Acres Per Hour Calculator
Enter your implement width, travel speed, and field efficiency to calculate how many acres you can cover per hour.
14.5
acres per hour
5.9
hectares per hour
At 30 ft wide and 5 mph with 80% efficiency:
- • 14.5 acres/hour (5.9 ha/hour)
- • 116 acres in an 8-hour day
- • 4.1 minutes per acre
How It Works
The formula is: Acres/Hour = (Width (ft) x Speed (mph) x Efficiency) / 8.25
The constant 8.25 converts feet and miles per hour into acres per hour. Field efficiency accounts for turning time, overlaps, and stops — typically 70-85% for most operations.
Typical Field Efficiency by Operation
| Operation | Efficiency | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spraying | 80-85% | Fewer turns, wider booms |
| Plowing | 70-80% | Slower turns, soil conditions |
| Seeding | 65-75% | Refilling, calibration stops |
| Harvesting | 60-75% | Unloading, yield variability |
Track Real Acres Per Hour
FieldMate calculates your actual acres per hour in real time using GPS. See speed, covered area, and elapsed time as you drive.
Try FieldMate FreeFAQ
How do you calculate acres per hour?
Use the formula: (Width in feet x Speed in mph x Efficiency) / 8.25. For example, a 40-foot implement at 5 mph with 80% efficiency covers 19.4 acres per hour.
What is field efficiency?
Field efficiency is the percentage of time actually spent working vs. total time in the field. It accounts for turns, overlap, refilling, and stops. Typical values range from 60-85% depending on the operation.
What speed should I use for the calculation?
Use your average working speed, not top speed. For spraying this is typically 8-12 mph, plowing 4-6 mph, and seeding 5-8 mph. GPS apps like FieldMate show your real-time speed.
Why is the constant 8.25 used?
The constant 8.25 converts feet and miles per hour into acres per hour. It comes from: 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft, and 1 mph = 5,280 ft/hr. So 43,560 / 5,280 = 8.25.