Many factors determine how much a bale of hay weighs, including whether it’s square or round, the type of hay, whether it’s first or third cut, the moisture levels, and so much more
So, to determine the average weight of one of your hay bales, you’ll have to take a step back and look at the details
With these ideas in mind, let’s look at some of the vital things you need to know about how much hay bales weigh
I’ll give you an overview of the average weight range for most standard hay bale sizes, tell you about specific weights depending on the material and size, and teach you a bit more about lifting and moving hay bales
What’s Inside:The Factors That Affect How Heavy a Bale of Hay IsThe TensionThe Moisture Levels in the HayTypes of Hay Bales by WeightHow Much Do Small Square Bales Weigh?How Much Does a Three String Hay Bale Weigh?How Much Does a Round Bale of Hay Weigh?How Much Do Big Squares Weigh?How Heavy Is a 3x3x8 Square Hay Bale?How Much Do 3×4 Square Hay Bales Weigh?How Much Do 4×4 Square Hay Bales Weigh?My Hay Weighing HistoryFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Weighing Hay Bales – One Straw at a Time!More Reading on Homesteading With Hay:
Hay Bale Weights: An Overview
Before we get into the details, here’s a bit of info on the average weights you can expect from the most common sizes of bales of hay:
Hay Bale Size and TypeAverage WeightAverage Weight of Light Grass (lightest)Average Weight of Third-Cut Alfalfa (heaviest)Small Square Hay Bales45 to 85 lbs45 lbs85 lbsThree-String Hay Bales100 to 145 lbs100 lbs145 lbsRound Hay Bales700 to 900 lbs700 lbs1,900 lbs3x3x8 Square Hay Bales900 to 1,100 lbs880 lbs1,100 lbs3x4x8 Square Hay Bales1,100 to 1,500 lbs900 lbs1,500 lbs4x4x8 Square Hay Bales1,320 to 1,800 lbs1,320 lbs2,000 lbs
The Factors That Affect How Heavy a Bale of Hay Is
Hay bale weights will always vary, even from the same harvest and baler
Hay bales come in all sizes and weights, so you might need to ask yourself some questions when determining how heavy your hay bale will be
For example, on average, the lightest hay bales weigh less than 45 pounds, and the biggest weigh over a ton!
The weight of hay bales varies
What’s inside the hay bale?
Is it straw, grass, first-cutting, second-cutting, or third-cutting alfalfa?
Grass hay bales are lighter and leaner than other grasses
Alfalfa hay bales are usually at least 20% heavier than their straw and grass counterparts
In addition, the cut of the hay bale will make a significant impact on how heavy it is
First-cut alfalfa is usually lighter than third-cut, and second-cuts fall between those weight ranges
The Bale Size
Also – there is no standard-size bale of hay
The size depends on a few factors
What type of hay bale is it?
Is it a small square, three-string, round bale, a three-by-three, three-by-four, or one of the big boys, a four-by-four?
The tension will determine how much hay has made it into that bale
Higher tension means more grass per square foot, while low tension means less hay per parcel
However, you’ll be able to tell how much tension is in a hay bale by its weight
The Moisture Levels in the Hay
And finally, maybe the most critical consideration of all, at least with small square bales you’re stacking by hand: what time is it?
Humidity and water significantly affect how heavy your hay will be
Whether round or square, hay bales will be much heavier after accumulating moisture from the atmosphere
So, avoid moving your hay when it’s raining, foggy, or early morning when dew will appear on the bales
If you are committed to only moving hay when it’s at its lightest – like I am – you can always use a hay moisture meter to gauge the humidity in your bales
Types of Hay Bales by Weight
Storing bales of hay outdoors results in uncertain loss of physical matter
In other words – your bales may lose weight after long-term storage
Variables like rain, snow, frost, humidity, ground cover, hay moisture, and spacing impact the total amount of hay bale loss
Let’s analyze a wide variety of hay bale and packaging styles, starting with how much square and round hay bales weigh
We’ll also brainstorm variables that help determine the weight of different hay bale types
How Much Do Small Square Bales Weigh?
