually holds at the 95 percent fill limit, from Roth's own chart. Two 1000L models share the 275 rating in different shapes: the tall 1000L and the low, wide 1000LH for low-headroom basements.
Wondering what a Roth costs to install versus a plain steel tank? See the oil tank replacement cost guide; a double-wall tank runs more up front but carries its own containment.
Roth oil tank dimensions
How much room a Roth needs: the footprint (length by width) and overall height of each model, plus the vertical clearance to stand one up during installation. Handy for checking a low-headroom basement or a tight corner before you order.
| Model | Nominal | Length | Width | Height | Min. clearance | Empty weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roth 400L | 110 gal | 29″ | 28″ | 44″ | 49″ | 106 lb |
| Roth 620L | 165 gal | 29″ | 28″ | 61″ | 66″ | 132 lb |
| Roth 1000L | 275 gal | 43″ | 28″ | 61″ | 66″ | 167 lb |
| Roth 1000LH | 275 gal | 51″ | 30″ | 54″ | 60″ | 208 lb |
| Roth 1500L | 400 gal | 64″ | 30″ | 68″ | 76″ | 333 lb |
Exterior dimensions from Roth's EcoDWT plus 3 spec sheets. Length is the long side, width the narrow side, height the overall tank; minimum clearance is the vertical room needed to install. The tall 1000L and the low, wide 1000LH share the 275 gallon rating but differ by 7 inches of height and 8 inches of length.
Fuel level in inches to gallons
| Level | 400L (110 gal) | 620L (165 gal) | 1000L (275 gal) | 1000LH (275 gal) | 1500L (400 gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10″ | 25 | 25 | 42 | 48 | 60 |
| 20″ | 51 | 51 | 86 | 100 | 129 |
| 30″ | 81 | 81 | 135 | 153 | 196 |
| 40″ | 112 | 186 | 206 | 262 | |
| 50″ | 141 | 236 | 330 |
Anchor rows from the Roth EcoDWT plus 3 fill chart, rounded to whole gallons; one misprinted gallon cell on the 1000L was corrected against the chart's liters column. An empty cell means the model tops out below that level. Roth or your installer can supply the full inch by inch chart.
Maximum fill for each model, per the same chart:
- 400L: 109 gallons at 39″
- 620L: 157 gallons at 56″
- 1000L: 263 gallons at 56″
- 1000LH: 254 gallons at 49″
- 1500L: 412 gallons at 61″
Reading the Roth tank gauge
A Roth carries a float gauge on top of the tank that shows the oil level as a fraction rather than gallons: a float rides the fuel surface and moves a marker between F, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4. To turn a gauge reading into gallons, find your model below and read across. F sits at the 95 percent maximum fill level, which is why a "full" 1000L is about 263 gallons, not 275.
| Model | F | 3/4 | 1/2 | 1/4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roth 400L | 109 | 79 | 50 | 24 |
| Roth 620L | 157 | 116 | 77 | 36 |
| Roth 1000L | 263 | 193 | 128 | 60 |
| Roth 1000LH | 254 | 190 | 124 | 59 |
| Roth 1500L | 412 | 300 | 200 | 96 |
Derived from the Roth fill chart, assuming the gauge F mark sits at the 95 percent fill level. Float gauges are coarse; treat these as reorder guidance, not metering.
A stuck float is the usual reason a Roth gauge looks wrong: if the marker holds at one fraction through a delivery, or will not fall as you burn oil, the float has likely hung up and the gauge needs a look. Read the fraction for reorder timing and take the metered delivery ticket as the exact gallons.
Which model do I have?
The model and capacity are printed on the label on the tank itself; check there before trusting any table, this one included. The five residential models:
-
Roth 400L
110 gallons nominal, the smallest; level tops out near 39″
-
Roth 620L
165 gallons nominal; level tops out near 56″
-
Roth 1000L
275 gallons nominal, the tall version; tops out near 56″
-
Roth 1000LH
275 gallons nominal in a low height body; tops out near 49″
-
Roth 1500L
400 gallons nominal, the largest; its chart runs to 412 gallons at 61″
Steel tank instead?
If your tank is a painted steel oval rather than plastic, it is read with a stick in inches, and the computed charts apply:
-
275 gallon vertical chart
The standard upright steel oval, read on a 44 inch scale
-
275 gallon horizontal chart
The same steel oval lying flat, read on a 27 inch scale
All sizes, including the 330s and buried tanks, are on the charts page.
Common questions
What sizes do Roth oil tanks come in?
The residential lineup is the 400L (110 gallon), 620L (165 gallon), 1000L and 1000LH (both 275 gallon, tall and low-height), and 1500L (400 gallon). Roth names them in liters; the gallon size above is what oil companies quote. Usable capacity is a bit less because tanks fill only to 95 percent.
How much does a Roth oil tank cost?
A double-wall tank like a Roth costs more installed than a plain single-wall steel tank, in exchange for built-in secondary containment that can simplify code compliance. Exact pricing depends on size, location, and removing the old tank, so get local quotes; the replacement cost guide covers what drives the number.
Can I stick a Roth tank?
The float gauge is the intended homeowner reading on a Roth; the inches in the fill chart describe fuel level and are what installers and drivers work from at the fill fitting. If you have a level reading in inches, use the official table above. Do not open factory fittings to improvise a stick path on a double wall tank.
How accurate is the float gauge?
It reads level as a coarse fraction, so use the gauge table for reorder timing rather than exact gallons. When you need a precise figure, the metered ticket from your next delivery is the truth.
My Roth gauge is stuck or reads full when the tank is not — what now?
That is almost always a hung float rather than a real surprise at the tank. The gauge sits on top and the float can stick with age or after the oil is disturbed. Confirm the true level from your delivery history or a service visit and have the gauge checked; once you trust the level, the fill chart above still gives you the gallons.
Why does my 275 gallon Roth only take about 260 gallons?
Roth's own chart caps the 1000L at 263 gallons: tanks fill to 95 percent so warming oil can expand, and the whistle can stop the driver slightly sooner. A fill in the 250s into an empty 1000L is a full tank, not a short delivery.
Can I use the steel 275 chart for a Roth 1000L?
No. The 275 chart converts stick inches on a steel oval. The Roth 1000L shares the nominal rating and nothing else; its shape and heights are different. Use the Roth tables above.
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