Hay Bale Count Calculator

Work out hay bale count instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Hay Bale Count Calculator

Bale count is net hay tonnage divided by bale weight. Field losses from raking, tedding, leaf shatter and pick-up commonly take 8-15% of the standing crop in grass hay and more in legumes, where leaf loss is the dominant problem.

Formula

Bale count

Net hay = area x yield x (1 - field loss %); bales = net hay / bale weight

Worked example

With the default values below, Hay Bale Count Calculator returns Bales Expected of 1,125. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Area To Cutminimum 0.01 ha: 5 ha
Hay Yieldminimum 0 t/ha: 5 t/ha
Bale Weightminimum 0.1 kg: 20 kg
Field And Baling Lossaccepts 0–50 %: 10 %

Results

Bales Expected: 1,125
Hay Baled: 22.500
Standing Crop: 25.000
Bales Per Hectare: 225.0

Step by step

1Values used
2Bale count
3Bales Expected= 1,125
4Hay Baled= 22.500
5Standing Crop= 25.000
6Bales Per Hectare= 225.0

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Hay baled above safe moisture can heat and self-ignite. Monitor stack temperature for the first six weeks and separate any heating bales immediately.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Hay baled above safe moisture can heat and self-ignite. Monitor stack temperature for the first six weeks and separate any heating bales immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are legume hays harder to bale without loss?

Lucerne and clover leaves dry faster than stems and shatter off when handled dry. Baling at slightly higher moisture, or at night when dew softens leaves, cuts the loss.

What moisture should hay be baled at?

15-18% for small square bales, below 15% for large squares and round bales. Baling wetter risks heating, mould and in extreme cases spontaneous combustion.