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4 Small Grain Bin Sizes: A Comparison

exterior of quality 1.5 ton small grain bin size for sale in PA

It’s important to have your grain stored safely and effectively. On the bigger farms, massive grain bins keep thousands of bushels of grain stored away. But what about the smaller farmer? It’s too expensive to invest in a 30’ tall grain bin, plus it’s very inefficient. That’s where small grain bin sizes come into play. That’s what this article is all about–a detailed overview of the different small grain bin sizes.

What Size Do Small Grain Bins Come In?

We’ll break down several of the small grain bin sizes below.

1.5-Ton Small Grain Bin Size

exterior 1.5 ton small grain bin setup for sale in PA

Like Farmco’s 1.5-ton portable grain bin, this small grain bin size works well for soybeans, corn, and grain.

Height: 6’ 8”

Dimensions: 6’x6’

Capacity: 70 ft.³ / ≈ 55 bu.

Weight Rating: 3,000 lbs.

Wheels/Legs: On Wheels or Stationery

Grain Door Height Off Ground: 23”

Pros: Affordable; portable; heavy-duty; durable; efficient open/close system; good chain-and-hitch system for easy transport; optional auger system addition

Cons: Small

Link: https://www.farmco.ag/portable-grain-bins/1-5-ton-grain-bin/

This is one of the smallest grain bin sizes you can purchase. Often, this size comes on wheels and can be transported easily across your property. 

3-Ton Small Grain Bin Size

Here’s an example of a 3-ton small grain bin that’s available in both stationary and portable variations.

Height: 8’ 2”

Dimensions: 6’x6.5’

Capacity: 145 ft.³ / ≈ 116 bu.

Weight Rating: 6,000 lbs.

Wheels/Legs: Stationery or Portable

Grain Door Height Off Ground:

Pros: Portable; stable; durable

Cons: Small

Link: https://www.farmco.ag/portable-grain-bins/3-ton-grain-bin/

With double the capacity of a 1 ½ ton small grain bin, the 3-ton grain bin can be sold as stationery or portable. For example, Farmco’s 3-ton grain bins are constructed from heavy-duty 12-gauge steel with high-quality welds and carefully placed reinforcements.  

5-Ton Small Grain Bin Size

exterior of 5 ton small grain bin sizes

A step up from the 3-ton, Farmco also builds a 5-ton grain bin size.

Height: 11’6”

Dimensions: 6’x6’

Capacity: 260 ft.³ / ≈ 185 bu.

Weight Rating: 10,000 lbs.

Wheels/Legs: Stationery

Grain Door Height Off Ground: 23”

Pros: Larger small grain bin size; durable; rain-proof metal lid; adjustable hitch for easy transport

Cons: Relatively expensive

Link: https://www.farmco.ag/portable-grain-bins/5-ton-grain-bin/

With a 10,000 lbs. grain storage capacity, this small grain bin size can be built for stationary or portable use. As always, 5-ton grain bins are built to last and will save you a lot of time and money on grain transport from the mill.

30-Ton Small Grain Bin Size

Here’s an example 30-ton grain bin.

Height: 27’8”

Dimensions: 11’1”x11’

Capacity: 1,381 ft.³ / 1,109 bu.

Weight Rating: 30,000 lbs.

Wheels/Legs: Stationery

Grain Door Height Off Ground:

Pros: Greater grain storage capabilities; save money in the long run

Cons: Expensive

Link: https://www.brazosoverheadbins.com/

Although branching a bit into the regular-sized grain bins, a 30-ton grain bin is still relatively small compared to the 1,000+ ton grain bins that are available on the market. Grain bins like this help small-to-medium-sized farms not to have to make constant trips to the feed store. To learn more, here’s a great review of a 30-ton grain bin

Speaking of reviews, here’s a table review:

