Hay bales are essential for feeding livestock, but their weight can vary significantly. Generally, hay bales range from 40 lbs to 2,000 lbs (18 kg to 907 kg), depending on their shape and size. This guide explores the different types of hay bales, factors influencing their weight, and everything you need to know about hay bale weights.
Round Hay Bale Weights and Sizes
Round hay bales, sometimes called rolls of hay, have become increasingly popular due to their ease of handling and transport since their introduction about 40 years ago. These bales are typically moved using a tractor-mounted front loader with a spike attachment.
| Round Bale Weight Chart – Pounds and Kilograms |
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| Length Width |
| 4′ |
| 4′ |
| 5′ |
| 5′ |
A 4’x4’ round bale of legumes like alfalfa weighs about 600 lbs (272 kg). A 4’x5’ bale weighs 950 lbs (430 kg), while a 5’x5’ bale weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg), and a 5’x6’ bale weighs 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Grass bales, such as timothy, typically weigh around 20% less than alfalfa bales. It’s also important to consider that moisture content can affect the bale weight by as much as 25 percent.
Alt: Large round hay bales in a field, ready for transport and livestock feeding.
Transporting round bales over long distances can be challenging due to their shape. Securing them properly is difficult, and accidents can occur if bales fall from trucks. Moreover, creating a load with sufficient weight to make shipping cost-effective can also be problematic.
Square Hay Bale Weights and Sizes
Square hay bales are available in two primary size categories: small and large. Small square bales have been a staple for over a century and are favored by horse owners, small animal breeders, landscapers, and anyone requiring manual handling or smaller hay quantities. High-density small square bales are now produced to lower storage and shipping expenses.
Small Square Hay Bales – 3 Types: 2 String, 3 Wire, and High Density
Two-string square hay bales:
- Weight: 40 to 60 lbs (18 kg to 27 kg)
- Size: Approximately 14” high x 18” wide x 36” long.
Two-string bales were once the most common type of hay bale. These bales can be easily handled by most individuals without specialized equipment. They are often available in small quantities at local farm and building supply stores.
Three-wire square hay bales:
- Weight: 80 to 120 lbs (45 kg to 54 kg)
- Size: Approximately 16” high x 22” wide x 44” long
Three-wire bales are denser, slightly larger, and weigh about twice as much as two-string bales. Their density reduces shipping costs and facilitates secure loading, making them a preferred choice for long-distance transport. Despite being heavier than two-string bales, they can be managed by one or two people without special equipment.
Alt: Stack of small square hay bales, illustrating typical size and shape for easy handling.
High-density square hay bales:
- Weight: Two to three times the weight of a standard bale of the same size.
- Size: Approximately 14” high x 18” wide x 36” long; Weight: 120 to 180 lbs (54 kg to 82 kg)
High-density bales are produced using a “High-Density Bale Compression System” (bale press). This system compresses regular hay bales to increase their weight by two to three times compared to standard bales of the same size. This significantly enhances shipping and storage efficiency.
Large Square Hay Bales
- Weight: 1,000 to 2,200 lbs (454 kg to 998 kg)
- Size: Approximately 3 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.
Large square bales, which have been around for about 40 years, offer significant advantages over small square bales and round bales. They are ideal for shipping and easy to stack in storage areas. Their compatibility with forklifts and front-end loaders is another key feature, making them a popular choice on many farms and hay-growing operations, where they have replaced smaller bales.
How Hay Plant Species Affects Hay Bale Weight
The type of plant used to make hay significantly affects the weight of the bale.
- Alfalfa bales: Approximately 1,000 lbs (454 kg)
- Timothy bales: Approximately 850 lbs (386 kg)
Legume bales, such as alfalfa, are typically about 15% heavier than grass bales, such as timothy, assuming all other factors are equal. For example, a 4 ft wide x 5 ft high round legume hay bale might weigh 1,000 lbs (454 kg), whereas the same bale made with grasses would weigh around 850 lbs (386 kg).
How Bale Density Affects Hay Bale Weight
Hay bale density is a crucial factor affecting its weight. Typical hay bale density ranges from 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot. The density is determined by the amount of compression applied by the baler during the baling process. Higher density means more hay is packed into the same volume, resulting in a heavier bale.
How Moisture Content Affects Hay Bale Weight
Moisture content plays a significant role in determining the weight of a hay bale.
- Freshly baled hay: Typically contains 18% to 20% moisture by weight.
- Stabilized hay: Usually contains 8% to 9% moisture by weight.
Moisture content refers to the percentage of the bale’s weight that is made up of water. For example, if a hay bale weighs 100 lbs and, after drying, weighs 80 lbs, the bale originally had 20% moisture content.
The formula to calculate moisture content percentage is: (weight before drying – weight after drying) / weight before drying.
Using the previous example: (100 lbs – 80 lbs) = 20 lbs; (20 lbs / 100 lbs) = 20%
Most hay bales stabilize at around 8% to 9% moisture content. Freshly baled hay usually contains about 18% to 20% moisture. Therefore, for every 2,000 lbs (ton) of freshly baled hay purchased, about 200 lbs is lost due to moisture when compared to moisture-stabilized hay.
Understanding the various factors influencing hay bale weight is crucial for efficient handling, storage, and transportation. Whether you’re dealing with round bales, square bales, different plant species, bale density, or moisture content, this knowledge ensures you’re well-prepared for managing your hay supply.
