I can get about 23lbs of meet in it without overflowing coming over the top. I stay down an inch or so from the top to let the plunger get lined up inside the tube. I’m sure if you filled flush you could get close to 25lbs but have a mess on the top. Love it. Makes it easy for one person to run it. I make Deer SS, deer Sticks, and use it to fill vacuum bags with ground burger.