How do you calculate acres per hour?

Multiply your equipment width (in feet) by your speed (in mph) by 0.1212, then multiply by your field efficiency percentage. For example: 20 ft × 5 mph × 0.1212 × 85% = 10.3 acres per hour.

How many acres per hour is a 12 row planter?

A 12-row planter (typically 30 feet wide) operating at 5 mph with 70% efficiency covers about 15.3 acres per hour. This can plant around 184 acres in a 12-hour day under good conditions.

How many acres can a sprayer cover in an hour?

A sprayer's coverage depends on its boom width and speed. A 60-foot sprayer at 8 mph with 85% efficiency covers about 50 acres per hour, while a 120-foot sprayer at the same speed covers about 100 acres per hour.

How long does it take to mow 5 acres?

With a 6-foot mower at 4 mph and 80% efficiency, you'd cover about 2.3 acres per hour, taking roughly 2.2 hours to mow 5 acres. A larger 10-foot mower would reduce this to about 1.3 hours.

Acres Per Hour Calculator

Calculate how many acres per hour your farming equipment can cover and estimate completion time for any field size.

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How Acres Per Hour Calculator Works

This calculator uses the standard agricultural formula to determine how much ground your farm equipment can cover in an hour. It takes into account your equipment's width, operating speed, and field efficiency to give you realistic coverage estimates.

The calculation multiplies your equipment width (in feet) by your speed (in mph), then applies a conversion factor of 0.1212 to get theoretical acres per hour. This is then adjusted by your equipment efficiency percentage, which accounts for real-world factors like turns, refilling, and field conditions.

Equipment efficiency typically ranges from 70-100% depending on field shape, obstacles, and operational factors. Larger, rectangular fields with fewer obstacles allow for higher efficiency, while smaller or irregularly shaped fields reduce efficiency.

Once you know your acres per hour rate, the calculator can estimate how long it will take to complete any given field size. This helps with planning work schedules, coordinating with other operations, and estimating labor costs.

Acres Per Hour Calculator Formula Breakdown

Formula

Acres per hour = Equipment width (ft) × Speed (mph) × 0.1212 × (Equipment efficiency ÷ 100)
Hours to complete = Plot area (acres) ÷ Acres per hour

Variables Explained

Width of equipmentThe effective working width of your farming equipment in feet. This is the actual ground coverage width, not the transport width. For planters, this would be the row spacing multiplied by the number of rows (e.g., 12 rows × 30 inches = 30 feet).
Speed of equipmentThe average operating speed of your equipment in miles per hour. This should be your typical field speed, not maximum speed. Most farm equipment operates between 3-8 mph depending on the operation and field conditions.
Plot AreaThe total size of the field or area you need to cover, measured in acres. This is the actual workable area, excluding waterways, fence rows, and other non-workable areas.
Equipment EfficiencyThe percentage of time your equipment is actively covering ground, typically 70-100%. This accounts for turning at headlands, refilling/emptying, minor adjustments, and other operational delays. Higher efficiency indicates fewer interruptions and better field conditions.

Example Calculation

Given:

Width of equipment: 15 ft
Speed of equipment: 3 mph
Plot Area: 20 acres
Equipment Efficiency: 85%

Calculation:

Acres per hour = 15 ft × 3 mph × 0.1212 × (85 ÷ 100)
Acres per hour = 15 × 3 × 0.1212 × 0.85
Acres per hour = 4.63 acres per hour
Hours to complete = 20 acres ÷ 4.63 acres per hour = 4.32 hours

Result:

4.63 acres per hour, taking 4.32 hours to complete

Explanation

This example shows a 15-foot wide implement (like a disk or cultivator) operating at 3 mph with 85% efficiency. At this rate, it would take just over 4 hours to cover a 20-acre field.

Tips for Using Acres Per Hour Calculator

💡Use realistic speed values based on your typical field conditions - pushing too fast can reduce efficiency and increase wear on equipment.
💡Field efficiency decreases with smaller, irregularly shaped fields and increases with larger, rectangular fields with fewer obstacles.
💡Consider soil conditions when setting efficiency - wet or rocky conditions typically reduce both speed and efficiency significantly.

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