Post Harvest Loss Calculator

Work out post harvest loss instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Post Harvest Loss Calculator

Post-harvest loss is everything that disappears between the field and the buyer — threshing spillage, drying and handling loss, insect and rodent damage, mould and shrinkage. Expressing it per month of storage separates a one-off handling loss from a compounding storage problem.

Formula

Post-harvest loss

Loss % = (harvested - marketed) x 100 / harvested; monthly rate = loss % / months stored

Worked example

With the default values below, Post Harvest Loss Calculator returns Post-Harvest Loss of 13.00%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Quantity Harvestedminimum 0.01 tonnes: 100 tonnes
Quantity Sold Or Consumedminimum 0 tonnes: 87 tonnes
Months In Storageminimum 0.1 months: 6 months
Sale Priceminimum 0 per tonne: 25,000 per tonne

Results

Post-Harvest Loss: 13.00%
Quantity Lost: 13.000
Loss Rate Per Month: 2.167%
Value Of Loss: $325,000.00

Step by step

1Values used
2Post-harvest loss
3Post-Harvest Loss= 13.00
4Quantity Lost= 13.000
5Loss Rate Per Month= 2.167
6Value Of Loss= 325,000.00

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.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is moisture shrinkage a loss?

Weight lost to drying is not a real loss of product, so measure both quantities on the same moisture basis before comparing, otherwise normal drying looks like spoilage.

What loss levels are typical?

Cereals lose 5-15% across the post-harvest chain in poorly equipped systems and under 2-3% in well-managed ones. Fruits and vegetables commonly lose 20-40% without cold chain.