Drum vs. Keg: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson & Harlon Moss || Updated on May 20, 2024
A drum is a large cylindrical container typically used for storing and transporting liquids or bulk materials, while a keg is a smaller barrel-like container mainly used for storing and dispensing beverages like beer.
Key Differences
A drum is a large, cylindrical container often made from steel, plastic, or fiber. It is primarily used for storing and transporting liquids, chemicals, or bulk materials. Drums come in various sizes, with 55-gallon drums being particularly common in industrial settings. A keg, on the other hand, is a smaller, barrel-like container mainly used for storing and dispensing beverages, especially beer. Kegs are usually made of stainless steel or aluminum and are designed to maintain the carbonation and freshness of the liquid inside.
While drums are used across various industries for a wide range of substances, kegs are predominantly found in the beverage industry. Drums are typically sealed with lids or caps and can be transported using forklifts or pallet jacks, whereas kegs have specialized fittings for dispensing liquids under pressure.
Drums can be used for both hazardous and non-hazardous materials and often have a larger capacity compared to kegs. Kegs, however, are specifically designed to handle the pressure of carbonated drinks and are often equipped with valves and taps for easy dispensing.
Drums are versatile containers used in many industries for bulk storage and transport, while kegs are specialized containers used mainly in the beverage industry to store and serve carbonated drinks.
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Storing and transporting liquids or bulk materials
Storing and dispensing beverages
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Common Materials
Steel, plastic, fiber
Stainless steel, aluminum
Typical Capacity
Up to 55 gallons or more
Generally 5 to 15.5 gallons
Industries
Various, including chemical and industrial
Beverage, especially brewing
Design Features
Large, cylindrical, sealed
Barrel-like, designed for pressure
Drum and Keg Definitions
Drum
Used for transporting bulk materials.
They used drums to transport the powdered goods.
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Keg
Typically made of stainless steel or aluminum.
The craft brewery used aluminum kegs for distribution.
Drum
Common in industrial settings.
The factory had rows of steel drums for various chemicals.
Keg
Designed for carbonated drinks.
The soda was stored in pressurized kegs.
Drum
Can store hazardous materials.
Hazardous waste was sealed in secure drums.
Keg
Used primarily in the beverage industry.
The microbrewery filled kegs for local bars.
Drum
A percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a membrane stretched tightly over one or both ends, played by beating with the hands or sticks.
Keg
Equipped with valves for dispensing.
The bartender tapped the keg for fresh beer.
Drum
A sound produced by this instrument.
Keg
A small cask or barrel with a capacity of about 30 gallons (114 liters).
Drum
Something resembling a drum in shape or structure, especially a barrellike metal container or a metal cylinder wound with cable, wire, or heavy rope.
Keg
Such a container and its contents.
Drum
A circular or polygonal wall supporting a dome or cupola. Also called tambour.
Keg
A unit of weight used for nails, equal to 100 pounds (45.5 kilograms).
Drum
Any of the cylindrical stone blocks that are stacked to form the shaft of a column.
Keg
To put or store in a small cask or barrel.
Drum
Any of various marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that make a drumming sound by vibrating certain muscles attached to the swim bladder.
Keg
A round, traditionally wooden container of lesser capacity than a barrel, often used to store beer.
Drum
(Anatomy) The eardrum.
Keg
(transitive) To store in a keg.
Drum
To play a drum or drums.
Keg
A small cask or barrel.
Drum
To thump or tap rhythmically or continually
Nervously drummed on the table.
Keg
The quantity contained in a keg
Drum
To produce a booming, reverberating sound by beating the wings, as certain birds do.
Keg
Small cask or barrel
Drum
To perform (a piece or tune) on or as if on a drum.
Keg
A small barrel-like container for beverages.
The pub served beer from a stainless steel keg.
Drum
To summon by or as if by beating a drum.
Drum
To make known to or force upon (a person) by constant repetition
Drummed the answers into my head.
Drum
To expel or dismiss in disgrace. Often used with out
Was drummed out of the army.
Drum
A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
Percussion instrument
Drum
Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.
Replace the drum unit of your printer.
Drum
A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.
The restaurant ordered ketchup in 50-gallon drums.
Drum
(architecture) The encircling wall that supports a dome or cupola.
Drum
(architecture) Any of the cylindrical blocks that make up the shaft of a pillar.
