Loads and weights
How many round bales fit on a hay trailer?
A 10-bale unit takes up to 10 large rounds, as long as the load stays under 10,000 lb. A 17-bale unit takes up to 17. Past 17 is a second trip. Weight usually runs out before deck space does.
Rounds vs squares: rough weights
| Bale | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| 4×5 round | ~700–1,000 lb |
| 5×5 round | ~900–1,200 lb |
| 5×6 round | ~1,200–1,600 lb |
| Small square, 2-string | ~45–75 lb |
| Small square, 3-string | ~80–120 lb |
| Large square 3×3×8 | ~800–1,000 lb |
| Large square 3×4×8 | ~1,000–1,400 lb |
Ranges, not promises. Wet hay, alfalfa versus grass, and baler settings all change it. If it matters, weigh one.
The two units drivers run here
10-bale unit. A pickup and a shorter gooseneck, bumper pull or deck, set up to carry up to 10 large rounds with the load under 10,000 lb. Good for acreage lanes and smaller yards. Heavy bales mean fewer per trip.
17-bale unit. Usually a 1-ton and a 30–36′ gooseneck or deck. Up to 17 large rounds, which is a lot of weight, so the truck, hitch and trailer all have to be rated for it. The estimate splits trips at 17 bales for everyone. A 10-bale driver taking 15 bales will bid for the second trip.
Super B. Not on the site yet. If you're moving hundreds of bales, a trucking company is the better call.
Weight and rules
Once a truck and trailer are registered for or weigh more than 4,500 kg, Alberta requires cargo to be secured to the National Safety Code standard (NSC Standard 10). There are some exemptions for bales of feed hauled short distances for a farmer, so read the regulation rather than going by the coffee shop. Heavier registrations bring Safety Fitness Certificate rules. See Alberta’s cargo securement rules and Alberta Transportation’s carrier rules. Rules change and they depend on your exact unit, so when in doubt, ask Alberta Transportation.
How many round bales fit on a 10-bale unit?
Up to 10 large rounds, as long as the total stays under 10,000 lb. With 1,000 lb bales that's the full 10. With heavy 5×6 rounds at 1,300 lb or more, it's more like 7. Weigh a bale or ask the seller if you're not sure.
How many round bales fit on a 17-bale unit?
Up to 17 large rounds on a 30–36′ gooseneck or deck, depending on bale size, trailer length and what the truck and trailer are rated for. That's why the estimate splits trips at 17.
How much does a round bale weigh?
Roughly: 4×5 about 700–1,000 lb, 5×5 about 900–1,200 lb, 5×6 about 1,200–1,600 lb. Moisture, forage type and how tight it was baled swing those numbers a lot. We use about 1,000 lb as the rule of thumb.
How much do square bales weigh?
Small 2-string squares run about 45–75 lb, 3-string about 80–120 lb. Large squares run about 800–1,000 lb for 3×3×8 and about 1,000–1,400 lb for 3×4×8. Small squares are hand-stacked, so those hauls are bid only.