Engineering tools
Bale weight estimator
A bale weighs its volume times the density the baler reaches. Density depends mostly on the material and on how hard the baler presses. Choose your material, bale size and press force for a weight range.
Calculator
Results
Estimated bale weight
154–246 kg
Density 250–400 kg/m³ · bale volume 0.616 m³
- Press class
- Medium (20–50 t)
The density ranges are typical published values; our engineers are validating them.
Estimated bale weight: 154–246 kg
An estimate, not an engineering certification. Our engineers check every figure before a machine is quoted.
Worked example
A 1100 × 700 × 800 mm cardboard bale is 0.62 m³. A 30 t baler typically reaches 250–400 kg/m³ with cardboard, so each bale weighs about 154–246 kg. Five tonnes of cardboard a day makes 21 to 33 bales.
Assumptions
- Densities are typical ranges for dry, sorted material; wet or mixed material varies.
- The press force sets the density range: light under 20 t, medium 20–50 t, heavy 50 t and up.
- The bale size is the finished bale, not the chamber before pressing.
The formulas
Where
- m
- bale weight
- ρ
- bale density
- L, W, H
- bale length, width and height
Related products
Questions
How heavy is a cardboard bale?
It depends on the baler: light balers make light bales, and heavy balers press the same cardboard to two or three times the density. Enter your bale size and press force for a range.
Why a range and not one number?
Moisture, how well the material is sorted and how the chamber is loaded change the density from bale to bale.
Which baler do I need for my volume?
Count the bales per day, then look at cycle time and how the baler is fed. Send your figures to an engineer and we'll suggest a vertical or horizontal baler.
All tools
Tell us what you need to press.
An engineer will study your request and get back to you with a proposal.