Direct answer: In Canada, the standard bushel weights are wheat 60 lb, soybeans 60 lb, corn 56 lb, flax 56 lb, canola 50 lb, barley 48 lb and oats 34 lb. A tonne is 2,204.62 lb, so bushels per tonne is 2,204.62 divided by the bushel weight. Barley and oats are the two to double-check, because some programs and buyers use different weights.
Bushel weights by crop
Crop | Pounds per bushel | Kilograms per bushel | Bushels per tonne |
|---|---|---|---|
Wheat (all classes, including durum) | 60 | 27.22 | 36.744 |
Soybeans | 60 | 27.22 | 36.744 |
Corn | 56 | 25.40 | 39.368 |
Flax | 56 | 25.40 | 39.368 |
Canola | 50 | 22.68 | 44.092 |
Barley (trade weight) | 48 | 21.77 | 45.930 |
Oats (Canadian trade weight) | 34 | 15.42 | 64.842 |
Kilograms per bushel use 1 lb = 0.4536 kg. Bushels per tonne are rounded to three decimals.
Where the numbers come from
Wheat, soybeans, corn, flax and canola match the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) grain conversion table: 60, 60, 56, 56 and 50 lb.
The 48 lb barley and 34 lb oat weights are the long-standing Canadian trade weights, from the Canada Grains Council Statistical Handbook as reproduced in the FarmBooks converter.
These are trade conventions, not a measured test weight. A light or heavy load changes how many volume bushels fit in a tonne. The Canadian Grain Commission publishes test weight charts that convert a measured sample to pounds per bushel.
Barley and oats: check the weight first
Barley: AFSC uses 50 lb (44.092 bushels per tonne) for AgriInsurance and AgriStability. The trade weight is 48 lb (45.930).
Oats: AFSC uses 41 lb (53.771 bushels per tonne) for its programs. Canadian buyers use 34 lb (64.842).
U.S. tables: The U.S. uses the smaller Winchester bushel (35.239 litres), while Canada uses the Imperial or Avery bushel (36.369 litres). Alberta Agriculture flags this when selling oats to U.S. buyers.
AFSC itself notes its conversion rates may differ from the rates used by grain elevators. When a bid is quoted per bushel, ask which bushel weight it uses, then compare buyers per tonne.
The one formula
Bushels per tonne = 2,204.62 ÷ pounds per bushel.
Price per tonne = price per bushel × bushels per tonne.
Price per bushel = price per tonne ÷ bushels per tonne.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bushel of canola weigh?
50 lb, or 22.68 kg. That makes 44.092 bushels per tonne.
How much does a bushel of wheat weigh?
60 lb, or 27.22 kg, for every wheat class, durum included. That makes 36.744 bushels per tonne.
Why do barley and oats have more than one weight?
Because programs and buyers use different conventions. AFSC uses 50 lb barley and 41 lb oats; the trade uses 48 lb barley and 34 lb oats.
See also Grain Conversions: Bushels to Tonnes, How Many Bushels Are in a Tonne of Canola?, the Klarenbach Grain Report's Canola Prices in Canada: The Complete Guide, and the canola chart hub.