Small square bales can weigh from 45 pounds for light grass hay to 85-pound third-cutting alfalfa bales
How much a square bale of hay weighs is all in the tension settings
The higher the pressure, the heavier the bale
Because of their lighter weight, most equestrians like light grass and small square hay bales
They’re easier to handle, simpler to measure out to their horses, and generally dryer than heavier packed bales
However, light grass square bales don’t stack well with a bale wagon
How Much Does a Three String Hay Bale Weigh?
The next size is the three-string bale
On average, a three-string hay bale weighs between 100 lbs and 145 lbs, with lighter grasses being the most lightweight and third-cutting alfalfa being the heaviest
The pressure in the bale also plays a role in its overall weight
A standard first-cutting alfalfa three-string hay bale weighs about 125 pounds
Second-cutting with a few more leaves and a few fewer stems can weigh up to 135 pounds, and the heavily leafed third-cutting hay tips the scales around 145 pounds
How Much Does a Round Bale of Hay Weigh?
Many commercial operations use big round hay bales
These bales unroll behind a truck or tractor with a bale spear and work best with grass hay or first-cutting alfalfa
Most medium-sized round hay bales weigh between 700 and 900 lbs
However, large round hay bales over 5 feet tall can weigh around 1700 lbs
Tension, grass density, and alfalfa or clover in the mix significantly affect total weight
Timothy or orchard grass makes premium grass hay in a large round bale and is considered by many the best grass you can feed livestock, particularly horses
These round hay bales usually weigh the most out of all the round bales
How Much Do Big Squares Weigh?
Different farmers worldwide process their hay in different heights and dimensions
That’s another reason it’s difficult to say whether a bale of hay weighs 100 pounds – or 1,000!
The big square hay bales come in three varieties; 3x3x8, 3x4x8, and 4x4x8
How Heavy Is a 3x3x8 Square Hay Bale?
A 3×3 square bale of hay weighs between 880 to 1,100 lbs on average
A good mix of 40% grass and 60% alfalfa in a first cutting 3×3 will weigh less than 1,000 pounds
Straight, third-cutting hay can tip the scales at 1,100 pounds if packed correctly with perfect moisture content
The 3x4x8 bale has become a favorite for many reasons
It packs a lot of hay into one easily portable package and stacks easily with a utility tractor
A 3x4x8 hay bale weighs between 1,100 and 1,500 lbs when it consists of alfalfa, but lighter grass bales of this size are usually around 900 lbs
A first-cutting 3x4x8 alfalfa bale can weigh between 1,100 and 1,400 pounds
Second-cutting weighs a bit more since there are more leaves and lighter stems than the first
More leaves pack tighter creating a bale that weighs 1,150 to 1,450 pounds
Third-cutting hay is dangerous for feeding cattle
Cattle can bloat on third-cutting forage hay and require bloat blocks and special feeding precautions
Read More – What’s the Best Hay for Goats?
Read Our Hay Goat Guide!
Your livestock love to eat alfalfa and hay bales by the ton
But there’s no way you can weigh these hay bales
The 4x4x8 bale of hay is the largest square bale on the market
Often referred to as one-ton bales, they don’t usually come in that heavy
A 4x4x8 square hay bale weighs between 1,320 and 2,000 lbs
A 4×4 first-cutting bale comes in around 1,650 pounds on average
A second-cutting 4×4 is usually about 1,800 pounds and packs in nice tight blocks
The heaviest bales you can purchase are third-cutting 4×4 bales
They can weigh a ton or slightly more
The high concentration of leaves, with fewer stems, packs a very tight bale
The more compact the bale, the lighter the weight!