Drum
A drumfish (family Sciaenidae).
Drum
A tip; a piece of information.
Drum
A small hill or ridge of hills.
Drum
A social gathering or assembly held in the evening.
Drum
A person's home; a house or other building, especially when insalubrious; a tavern, a brothel.
Drum
(informal) A drumstick (of chicken, turkey, etc).
Drum
(intransitive) To beat a drum.
Drum
(ambitransitive) To beat with a rapid succession of strokes.
The ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
Drum
(transitive) To drill or review in an attempt to establish memorization.
He’s still trying to drum Spanish verb conjugations into my head.
Drum
To throb, as the heart.
Drum
To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc.; used with for.
Drum
Of various animals, to make a vocalisation or mechanical sound that resembles drumming.
Drum
An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere (kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band.
The drums cry bud-a-dub.
Drum
Anything resembling a drum in form
Drum
See Drumfish.
Drum
A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private house; a rout.
Not unaptly styled a drum, from the noise and emptiness of the entertainment.
Drum
A tea party; a kettledrum.
Drum
To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.
Drum
To beat with the fingers, as with drumsticks; to beat with a rapid succession of strokes; to make a noise like that of a beaten drum; as, the ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
Drumming with his fingers on the arm of his chair.
Drum
To throb, as the heart.
Drum
To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc,; - with for.
Drum
To execute on a drum, as a tune.
Drum
With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc.
Drum
With up) To assemble by, or as by, beat of drum; to collect; to gather or draw by solicitation; as, to drum up recruits; to drum up customers.
Drum
A musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretch across each end
Drum
The sound of a drum;
He could hear the drums before he heard the fifes
Drum
A bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
Drum
A cylindrical metal container used for shipping or storage of liquids
Drum
A hollow cast-iron cylinder attached to the wheel that forms part of the brakes
Drum
Small to medium-sized bottom-dwelling food and game fishes of shallow coastal and fresh waters that make a drumming noise
Drum
Make a rhythmic sound;
Rain drummed against the windshield
The drums beat all night
Drum
Play a percussion instrument
Drum
Study intensively, as before an exam;
I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam
Drum
A large cylindrical container for storing liquids.
The oil was stored in a 55-gallon drum.
Drum
Made of steel, plastic, or fiber.
The chemical drum was made of reinforced plastic.
FAQs
What is a keg?
A keg is a smaller barrel-like container primarily used for storing and dispensing beverages like beer.
What materials are drums made from?
Drums are commonly made from steel, plastic, or fiber.
What is a drum?
A drum is a large cylindrical container used for storing and transporting liquids or bulk materials.
What materials are kegs made from?
Kegs are usually made from stainless steel or aluminum.
What is the typical capacity of a drum?
Drums typically have a capacity of up to 55 gallons or more.
In which industries are drums commonly used?
Drums are used in various industries, including chemical and industrial sectors.
In which industries are kegs commonly used?
Kegs are predominantly used in the beverage industry.
How are drums typically sealed?
Drums are sealed with lids or caps and can be transported using forklifts or pallet jacks.
Can drums be used for hazardous materials?
Yes, drums can store hazardous materials securely.
Do kegs come in standard sizes?
Yes, kegs have standard sizes, with the half-barrel (15.5 gallons) being common in the US.
How are kegs designed for dispensing liquids?
Kegs have specialized fittings and valves for dispensing liquids under pressure.
Can drums be used for food storage?
Yes, food-grade drums are used for storing and transporting food products.
What is the typical capacity of a keg?
Kegs generally hold between 5 to 15.5 gallons.
Are kegs designed to maintain carbonation?
Yes, kegs are designed to maintain the carbonation and freshness of beverages.
Are drums and kegs recyclable?
Yes, both drums and kegs can be recycled, depending on the material they are made from.
Do drums come in standard sizes?
Yes, 55-gallon drums are particularly common in industrial settings.
Can kegs be reused?
Yes, kegs are often cleaned and reused multiple times.
What is a common use for a keg in the beverage industry?
Kegs are used to store and dispense beer in bars and restaurants.
What is a common use for a drum in the chemical industry?
Drums are commonly used to store and transport chemicals safely.
How do you tap a keg?
A keg is tapped using a special tap or valve designed for dispensing the beverage.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
Co-written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
