Grain Bin Capacity Calculator - Bushels by Diameter, Height & Commodity
Calculate level fill, peaked fill, and partial fill volumes for flat-bottom and hopper-bottom bins
Enter your bin diameter, eave height, roof pitch, and commodity to calculate total bushel capacity with peaked and level fill volumes. Supports flat-bottom and hopper-bottom bins with accurate cone geometry. Includes weight estimates by commodity and partial fill calculations for inventory checks.
Know your bin capacity? Calculate the cost of drying that grain.
Grain Drying Cost Estimator →Need to size the auger to fill this bin?
Auger & Conveyor Sizing Calculator →How It Works
-
Enter Bin Dimensions
Input diameter (feet), eave height (feet), and select your bin type (flat bottom or hopper bottom). For hopper bins, enter the hopper angle.
-
Select Commodity
Choose corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, sorghum, sunflowers, or rice. Each has a standard test weight and angle of repose that affects peaked fill volume.
-
Review Capacity Results
See level fill bushels, peaked fill bushels, weight in tons, and use the partial fill slider to estimate current inventory at any grain depth.
Built For
- Farmers estimating storage needs before harvest
- Grain elevator operators planning bin assignments
- Insurance adjusters verifying stored grain quantities
- Equipment dealers sizing bins for customers
Assumptions
- Bin dimensions are nominal manufacturer values; wall corrugation thickness is not deducted from diameter
- Grain is uniformly distributed across the bin cross-section (assumes use of a grain spreader for peaked fill)
- Angle of repose values follow ASABE EP433 standard commodity data
- Test weights use USDA FGIS official standards (e.g., corn at 56 lb/bu, soybeans at 60 lb/bu)
- Hopper bottom geometry assumes a true cone with uniform sidewall angle
- Roof clearance is sufficient to allow full peak formation above the eave line
- No dockage, foreign material, or broken kernels affecting bulk density
Limitations
- Does not account for compaction from grain depth (tall bins increase bulk density at the bottom)
- Wall corrugation reduces effective diameter by 1-3 inches depending on manufacturer profile
- Peaked fill volume assumes ideal cone geometry that may not form with off-center fill or uneven discharge
- Does not calculate structural loads — use manufacturer load charts for foundation and sidewall design
- Partial fill estimates assume a level grain surface, not the irregular profiles common during unloading
- Not applicable to flat storage buildings, grain bags, or non-cylindrical structures
References
- ASABE EP433 — Loads Exerted by Free-Flowing Grain on Bins (angle of repose and bulk density data)
- USDA FGIS — United States Standards for Grain (official test weights by commodity)
- Midwest Plan Service MWPS-13 — Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Handbook
- ASABE D241.4 — Density, Specific Gravity, and Mass-Moisture Relationships of Grain for Storage
- University of Kentucky AEN-80 — Grain Storage Bins: Estimating Bushels of Grain in Round Bins
- Sukup Manufacturing / GSI / Brock — Bin capacity calculation methodology and rated capacity tables
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More
What Size Grain Bin Do I Need?
How to calculate grain bin capacity using real geometry, account for peaked vs level fill, factor in moisture shrink, and match your auger to the bin.
Related Tools
Grain Moisture Shrink Calculator
Calculate physical grain shrink from drying vs. elevator-applied shrink. See the hidden margin in your elevator's shrink factor and the dollar impact at current commodity prices.
Grain Drying Cost Estimator
Calculate on-farm grain drying cost per bushel including fuel, shrink, and labor. Compare against elevator docking charges to find the cheaper option for your operation.
Auger & Conveyor Sizing Calculator
Find the right auger diameter for your target bushels per hour. See capacity derating by angle and commodity, HP requirements, and time to fill a bin.