(Although, the tightly-packed bales seem denser )
Third-cutting bales can tip or roll a smaller tractor or lift the rear end off the ground if you don’t have tractor weights attached
After the small and three-string bales, if you have a size two hat and a size 50 shirt, everything else depends on machinery to stack, move and feed
Hay is the largest commodity for feeding livestock, but it can vary in size – especially in weight
My Hay Weighing History
You never know how much the bale of hay weighs until you see it with your own eyes
Not even the farmer may know the correct weight – unless they throw the hay bale on a scale!
I’ve been around hay bales for a long time, and my back can attest to that experience
He purchased a bale wagon when I headed off to college
Those small square bales were heavy
Wire tire balers are a rarity these days with the high cost of steel
You could set the tension on a wire tie baler so high it would pop shear pins like popcorn, but they made very hard, heavy, easy-to-stack hay bales
From that, I’ve learned that hay bales packed with twine and sisal are easier to lift than wire-tied bales, even if they have a bit less hay per square foot
Although you might want as much hay as you can get per square foot of your bale, getting a bale that’s a bit lighter has its perks
Stacking, tossing, and moving these bales is loads easier, so if you are concerned about moving your hay, try to pick a lighter option with less tension
In addition, when purchasing hay, be sure you are buying it by the pound
Since so many variables determine how heavy your bale of hay will be, size isn’t the best determinant for price
Read More – How Much Hay Do Cows Need During Cold Winters?
As a veteran hay mover, baler, and enthusiast, I’ve heard a lot of questions about how much hay bales weigh in my day
How Many Square Bales Equals a Round Bale of Hay?
On average, a round bale of hay equals between 15 and 20 square bales
However, while round bales generally have more hay than small square bales, 4x4x8 square bales are usually heavier than one large round bale
Is It Cheaper To Buy Round Bales or Square Bales?
It is usually cheaper to buy round bales than square bales
Buying your hay in bulk with a round bale offers a discount, but you’ll still have to transport that round bale, which might cost you extra
Weighing Hay Bales – One Straw at a Time!
We know that weighing hay bales is a lot of work
It’s also tricky to know how much your hay bale will weigh without throwing it on a scale yourself
So, knowing what weight to expect from your hay bales can help ensure you have the tools (and muscle) to stack and store them
If you have questions, feedback, or tips about hay bale weight, please share them!
More Reading on Homesteading With Hay:
Or Any Day!My Straw Bale Gardening Experiment [With Photos! ]How Much Hay to Feed Your Cows in the Winter?
This Much!The Best Hay for Goats in Their Heyday
This Much!The Best Hay for Goats in Their Heyday
Randy Tucker
Randy Tucker is a freelance writer in Central Wyoming
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Farmers usually use the grazing pastures benefits as a typical diet for their animals
As a result, their diet will change, so you should feed animals with hay instead of fresh grass
In such a situation, it is necessary to provide a sufficient hay amount to feed animals in winter
For that, you need to know how much does a bale of hay weighs
Only that way can you estimate how many hay bales will be necessary to feed your animals throughout the cold period and which hay storage area size to provide
Table of ContentsWhat Is Hay?Hay CategoriesHay Bale Weights and SizesHay Bale PriceSummary
Hay is dried and mowed grass, legumes, and other herbaceous plants you can use to feed grazing animals, like:
These animals are ruminants, and their digestive system is excellent at processing plant materials
However, some plant parts are heavier to digest than others
For instance, the soft green leafy parts of the plant are much easier to digest
Therefore, you need to pay attention to how fast the grass grows and mow it before it becomes hard and too tall
The best option is to bale the hay after mowing to make it easier to transport and store
You can use wire, twine, plastic wrap, or net to hold bales together
They can be of different sizes and shapes but are typically round or rectangular
You can choose the shape and size of the bale as you see fit, based on the needs and storage space available to you
Hay Categories
You can use different hay categories to feed your livestock, like:
Grass
This hay category has low protein, amino acids, and lysine levels but is rich in fiber
Timothy grass
Fruit grass
Timothy grass is best mowed before flowering because it has the most nutrients in that period
The best option is to cut Bermuda grass approximately 4 to 5 times a year
This hay type is rich in vitamin A, calcium, and valuable nutrients
