What Size Copper Still Kit Do You Need? Choosing Between 3 and 100 Gallons

Choosing a still size is your first real experiment. You haven't lit a burner or soldered a seam yet, but you're already trading some things off: how much liquid you want to work with against how much room, heat, and patience you have. A still that's too big for your space ends up sitting unused in the garage. One that's too small gets outgrown quickly. This guide will help you land in the right spot.

At Moonshine Kits, every EZ Kit is pre-cut, rolled, and embossed copper that you clamp and solder together yourself. You do the building, so you pay less than you would for a finished still. And because you put every seam together by hand, you'll know exactly how it works. Our kits run from 3 to 100 gallons, so there's a wide range to choose from.

Start With What You'll Run Through It

Before you think about gallons, think about the job. Copper stills are used to purify water, to pull essential oils from plants, and, with the proper permit, to make fuel alcohol. Owning a still is legal in the United States. Distilling alcohol is not legal without federal permits from the TTB, and your state and town may have their own rules too. Whatever you plan to make, follow federal, state, and local law.

Your purpose shapes your size. Someone distilling lavender or rosemary for oils can work on a small scale and still get a lot out of it. A permitted fuel alcohol operation, or a farm that needs volume, will look at the big end of the range. Most people who are curious about copper, heat, and vapor and want a hands-on project fall somewhere in between.

The Small Kits: Learn the Science Up Close

Small stills are the best place to learn. Each run is short and easy to watch, so you can see how a change in heat changes what comes out of the condenser. If you want to understand distillation before you scale up, start small.

6 and 10 Gallon EZ Kits

The 6 Gallon "EZ KIT" You Solder Copper Moonshine Kit (from $499) and the 10 Gallon "EZ KIT" You Solder Copper Moonshine Kit (from $599) suit people who want to learn the craft without taking over the whole workshop. They're also a good size for a first soldering project. There are fewer and shorter seams, and the copper is easier to handle while you clamp it.

Choose a small kit if:

You're new to soldering and want a project you can finish with confidence.
Your workspace is a corner of a garage, shed, or basement.
You care more about learning and testing than about volume.
You plan to work mostly with water or botanicals.

The Middle Range: Room to Experiment

Most hobbyists end up in the middle sizes. A mid-size pot holds enough to make each run feel worthwhile, but it isn't so big that filling, heating, and cleaning turn into a production every time.

15 to 30 Gallon Advanced Model EZ Kits

The 15, 20, 25, and 30 gallon Advanced Model EZ Kits all come with the EZ Seal Cap and a 4 inch thumper port. Adding a thumper lets you try a second stage of distillation, which is where a lot of people get hooked on the chemistry. The lineup includes the 15 Gallon You-Build "EZ KIT" Advanced Model (from $629), the 20 Gallon (from $649), the 25 Gallon (from $679), and the 30 Gallon "EZ KIT" Advanced Model with EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch Thumper Port (from $699).

The price steps between these sizes are small, so it's often worth buying one size bigger than you think you need. Lots of builders pick a 20 or 25 for that reason.

For heat, we sell a Propane Burner for 6 Gallon to 30 Gallon Sized Copper Distillers (from $129) built for this whole size range, from the small kits through the 30. If you'd like more precise control, the 110v & 220v Electric Heating Element W/Controller (from $349) is also available. It's a good choice if you like adjusting one variable at a time.

The Big Kits: Volume for Serious, Permitted Work

50, 60, and 100 Gallon EZ Kits

The 50 Gallon (from $1099), 60 Gallon (from $1200), and 100 Gallon "EZ KIT" You Solder Copper Moonshine Kit (from $1699) are made for people who already know they need capacity. Examples include a licensed operation, a farm processing a lot of plant material, or a permitted fuel alcohol project.

Be realistic about the work involved at this size. You'll be filling and emptying large volumes, heating a lot of liquid, and soldering long seams. You'll need a dedicated space, a solid plan for your heat source, and some experience. If you've never run a still, we usually suggest building a smaller one first. What you learn on it will make running the big one much easier.

Not Sure About Soldering? There's a Middle Path

The EZ Kit saves you money because you do the soldering. If you're ready to build, a 1 lb. Roll of Silver Solder (from $79) is a sensible thing to keep on hand. If you'd rather not do all of it, the Majority Soldered - Money Saving Complete Copper Distiller (from $849) comes with most of the soldering already done. You still get to finish the build, but with less torch work. For tinkerers who want to put together their own setup, we also sell pots, condensers, and thumpers separately.

A Quick Way to Decide

Write down what you'll run, and check that you have any permits that use requires.
Measure your workspace and decide on propane or electric heat.
Be honest about your soldering experience.
If you're torn between two sizes, the larger one is usually the better value, unless space or lifting limits you.
If you're still unsure, call us at 603-997-6786. We're a family shop, and we're happy to talk it through with you.

Once you've built and fired your own still, you'll understand how heat, copper, and vapor work together because you've seen it yourself. Pick the size that fits your space and your purpose, follow the law, and enjoy the build.