Bale Calculator — How Many Bales From Your Field?
Whether you're planning silage storage, pricing a hay crop, or ordering wrapping film, knowing your bale count before harvest is essential. This calculator works for round bales, small squares and large squares — covering silage, haylage, hay and straw.
Why bale weight varies so much
A 1.2m round silage bale can weigh anywhere from 550 kg to over 850 kg depending on dry matter percentage, crop density, ground speed, and baler settings. A wet 1st-cut at 20% DM will be significantly heavier than a 3rd-cut haylage at 45% DM, even if the bale looks identical. Always weigh a sample of bales at harvest to calibrate your estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many round bales do I get per acre?
- A typical 1st-cut silage field at 3.2 t/acre fresh weight yields approximately 4–5 round bales per acre at 680 kg per bale. Hay at 1.2 t/acre yields roughly 4 bales at 280 kg each.
- How much does a round silage bale weigh?
- A standard 1.2m round silage bale typically weighs 550–800 kg depending on dry matter content (usually 22–28%), crop type and baler settings. Use 680 kg as a reasonable working average.
- How much storage space do round silage bales need?
- A 1.2m bale laid on its side has a footprint of approximately 1.44 m². Stacked 2 layers high, 100 bales needs roughly 72 m² of hard standing (about 8×9m). Add 20–30% for access.
- How many small square bales make a round bale?
- A standard round hay bale (280 kg) is roughly equivalent to 12–15 small square bales at 20–22 kg each.