Grain in the bin
10,736bushels
- 300.6272.7tonstonnes
- 378cubic meters
- 565bushels per foot
- It holds about 10,736 bushels of corn.
- The level part, 17 ft deep, is 9,608 bushels. The peak adds 1,128 bushels.
- At 56 lb a bushel, that is about 300.6 tons.
- Each foot of grain in this bin is about 565 bushels.
- Grain packs down in a tall bin, so it may hold a bit more. No good table says how much.
Bushels per foot of grain
For a round bin. Find how wide your bin is. Multiply by the feet of grain in it.
| Width across | Bushels per foot | Bushels per meter |
|---|---|---|
| 15 ft (4.6 m) | 141 | 464 |
| 18 ft (5.5 m) | 203 | 668 |
| 21 ft (6.4 m) | 277 | 909 |
| 24 ft (7.3 m) | 362 | 1,187 |
| 27 ft (8.2 m) | 458 | 1,502 |
| 30 ft (9.1 m) | 565 | 1,854 |
| 33 ft (10.1 m) | 684 | 2,244 |
| 36 ft (11.0 m) | 814 | 2,670 |
| 42 ft (12.8 m) | 1,108 | 3,634 |
| 48 ft (14.6 m) | 1,447 | 4,747 |
| 54 ft (16.5 m) | 1,831 | 6,008 |
| 60 ft (18.3 m) | 2,261 | 7,417 |
From Nebraska Extension's formula: 0.628 × width × width. A 30 ft bin holds about 565 bushels in each foot of grain.
What a bushel weighs
| Grain | Pounds a bushel | Bushels in a ton |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | 56 lb (25.4 kg) | 35.7 |
| Soybeans | 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 33.3 |
| Wheat | 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 33.3 |
| Rye | 56 lb (25.4 kg) | 35.7 |
| Barley | 48 lb (21.8 kg) | 41.7 |
| Oats | 32 lb (14.5 kg) | 62.5 |
The standard weights the grain trade uses, from Ohio State Extension. Real grain can weigh a bit more or less.
How to measure your bin
Measure how wide the bin is, from one wall to the other. Or measure all the way around it and divide by 3.14.
Then find how deep the grain is at the wall, from the floor to the top of the grain.
If the grain makes a hill in the middle, pick Peaked. Type how much higher the top is than the grain at the wall. If you have pulled grain out the bottom, the middle sinks. Pick Coned down.
Questions
How many bushels are in a grain bin?
Multiply 0.628 by the width across, times the width across again, times the grain depth, all in feet. A 30 ft bin with 17 ft of grain holds 9,608 bushels.
How do I count the peak?
Multiply 0.209 by the width across, times itself, times the height of the peak. A 6 ft peak in a 30 ft bin adds 1,128 bushels. So that bin holds 10,736 in all.
How much grain is in a flat pile?
Multiply length by width by depth, in feet. Then multiply by 0.8 bushels per cubic foot. A pile 40 by 60 ft and 10 ft deep holds 19,200 bushels.
How much does a bushel weigh?
Corn and rye: 56 lb. Soybeans and wheat: 60 lb. Barley: 48 lb. Oats: 32 lb. Real grain can weigh a bit more or less.
Does grain pack down in a bin?
Yes. Grain in a tall bin packs down, so the bin can hold a bit more. A USDA study says the old tables for this are of unknown reliability. So we leave it out.
Sources
- Nebraska Extension CropWatch, How to estimate bushels of grain in a binSep 2012Bushels in a round bin, level or peaked, and in flat storage
- Ohio State University Extension AGF-503, Grain Test WeightDec 2018Pounds in a bushel of each grain
- USDA AMS, Grain Inspection General ProvisionsSep 2007A bushel is 2,150.42 cubic inches
- USDA-ARS, Pack Factor StudyundatedGrain packs down in a bin, but by how much is not well known