Last updated: June 20, 2026
Grain Conversion Calculator
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Quick Answer
The Grain Conversion Calculator converts grain between bushels, pounds, kilograms, and metric tonnes. Because a bushel is a unit of volume, bushel conversions use each grain's test weight: bushels = pounds ÷ test weight, where corn is 56 lb/bu and wheat and soybeans are 60 lb/bu. Weight-to-weight conversions are the same for every grain (1 metric tonne = 2,204.62 lb = 1,000 kg). For example, 1,000 bushels of corn equal 56,000 pounds, about 25.40 metric tonnes, since one tonne of corn is 39.368 bushels. A metric tonne is roughly 10% heavier than a US short ton of 2,000 pounds.
To convert grain, divide its weight in pounds by the test weight to get bushels, or by two thousand two hundred four point six two to get metric tonnes. For corn at fifty-six pounds per bushel, one thousand bushels equal fifty-six thousand pounds, or about twenty-five point four metric tonnes.
Key Takeaways
- Bushels = weight in pounds ÷ test weight (corn 56, wheat & soybeans 60 lb/bu)
- A bushel is volume-based, so bushel conversions depend on the grain type
- Weight units — pounds, kilograms, tonnes — convert identically for every grain
- 1 metric tonne = 2,204.62 lb; corn = 39.368 bu/t, wheat & soybeans = 36.744 bu/t
- A metric tonne (1,000 kg) is about 10% heavier than a US short ton (2,000 lb)
- 1,000 bushels of corn ≈ 25.40 metric tonnes
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Formula
bushels = weight (lb) / test weight (lb/bu)
Where:
- W_{lb}=Weight in pounds(lb)
- TW=Test weight (e.g. corn 56, wheat 60)(lb/bu)
- 1 t=One metric tonne(2204.62 lb)
- 1 kg=One kilogram(2.20462 lb)
Worked Examples
1,000 bushels of corn to tonnes
A grain merchandiser converts a 1,000-bushel corn lot into metric tonnes for an export contract.
- 1Convert to pounds: 1,000 bu × 56 lb = 56,000 lb
- 2Convert to tonnes: 56,000 / 2,204.62 ≈ 25.40 t
- 3Equivalently, 1 t corn = 39.368 bu, so 1,000 / 39.368 ≈ 25.40 t
One metric tonne of wheat to bushels
Converting a metric tonne of wheat into bushels for a US cash-market comparison.
- 1One tonne = 2,204.62 lb
- 2Wheat test weight = 60 lb/bu
- 3Bushels = 2,204.62 / 60 ≈ 36.74 bu
Soybean weight to bushels
A 27,000-pound truckload of soybeans converted to bushels at 60 lb/bu.
- 1Soybean test weight = 60 lb/bu
- 2Bushels = 27,000 / 60 = 450 bu
- 3In tonnes: 27,000 / 2,204.62 ≈ 12.25 t
Introduction
The Grain Conversion Calculator converts grain quantities between bushels, pounds, kilograms, and metric tonnes. Because a bushel is a unit of volume but grain is traded by weight, every conversion depends on the grain's test weight — the standard pounds per bushel (corn 56, wheat and soybeans 60). The calculator normalizes your amount to pounds, then expresses it in every unit so you can move easily between US and metric markets. For related storage and yield tools, see our Grain Bin Calculator, Corn Yield Calculator, and Dry Matter Calculator.
How Grain Conversion Works
All grain conversions pass through weight. The calculator converts your input to pounds, divides by the grain's test weight to get bushels, and scales pounds into kilograms and tonnes. Because the bushel step uses test weight, the grain type matters whenever bushels are involved.
- Step 1:
Convert the input amount to pounds
- Step 2:
Bushels = pounds ÷ test weight (e.g. ÷56 for corn)
- Step 3:
Kilograms = pounds ÷ 2.20462
- Step 4:
Metric tonnes = pounds ÷ 2,204.62
Weight-to-weight conversions (lb, kg, t) are the same for every grain
Only the bushel conversion depends on grain type — pounds, kilograms, and tonnes convert identically regardless of the crop.
Standard Test Weights and Tonne Factors
The US legal test weights set how many pounds make one bushel of each grain, and from those follow the bushels-per-tonne factors used in international trade. See the USDA grain standards for the official definitions.
| Grain | Test weight (lb/bu) | Bushels per metric tonne |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | 56 | 39.368 |
| Wheat | 60 | 36.744 |
| Soybeans | 60 | 36.744 |
| Grain sorghum (milo) | 56 | 39.368 |
| Rye | 56 | 39.368 |
| Barley | 48 | 45.930 |
| Oats | 32 | 68.894 |
Test weight reflects grain density and varies a little with moisture and quality; the values above are the standard legal weights used for trade.
