cans

The American can industry describes the dimensions of cylindrical cans by two three-digit numbers. The first number is the can's diameter and the second its height. In each number, the first digit is the number of whole inches, and the second two digits are the number of sixteenths of an inch. So, for example, a 303 by 407 can would be 3 ⁰³⁄₁₆ inches in diameter and 4 ⁰⁷⁄₁₆ inches high.

The table below lists some common can sizes.

Traditional name	Capacity in fluid oz.	Dimensions in inches	Can industry
202	4	2⅛ by 2⅞	202 by 214
Tall 202	5	2⅛ by 3½	202 by 308
8-Z short	7	2 ¹¹⁄₁₆ by 3	211 by 300
No. 1	10	2 ¹¹⁄₁₆ by 4	211 by 400
Tall no. 1	12	2 ¹¹⁄₁₆ by 4 ¹³⁄₁₆	211 by 413
300	14	3 by 4 ⁷⁄₁₆	300 by 407
303	16	3 ³⁄₁₆ by 4⅜	303 by 406
Short no. 2	14	3 ⁷⁄₁₆ by 3⅜	307 by 306
No. 2	19	3 ⁷⁄₁₆ by 4 ⁹⁄₁₆	307 by 409
Tall no. 2	24	3 ⁷⁄₁₆ by 5 ⁹⁄₁₆	307 by 509
No. 2½	28	4 ¹⁄₁₆ by 4 ¹¹⁄₁₆	401 by 411
No. 3	32	4¼ by 4⅞	404 by 414
Tall no. 3	46	4¼ by 7	404 by 700
2 lb coffee	66	5⅛ by 6½	502 by 608
No. 10 (same as 3-lb coffee can)	105	6 ³⁄₁₆ by 7	603 by 700

Cans of milk were formerly sealed by drops of lead, a process abandoned in the 1980s because of lead’s toxicity. Sweetened condensed milk cans now hold 14 ounces av. (formerly 15); cans of evaporated milk 5 or 12 fluid ounces (formerly 6 or 14½).