Both carry fuel and both certify to a UN code. The choice comes down to payload, toughness and cost.
Both aluminium and steel carry petrol, diesel and kerosene, and both certify to a UN packaging code. The decision is rarely the fuel. It is weight against toughness and cost.
An aluminium can is markedly lighter empty than a steel one of the same size. Where payload is counted, in aviation ground support, expedition vehicles and motorsport, the saving per can adds up across a load. If weight is not a constraint, it is not a reason to pay the aluminium premium.
Steel takes abuse. It dents where aluminium can crack or fatigue under repeated hard knocks, and a galvanized or coated steel body shrugs off a decade of rough handling. Aluminium is softer, and a deep dent can become a split.
Aluminium forms its own oxide layer, so it needs no galvanizing and carries no coating to chip. Steel needs a zinc coat or paint to resist rust, which is a cost and a maintenance point that aluminium avoids. In salt air or a wash-down bay, aluminium's self-protection is an advantage.
Aluminium costs more than steel per can, in material and in forming. You pay the premium to remove weight. A buyer who does not need the weight saving gets the same fuel duty from steel for less.
Both metals certify for fuel. In a UN packaging code a steel jerry can reads 3A1 and an aluminium jerry can reads 3B1, where A is steel and B is aluminium. Certification is granted per design and per plant for either. See our guide to UN packaging codes for how to read the marking.
| Factor | Aluminium | Galvanized steel |
|---|---|---|
| Empty weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Toughness | Softer, can crack | Dents, very durable |
| Corrosion | Self-passivating, no coating | Needs galvanizing or paint |
| Unit cost | Higher | Lower |
| UN code | 3B1 | 3A1 |
| Best for | Payload-critical use | Field duty at lower cost |
We build the 20L Aluminium NATO Can for weight-critical loads and a full steel fuel range for everything else. Tell us whether weight or cost leads, and we point you at the right metal.
Tell us your market, your fuel and your volumes. We come back with a specification sheet and a quotation.