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Post-Harvest & Storage Calculators

Grain Moisture Shrink Calculator

Calculate weight shrinkage, handling loss and the value lost when wet grain dries down to standard commercial moisture.

Enter your details

From a moisture meter.

%

Commercial standard – about 17% for paddy, 12% for wheat.

%

Dust, broken grain and spillage while drying and cleaning.

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₹

Wet grain weighs more but sells for less. Enter the weight and moisture of your harvest and the moisture it must dry to, and see the final saleable weight, the water you lose and what that means in rupees.

About the Grain Moisture Shrink Calculator

Freshly harvested grain carries extra water. As it dries, the water evaporates and the weight falls – but the dry matter, which is what the buyer pays for, stays the same. The loss is larger than most people expect: drying paddy from 22% to 17% moisture removes about 6% of the weight, not 5%.

This happens because moisture percentages are measured on the wet weight. The correct calculation keeps the dry matter constant:

Dry weight = Wet weight × (100 − Initial moisture) ÷ (100 − Target moisture)

Use it to:

  • decide whether to dry grain yourself or accept a buyer's moisture deduction,
  • compare a higher price for wet grain against a lower one for dry grain,
  • check that a trader's "moisture cut" is fair.

How to use the Grain Moisture Shrink Calculator

  1. 1 Enter the weight you harvested and its moisture from a meter.
  2. 2 Enter the moisture the buyer or procurement centre requires.
  3. 3 Add a handling loss for cleaning and drying, and the price per quintal if you want the value.
  4. 4 Press Calculate.

The formula we use

Dry weight = Wet weight × (100 − M₁) ÷ (100 − M₂)
Moisture shrink % = (M₁ − M₂) ÷ (100 − M₂) × 100
Saleable weight = Dry weight × (1 − Handling loss %)

M₁ is the moisture at harvest and M₂ the target moisture, both on a wet-weight basis as shown by grain moisture meters.

Worked example

You harvest 100 quintals of paddy at 22% moisture and must dry it to 17%. Handling loss is 0.5% and the price is ₹2,300 per quintal.

  1. Dry weight = 100 × 78 ÷ 83 = 93.98 q – 6.02 q of water removed.
  2. Handling loss = 93.98 × 0.5% = 0.47 q.
  3. Saleable weight = 93.51 q, worth ₹2,15,073.
  4. Total loss = 6.49 q (6.49%), worth about ₹14,927 at the same price.

Things to keep in mind

  • Measure moisture correctly. Take several samples and use a calibrated meter; readings from hot, freshly dried grain are unreliable.
  • Don't over-dry. Every percentage point below the standard is weight you give away free, and very dry paddy breaks more in milling.
  • Safe storage moisture is lower than selling moisture for long storage – about 12–13% for most cereals.

Frequently asked questions

How much weight does grain lose when it dries?

For each point of moisture removed, grain loses a little more than 1% of its weight. Drying from 22% to 17% loses about 6%.

What is the moisture limit for selling paddy and wheat?

Government procurement specifications typically allow up to about 17% for paddy and 12% for wheat. Check the current specifications for your state and season.

Is it better to sell wet or dry grain?

Compare the money: wet weight × wet price against dry weight × dry price, minus drying costs. This calculator gives you the dry weight to do that.

Last updated . Spotted a mistake or need a unit we don't support? Tell us.