Turn a price per bale into price per ton — and per ton of dry matter — so round bales, big squares, and small squares compare fairly.
Use this when hay is priced by the bale and bale weights differ. A cheap-looking bale can cost more per ton than a pricier one if it weighs less.
Weigh a few bales if you can. Guessed bale weights are the biggest source of error in hay price comparisons.
Price per ton is price per bale divided by bale weight, times 2,000 lb. Dividing by the dry matter fraction gives price per ton of dry matter, which removes the effect of moisture.
$/ton = ($/bale ÷ lb/bale) × 2,000
$/ton DM = $/ton ÷ (DM% ÷ 100)
$/lb = $/bale ÷ lb/bale
Hay A: $60 round bale weighing 1,200 lb at 88% DM → (60 ÷ 1,200) × 2,000 = $100.00/ton, or 100 ÷ 0.88 = $113.64/ton DM.
Hay B: $8 small square weighing 50 lb at 90% DM → (8 ÷ 50) × 2,000 = $320.00/ton, or 320 ÷ 0.90 = $355.56/ton DM.
On these numbers the small squares cost about 3.2× as much per ton. Convenience and lower waste can still justify them for horses or small pens — but you know the premium you are paying.
Assumptions: average bale weight is accurate; a ton is 2,000 lb.
Limits: price per ton ignores quality (protein, energy), storage loss, feeding waste, and delivery. Outdoor-stored round bales can lose a meaningful share of their weight before they are fed.
Responsibility: weigh sample bales and test hay before committing to a large purchase.
It depends on bale size, density, forage, and moisture. A 5×6 round bale may weigh anywhere from about 900 to over 1,400 lb. Weigh a few on a scale rather than trusting a rule of thumb.
Wetter hay carries more water per ton. Dry matter cost compares what the animals actually eat.
Run the calculator again with the next pair. Keep the bale weights and DM values from tests or scales.