Small Grain Bin SizeHeightDimensionsCapacityWeight RatingWheels/LegsGrain Door Height Off GroundProsConsLink
1.5-Ton Grain Bin6′ 8″6’x6′70 ft.³ / ≈ 55 bu.3,000 lbs.Stationery or Portable24″Affordable; portable; heavy-duty; durable; efficient open/close system; good chain-and-hitch system for easy transport; optional auger system additionSmallhttps://www.farmco.ag/portable-grain-bins/1-5-ton-grain-bin/
3-Ton Grain Bin8′ 2″6’x6.5′145 ft.³ / ≈ 116 bu.6,000 lbs.Stationery or PortablePortable; stable; durableSmallhttps://www.farmco.ag/portable-grain-bins/3-ton-grain-bin/
5-Ton Grain Bin11′ 6″6’x6260 ft.³ / ≈ 185 bu.10,000 lbs.Stationery or Portable24″Larger of small grain bin sizes; durable; rain-proof metal lid; adjustable hitch for easy transportRelatively Expensivehttps://www.farmco.ag/portable-grain-bins/5-ton-grain-bin/
30-Ton Grain Bin27′ 8″11’1″x11′1,381 ft.³ / 1,109 bu.30,000 lbs.StationeryGreater grain storage capabilities; save money in the long runExpensivehttps://www.brazosoverheadbins.com/

Now that you’ve got a basic overview of some small grain bin sizes, we’ll dive into some more niche questions surrounding the topic.

What are the Dimensions of a Small Grain Bin?

A small grain bin’s dimensions depend on the size of your farm and the amount of grain that you want to store. Some small grain bin dimensions would be 6’x6’ (the height would vary depending on storage capacity) or 6’x6.5’. 

exterior of 1.5 small grain bin size for sale in PA

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Small Grain Bin?

Typically, the life expectancy of a small grain bin ranges from 25-50 years. It could even last you for over a 100 years, depending on the quality of the grain bin and the amount of maintenance and care given to your small grain bin setup.

Here are several factors that can affect a small grain bin’s life expectancy:

Here are several ways to keep your bins well-maintained and lasting for as long as possible.

How Do I Measure A Small Grain Bin’s Size/Capacity?

We’ll break down how to measure a small grain bin’s capacity by cylindrical and square small grain bins.

Cylindrical Small Grain Bin

If you have a cylindrical small grain bin, you can use the formula V=πr²h to find the storage capacity of your small grain bin setup.

For example, let’s say you have a grain bin that has a 6 ft. diameter and is 10 ft. tall. First, divide 6 ft. by 2 to find the radius. Then square 3 to get 9 ft for r². Multiply 9 ft. by π by 10 ft. to find the cubic feet of the small grain bin (which is 282.6 ft.³ in this example).

To find the number of bushels, simply divide the number of cubic feet by 0.8 to find your answer. In our example, that number is 353.25 bushels.

Square Small Grain Bin

exterior of 5 ton small grain bin size for sale in PA

For square small grain bins, the formula is V=lwh. Simply multiply the length, width, and height together to find the cubic feet of your small grain bin setup. From there, divide the number of cubic feet by 0.8 to find the number of bushels.

Using the same numbers from the above example, (6 ft. length and 10 ft. height) we’ll also say that the width is 6 ft. So multiply 6x6x10 and you get 360 cubic feet. Divide that by 0.8 and you get a 450-bushel capacity. 

Type of Small Grain BinTo Find Cubic FeetTo Find Bushels
Cylindrical Small Grain BinV=πr²hCubic ft. ÷ 0.8
Square Small Grain BinV=lwhCubic ft ÷ 0.8

What is the Price for a Small Grain Bin?

While we can’t speak for other companies, here’s a generalized overview of our small grain bin setups and prices. 

Small Grain Bin SizeCost
10-Ton Grain Bin$$$$
5-Ton Grain Bin $$$
3-Ton Grain Bin$$
1.5-Ton Grain Bin (optional auger system)$

Of course, this is a generalized price range. Feel free to get a free small-grain bin price quote on our website, and we’ll supply you with a much more detailed estimate.

side angle of 1.5 ton small grain bin size

Wrapping It Up…

To sum it all up, small grain bin sizes are a critical investment for small farmers to safely store grain away from the elements, thereby saving you extra trips to the grain mill. This will save you a ton of time in the long run (no pun intended). If you got any questions about this, just contact us!

At Farmco Manufacturing (learn more about us here), we’ve rolled out several small grain bin sizes over the years. One example is the very cost-effective 1.5-ton portable grain bin setup, which can even include an auger system (optional). Feel free to browse our page or get a free quote on one of our small grain bin sizes right now!