What Are The Dimensions Of A 10 Gallon Fish Tank? Decorative image

What Are The Dimensions Of A 10 Gallon Fish Tank?

Last updated on September 22nd, 2023 at 01:17 pm

A 10-gallon fish tank is one of the more popular sizes for beginners. 

Although they are small aquariums, they are commonly kept by many fish-keeping hobbyists.

A 10-gallon fish tank doesn’t take up a lot of room and is easy to keep pretty much anywhere in your home or office.

Before you purchase and set up a new 10-gallon tank, it’s important to know its dimensions so you can ensure you have the right size cabinet or stand for it and plan your space accordingly.

10 Gallon fish tank dimensions

A standard size rectangular 10-gallon aquarium will have the dimensions of 20” L x 10” W x 12” H. These dimensions are just for the tank itself including the trim if installed and does not include the canopy, light, or other equipment.  

Although these dimensions are for a standard 10-gallon aquarium, it’s possible that certain fish tanks will have different dimensions and still hold the same volume of water.

For example, it’s quite common for aquariums to be custom-made using different dimensions than the standard. 

Some people may need a certain size to match a cabinet or wall space and would prefer to have a taller aquarium instead of a longer or wider one. 

Fish tanks can be made in a variety of sizes and dimensions to suit your needs.

This is more common with larger fish tanks but it’s still an option for smaller aquariums as well. 

Most aquarium shops and pet stores will only carry standard-size tanks but some will have the option to order a custom size.  

10 gallon aquarium with dimensions

How much does a 10 gallon fish tank weigh? 

A 10-gallon fish tank can vary slightly in weight depending on the type of glass it is made with. 

Acrylic aquariums are often used instead of glass and are lighter in weight.

A 10-gallon fish tank is considered to be a small tank and on its own, it doesn’t weigh much. 

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On average, a 10-gallon aquarium weighs around 11 pounds when empty. 

Once filled with water, it will weigh close to 100 pounds. 

The weight of 1 gallon of water is 8.33 pounds and if you are keeping a saltwater aquarium, the water will weigh closer to 8.5 pounds per gallon.

If you add decorations, sand, gravel, filter, lighting, and any other equipment to the tank, it will weigh even more.

If you are going to place a 10-gallon fish tank on a stand, you won’t need anything heavy-duty. 

Proper aquarium stands are available to use, but for smaller tanks, they are not always needed.

Many people will keep them on a dresser or side table, or even a desk at the office. 

Just ensure that whatever stand you choose is capable of supporting all edges of the tank while holding more than 100 pounds. 

person placing a plant inside an aquarium

How do you calculate aquarium volume?

Aquarium volume is normally calculated using gallons and liters. 

To determine how much volume of water the tank will hold, you just need to know its dimensions and do a little math. 

Let’s use the 10-gallon tank as an example which has the dimensions of 20” x 10” x 12”. 

All you need to do is multiply the 3 numbers together and divide the total by 231. 

20x12x10 = 2,400 then divide by 231 = 10.38 gallons. 

2,400/231 = 10.38.

You can use the same formula for larger tanks as well. 

A 10 gallon fish tank has the dimensions of 20″ x 10″ x 12″

How many fish can you keep in a 10 gallon tank?

One of the biggest mistakes many fish keepers make is overstocking their aquarium.

With a smaller tank like a 10 gallon, you are limited in the amount and types of fish you can keep.

Smaller fish that are around 1 inch in size can be kept in this size tank with no more than around 5 or 6 fish total. 

If the fish are even smaller, like the common guppy, you can keep more. 

Larger fish are not recommended to be kept in a 10-gallon tank.  

aquarium with small red fish and plants

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