Free farm tool
Specific Weight Converter
Convert between kg/hl and lb/bu, with kg/m³ thrown in for volume sums - plus typical UK contract minimums.
kg/hl
76
lb/bu
59.1
kg/m³
760
1 kg/hl ≈ 0.777 lb/bu (US bushel). kg/m³ is kg/hl × 10 - handy for volume-to-tonnage sums.
The conversion
1 kg/hl ≈ 0.777 lb/bu; 1 lb/bu ≈ 1.287 kg/hl. The lb/bu figure uses the US Winchester bushel, which is what American grain standards and most machinery literature mean by a bushel. The UK trades in kg/hl, so the conversion mostly matters when reading US agronomy material or combine specs quoted in bushels.
Typical UK contract minimums
| Crop | Typical minimum | In lb/bu |
|---|---|---|
| Feed wheat | 72.5 kg/hl | ~56 lb/bu |
| Milling wheat | 76 kg/hl | ~59 lb/bu |
| Feed barley | 62.5–63 kg/hl | ~49 lb/bu |
| Oats | 50 kg/hl | ~39 lb/bu |
These are common figures, not universal ones - the number that matters is in your contract. Loads below the minimum usually attract a sliding deduction rather than outright rejection, down to a floor below which the buyer can refuse.
Specific weight vs bulk density
Don't use a chondrometer figure for shed capacity sums. Grain in a heap settles less densely than grain tapped into a measuring cylinder, so bulk density runs a touch lower - wheat at 76 kg/hl on the ticket stores at roughly 0.75–0.78 t/m³. For what a bay holds, use the grain store capacity calculator; for what the number means for your contract, see the guide to specific weight and milling wheat specs.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert kg/hl to lb/bu?
Divide kg/hl by 1.287 (or multiply by 0.777) to get pounds per US bushel. Milling wheat at 76 kg/hl is about 59 lb/bu; the US no.1 wheat standard of 60 lb/bu is roughly 77.2 kg/hl.
What is a good specific weight for wheat?
UK feed wheat contracts typically ask for a minimum of 72.5 kg/hl and milling contracts 76 kg/hl - always check your own contract. Well-filled wheat in a good year runs 78–82 kg/hl; drought or disease at grain fill drags it down.
What does specific weight actually measure?
The weight of grain that fits in a fixed volume - kilograms per hectolitre, measured with a chondrometer. It's a rough proxy for how well the grain filled: plump, dense grain packs heavier than shrivelled or sprouted grain.
How do I turn specific weight into tonnes for a volume?
Multiply kg/hl by 10 to get kg/m³, then multiply by the volume. But note stored grain in bulk settles less densely than a chondrometer packs it - for shed capacity sums use bulk density figures (wheat ~0.75–0.78 t/m³), which our grain store capacity calculator does.
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