Your Guide To Hay Shed Sizes For Fodder Storage.
Tried, tested and proven!
The value of on-farm fodder storage, particularly as part of your drought management strategy, can’t be overstated.
Investing in on-farm fodder storage is one of the smartest moves you can make, especially with rising costs of feed and the tax write-off and grants available to help fund new infrastructure.
When it comes to storing hay on-farm for fodder, there are a few things your hay shed should address.
A well-designed hay shed will:
- Effectively protect your hay
- Be easily loaded and unloaded.
- Provide adequate storage space
And let’s not forget about budget. A well-planned hay shed can be cost-effective and functional.
So, we’ve rounded up 3 of the best hay shed sizes for fodder storage based on capacity, cost-effectiveness and practicality – and included ideas for how they can be customised or repurposed for even better value for money.
These are all tried-and-tested designs and could be a great starting point for your on-farm storage.
You will also find a handy price guide for each option.
Let’s get into it!
3 Of The Best Hay Shed Sizes For Fodder Storage (& Price List)
1. A 24m (L) x 15m (W) x 6m (H) hay shed stores approx. 650 big square bales and costs approx. $70,000 – $90,000. (Approx. $ 110 – $140 per bale)
2. A 32m (L) x 18m (W) x 6m (H) hay shed stores approx 1,008 big square bales and costs approx. $90,0000 – $120,000. (Approx. $90 – $120 per bale)
3. A 40m (L) x 18m (W) x 6m (H) hay shed stores approx. 1,260 big square bales and costs approx. $110,000 – $140,000. (Approx. $87 – $110 per bale)
Disclaimer: Prices are for a three-sided configuration including GST, delivery, footing concrete and installation.
The prices in this article are approximate only and are subject to change. They are intended only as a budgeting tool. For accurate project pricing please request a formal quote.
Read on to find recent project examples and ways you could customise these sizes to work for your fodder storage.
First up is the 650 bale hay shed.
1
650 Bale Hay Shed
Size: 24m (L) x 15m (W) x 6m (H)
Configuration: Open front (three sides enclosed with one long side open) and three bays.
Capacity: Approx. 650 big square bales (based on stacking 6 high)
Price Guide: Approx. $70,000 – $90,000 including GST, delivery and installation ($110 – $140 per bale)
Why This Design Works: The 24m x 15m shed kit is one of the most popular hay shed sizes for fodder storage, and for several good reasons.
Firstly, using a standard size span and bay spacing is the best way to create a cost-effective design. So, it checks that box.
The 8 metre bay spacings are practical too, allowing three big square bales to be stored between the columns.
There are also several ways this kit shed could be customised:
- Add an extra bay for an additional 200 bales+ storage
- Lower the height to suit your loading equipment
- Add hay bumps on the back wall to protect the cladding from machinery damage or falling bales
- Leave a gable end open for wide access
You can see examples of these customisation options in the gallery below.
Plus, the 24m x 15m hay shed kit can easily be repurposed throughout the year if hay storage isn’t a requirement.
For example, the shed could be used for machinery storage, calf rearing, or retrofitted with movable L-walls for commodity storage.
Capitalising on this versatility is a great way to get the best value-for-money.
Inspiration Gallery
2
1000 Bale Hay Shed
If you are looking to store around 1,000 bales on-farm, it’s hard to go past the 32m x 18m kit shed!
Size: 32m (L) x 18m (W) x 6m (H)
Configuration: Open front (three sides enclosed with one long side open) and four bays.
Capacity: Approx. 1,008 big square bales (based on stacking 6 high)
Price Guide: Approx. $90,0000 – $120,000 including GST, delivery and installation. ($90 – $120 per bale)
Why This Design Works: The 32m x 18m kit shed is arguably the most popular hay shed size for fodder because it provides a low cost-per-bale and versatility, providing excellent value for money.
In fact, you will also find this kit size on the best machinery shed kit sizes list, here.
It is for these reasons that the 32m x 18m hay shed is a very common choice for dairies and is often used as a multi-use shed.
Similarly, it would also work well for feedlots and other livestock enterprises looking for dedicated hay storage sheds.
Ways this kit shed could be customised include:
- Adding an extra bay (incidentally, this would create the next size on the list!)
- Using a canopy for extra weather protection and temporary storage space
- Concreting a bay for a maintenance area.
For example, concreting a bay could be a good option if you intend to enclose a bay to create a workshop.
You could also use it for commodity storage such as almond hulls or as a calf shed.
However, it is important that a high level of hygiene is maintained. And it would also pay to check that your insurance covers co-storing or multi-use sheds.
Check out the gallery below to see how others have used their 32m x 18m shed.
Inspiration Gallery
3
1250 Bale Hay Shed
An extra bay longer than the 32m x 18m hay shed, you will find that this option has a lower cost-per-bale.
This is simply because, as a rule of thumb, the longer the shed, the more cost-effective it becomes.
Size: 40m (L) x 18m (W) x 6m (H)
Configuration: Open front (three sides enclosed with one long side open) and five bays.
Capacity: Approx. 1250 big square bales (based on stacking 6 high)
Price Guide: Approx. $110,000 – $140,000 including GST, delivery and installation. ($87 – $110 per bale)
Why This Design Works: If you are in the market for either a hay shed or a machinery shed, this would be a good option.
There’s a reason why it makes both the machinery shed and hay shed kit lists – it is cost-effective, functional and versatile, making it a good fit for smaller enterprises looking for versatility or larger enterprises looking for dedicated, bulk storage.
Here’s how you could customise the 40m x 18m:
- Upsizing the bay spacing to 8.25m or 8.5m for more “wriggle room”
- Adding a canopy for extra (and cost-effective) coverage
- Installing sliding doors to the gable end or back wall to keep the shed contents easily accessible
Inspiration Gallery
So, that’s a wrap on some of the best hay shed sizes for fodder storage!
Whether you are looking to store 500 bales or 1200 plus bales, we hope you have found this helpful.
Ready to get your hay shed project underway? Looking for more cost-effective and functional size suggestions?
Reach out to the team on 1800 687 888 or simply submit a REQUEST A QUOTE form – we would love to hear from you!