Alfalfa is the most popular legume and is extremely widespread throughout the US
Although it is similar to grass due to its long fiber, it is almost three times richer in calcium and twice as rich in protein
It is ideal for feeding both working and young animals
It is best to mow these plants while still green to make animals digest them more efficiently
Legume and grass blend
This mixture is the best option for animals to get a balanced and healthy diet
The grass is rich in fiber, and legumes are rich in nutrients, calcium, and vitamin A
Hay Bale Weights and Sizes
The hay bale weight varies depending on the density and size
The baler packs hay in bales of particular dimensions without precisely determining their weight
Basically, the hay’s moisture percentage and plant types will directly affect weight
For instance, a timothy hay bale is about 15% lighter than an alfalfa bale
The acceptable moisture percentage for square hay bales is about 22%, while the moisture of approximately 18% is suitable for round bales
The too high moisture content of the hay bale will allow the fast growth of microorganisms inside it
Round hay bales
Since they started appearing 40 years ago, round bales have become the most popular type among farmers
Round bales Weight & Size
Loading these bales is quicker with the help of a tractor with a special attachment with spikes
Remember that short-distance transport involves special wagons or trailers
However, their long-distance transportation is not that simple
Round bales are difficult to secure due to their shape, so they often fall off trucks and cause traffic accidents
Small square hay bales
Small square bales have been in use for more than a century
They are popular wherever smaller hay amounts are needed
You can recognize three types of small square hay bales, including:
Two string small square hay bales –This bale type has been present for many years
They are easy to use and don’t require any special handling equipment
Three string small square hay bales – These bales’ weight is twice the two string bales’ weight because they are denser and slightly larger
This bale type is suitable for long-distance transport because its density reduces transport costs
Square hay bales Size & Weight
Size
Size
Weight
Weight
Three string bale
Three string bale
Three string bale
Three string bale
High-density bale
High-density bale
Half ton bale
One ton bale
High-density small square hay bales – Such a bale requires a bale press or a bale compression system
This press compacts hay from ordinary bales until getting two to three times heavier bales than usual ones of the same size
Large square hay bales
Large square hay bales have existed for about 40 years
They are ideal for storage because they are easy to stack and are also suitable for transport
However, it is necessary to use forklifts for loading and storage due to their size
Hay Bale Price
When planning to purchase hay for your animals, in addition to weight, you need to know the hay bale price
The price is affected by several factors
Hay bale price per ton
Hay grade
Bale type
Average price
Small square
Small square
Small square
Large round
Large round
Large round
Large square
Large square
Large square
Hay type
Hay type
The most important factor influencing the price is the plant’s type in the hay bale
Interestingly, although alfalfa hay is excellent and most popular, timothy hay is still the most expensive
Bermudagrass hay is not so popular, and you can get it at the most affordable price
Hay quality
Hay quality is essential for animal nutrition
Since grades from 1 to 3 determine its quality, you should know that the 1st-grade hay means the best quality
On the other hand, the 3rd-grade is for hay of the lowest quality
There is no official standard for assessing hay quality, but the following characteristics determine the grade height:
Most farmers look for hay high in protein that provides a lot of calories and energy for the animals
Plant type
The type of hay plants affects the price you will pay for a bale
Timothy and bermudagrass hay are grass hays, while alfalfa is a legume and this hay is richer in protein
Timothy hay will cost you $20 to $22 per bale, depending on the manufacturer
The bermudagrass hay price is more affordable, ranging from $875 to $15 per bale, although they are in a similar category
The alfalfa bale price is even, from $1995 to $20
Another factor that significantly affects the hay price is the season or the mowing hay time
During the season, the price you will pay for a bale of hay is much lower than out of mowing season
In other words, you will spend two to three times more money for the same quality hay bale offseason
Many factors affect the hay bale weight
For instance, hay bale coming directly from the field is thicker and heavier because it contains more moisture
Mature hay has more stems than leaves, so the hay bale is lighter and not so dense
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