How much does a
bale of hay cost?
Today's price per bale for every hay and straw we stock, from small French bales to big and round Portuguese bales. Plus what drives the price and how to pay less.
Hay and straw prices per bale
The table below shows our current price per bale for every hay and straw, straight from our shop. Prices include VAT. Delivery is quoted separately.
Our live price list needs JavaScript. You can see every price per bale in the hay shop and the straw shop.
incl. VAT · delivery quoted separately
The minimum per product is shown in bales. Your whole order needs to reach €150 in goods, and you can mix hay, straw, shavings and feed to get there.
What drives hay prices
Origin
Where the hay grows decides what it costs to make and to bring here. French hay travels further than hay from Portugal, and that shows in the price per bale.
Cut and season
A first cut from a good season, made at the right moment, is worth more than a late or rained-on cut. Leafy, well-cured hay costs more to make and is harder to find.
Compression and weight
A double-compressed small bale holds about 24 kg, a traditional small bale about 17 to 20 kg. Two small bales can look alike and still carry very different amounts of hay.
Nutritional quality
Protein, sugar and fibre vary widely between fields and years. Hay with a known, steady profile is worth more to owners who need to plan a ration.
Drought years
In a dry year less hay is made across Portugal and Spain, and local prices usually rise. Imported hay helps to even out the supply.
Transport and handling
Moving hay is heavy work. Fuel, trucks, loading and storage are part of what every bale costs, which is why buying more in one go lowers the price per bale.
Small, big or round bales: which suits you?
Small bales (≈ 17 to 24 kg)
Easy to lift, stack and portion by hand. They suit one to a few horses, yards without a tractor and anyone who likes to weigh each feed. Little waste, but the highest price per kilo of hay. Store them on pallets, dry and out of the sun.
Big bales (≈ 250 to 500 kg)
The best value per kilo for bigger yards and herds. You need a tractor or loader to move them and a covered, dry place to keep them. Once a bale is open, feed it within a sensible time so the hay stays fresh.
Round bales (≈ 200 kg)
Good for groups of horses in a field or paddock, usually in a hay rack or net. Covered, they cope with outdoor storage better than square bales. Waste can be higher when horses pull hay onto the ground, so a rack or net soon pays for itself.
What about the price of hay per kg?
Many people search for the price of hay per kilo, and it is a fair question. The catch is that bales are not the same size. Our small Portuguese ryegrass bale weighs about 17 kg, a double-compressed French bale about 24 kg and a big bale about 500 kg. A cheaper bale is not always cheaper hay, so always compare bales by their weight.
Even per kilo, the cheapest hay is not always the cheapest way to feed. Hay that suits your horse well can mean less waste and a simpler ration. The feeding calculator compares the options for your own horses per month, so you see what a ration really costs.
Why French hay costs more per bale, and what you get
Our French hay comes from a specialist forage house in Saint-Gilles, in the south of France, and travels by truck to our depots in Loulé and Almeirim. That journey, and a heavier double-compressed bale, are the main reasons it costs more per bale than local hay.
What you get for it is consistency. Our French hay is carefully selected: we use independent lab analyses when selecting our forages, and our team checks the hay again at our depots before it goes out. For horses that need a steady or low-sugar ration, that consistency is worth a lot. The dense bales also stack neatly and keep well. More on our French hay.
Local Portuguese hay: honest value
Not every horse needs imported hay. Our Portuguese meadow hay, ryegrass mix and round bales are grown closer to home and cost less per bale. We select them carefully on smell, colour and structure, and they suit many leisure horses and easy keepers well.
Local hay varies more from field to field and from year to year. If your horse has special needs, talk to your vet. Read why local hay often falls short and what good hay looks like.
How to pay less
per bale.
- Order a full truck. A full truck of small or big bales comes straight from France, with a personal quote for your region.
- Choose big bales if you can handle them. Per kilo, big bales are the best value for larger yards.
- Look at volume prices. Some small bales get a lower price per bale from a set quantity. You see it in the table above.
- Order with neighbours or your yard. Share a pallet or a truck with other owners nearby and split the delivery.
- Plan ahead. Buying before the dry months helps you avoid running short when local hay is scarce.
What is not in the price
Delivery
Prices never include delivery. We quote it separately for your address and order. A pallet by carrier usually arrives within 24 to 48 hours anywhere in Portugal and Spain. The Prime Hay team or a trusted transport partner can also stack and store it for you by appointment, usually within a few days to two weeks. You can collect at our depots in Loulé and Almeirim too. Delivery options.
Minimum order
Every order needs at least €150 in goods. Mix hay, straw, shavings and feed to reach it. Each product also has its own minimum in bales, shown in the table.
VAT
Our prices include VAT at the standard rate. A temporary 0% rate on hay and straw applies only to registered agricultural producers whose animals are kept for food production, such as breeding, milk or meat, by declaration and for deliveries within Portugal. Horses kept for sport, competition or leisure do not qualify. Read the conditions first.
Hay prices: frequently asked
How much is a bale of hay?
It depends mostly on the size of the bale and where the hay comes from. A small bale of Portuguese hay is the cheapest per bale, a double-compressed French bale costs more, and big and round bales cost several times more because they hold far more hay. Our current price per bale for every hay is in the price table on this page, incl. VAT, and it updates from our shop.
How much is a big bale of hay?
Our big bales weigh from about 250 kg (Portuguese ryegrass) to about 500 kg (French meadow hay), and our round bales about 200 kg. The price per bale is in the table above. Per kilo, big bales are the best value for yards that can move and store them.
What does hay cost per kg?
We sell hay per bale, and bale weights differ a lot: about 17 kg, about 24 kg or about 500 kg. To compare, divide the price of a bale by its weight. Keep in mind that the cheapest hay per kilo is not always the cheapest way to feed. The feeding calculator compares the options per month for your horses.
How much does a bale of straw cost?
We stock wheat straw from Portugal and France in small and big bales. Small bales are handy for a few stables, big bales are the best value for larger yards. The current price per bale is in the straw part of the table.
Is delivery included in the price?
No. Prices are per bale incl. VAT, and delivery is quoted separately for your address and order size. A pallet by carrier usually arrives within 24 to 48 hours in Portugal and Spain. See our delivery page.
What is the minimum order?
€150 in goods per order. You can mix hay, straw, shavings and feed. Some products also have a minimum number of bales, shown in the table.
Do your prices include VAT?
Yes. Registered agricultural producers who buy hay or straw for animals kept for food production may qualify for a temporary 0% rate by declaration. Horses kept for sport, competition or leisure do not qualify. Details on our VAT declaration page.
Where can I buy hay bales in Portugal or Spain?
We deliver hay and straw across Portugal and Spain from our depots in Loulé (Algarve) and Almeirim (Ribatejo). Order in the shop or collect at one of the depots.
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