Why Bushels and Tonnes Differ by Grain
A metric tonne is a fixed mass, but the bushels it represents change with the grain because each grain has its own test weight. Denser grains pack more pounds into a bushel, so a tonne equals fewer bushels.
Corn at 56 lb/bu → 39.368 bushels per tonne
Wheat and soybeans at 60 lb/bu → 36.744 bushels per tonne
Oats at 32 lb/bu → about 68.9 bushels per tonne
The lighter the grain, the more bushels in a tonne
Weight units (lb, kg, t) never depend on the grain
Practical Applications
Grain conversions are everyday work in trading, logistics, and on-farm record keeping, especially where US bushels meet metric markets.
Convert export contracts between bushels and metric tonnes
Reconcile scale tickets (pounds) with bin and yield figures (bushels)
Compare US cash prices ($/bushel) with world prices ($/tonne)
Plan freight and container loads by weight
Translate research and agronomy data between unit systems
Tips for Accurate Conversions
Conversions are exact arithmetic, but the test weight assumption drives the bushel result. A few checks keep your numbers right.
Pick the correct grain so the bushel conversion uses the right test weight
Use measured test weight for off-standard or high-moisture grain
Remember bushels are volume-based — only weight units are grain-independent
Keep moisture basis consistent when comparing weights
Double-check whether a 'ton' means a metric tonne or a US short ton
For contracts, confirm whether the quoted bushel uses the standard test weight or an actual measured value — the difference moves the tonne figure.
Quick Reference Card
Grain Conversion — Quick Reference
Quick reference • Grain Conversion Calculator
bushels = lb ÷ test weight · tonnes = lb ÷ 2,204.62Valid range: Corn 56, wheat/soy 60, barley 48, oats 32 lb/bu; 1 t = 2,204.62 lb
Common Values
⚠ Watch Out
- •Bushel conversions depend on grain type
- •Distinguish metric tonne (2,204.62 lb) from short ton (2,000 lb)
- •Test weight shifts with moisture and quality
- •Keep moisture basis consistent when comparing weights
Pro Tips
- →Weight units (lb, kg, t) are the same for every grain
- →Memorize corn = 39.368 bu/tonne for fast trade math
- →Use measured test weight for off-standard grain
- →Confirm contract bushels use standard vs. actual test weight
FAQs
How do you convert bushels to metric tonnes?
Multiply bushels by the grain's test weight to get pounds, then divide by 2,204.62 to get metric tonnes. For corn at 56 lb/bu, 1,000 bushels = 56,000 lb = 25.40 t. A handy shortcut is that one metric tonne of corn equals 39.368 bushels, so dividing bushels by 39.368 also gives tonnes.
Why does the bushel conversion depend on the grain?
A bushel is a unit of volume, but grain is weighed, so converting between bushels and weight requires the grain's density — its test weight in pounds per bushel. Corn is 56 lb/bu while wheat and soybeans are 60 lb/bu, so the same weight equals different bushel counts for different grains.
How many bushels are in a metric tonne?
It depends on the grain. Corn, sorghum, and rye give 39.368 bushels per tonne (56 lb/bu); wheat and soybeans give 36.744 (60 lb/bu); barley about 45.9 (48 lb/bu); and oats about 68.9 (32 lb/bu). The lighter the grain, the more bushels fit in a tonne.
What is test weight?
Test weight is the weight of grain that fills a one-bushel volume, expressed in pounds per bushel. It measures grain density and is used both as a quality grade and as the conversion factor between bushels and weight. Higher-quality, drier grain usually has a higher test weight.
Is a ton the same as a tonne?
No. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms (about 2,204.62 pounds), while a US short ton is exactly 2,000 pounds. They differ by about 10%, so always confirm which one a price or contract refers to. This calculator reports metric tonnes and lets you enter US short tons as an input unit.
Does moisture content affect the conversion?
Indirectly. The arithmetic is exact, but wetter grain weighs more and often has a lower test weight, which changes the bushel result. For precise trade figures, use the measured test weight at the relevant moisture, or convert weights on a consistent moisture basis before comparing.
Can I convert kilograms or pounds directly?
Yes. Weight-to-weight conversions — pounds, kilograms, and tonnes — are the same for every grain and do not need a test weight. The grain type only matters when bushels are part of the conversion, because that step uses the test weight.