{
  "slug": "farm-equipment-cost-per-acre",
  "title": "Farm Equipment Cost Per Acre Calculator",
  "heading": "Machinery Cost Per Acre Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/farm-equipment-cost-per-acre",
  "summary": "Ownership plus operating cost of a machine per acre covered.",
  "description": "Machinery cost hides in depreciation and interest, not just diesel. This spreads ownership over annual acres and adds fuel, repairs, and labor for a true per-acre figure.",
  "formula": "Per acre = (depreciation + interest + insurance) ÷ acres + fuel + repairs + labor per acre.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=farm-equipment-cost-per-acre",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Purchase price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 240000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "salvage",
      "label": "Salvage value",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 90000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "years",
      "label": "Years of ownership",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "rate",
      "label": "Interest rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7.5,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "acres",
      "label": "Acres covered per year",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1800,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "acresHr",
      "label": "Acres per hour",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 12,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelGph",
      "label": "Fuel use",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 9,
      "unit": "gal/hr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "dieselPrice",
      "label": "Diesel price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.75,
      "unit": "$/gal",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "laborHr",
      "label": "Labor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 24,
      "unit": "$/hr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total cost per acre",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "ownAcre",
      "label": "Ownership cost per acre",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelAcre",
      "label": "Fuel per acre",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "laborAcre",
      "label": "Labor per acre",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annual",
      "label": "Total annual machine cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Purchase price: 240000 $",
      "Salvage value: 90000 $",
      "Years of ownership: 10",
      "Interest rate: 7.5 %",
      "Acres covered per year: 1800",
      "Acres per hour: 12",
      "Fuel use: 9 gal/hr",
      "Diesel price: 3.75 $/gal",
      "Labor: 24 $/hr"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total cost per acre: $24.02",
      "Ownership cost per acre: $15.21",
      "Fuel per acre: $2.81",
      "Labor per acre: $2.00",
      "Total annual machine cost: $43,238"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter purchase price ($).",
      "Enter salvage value ($).",
      "Enter years of ownership.",
      "Enter interest rate (%).",
      "Enter acres covered per year.",
      "Enter acres per hour.",
      "Enter fuel use (gal/hr).",
      "Enter diesel price ($/gal).",
      "Enter labor ($/hr).",
      "Read your total cost per acre on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "price": 144000,
        "salvage": 54000,
        "years": 6,
        "rate": 7.5,
        "acres": 1100,
        "acresHr": 7.199999999999999,
        "fuelGph": 5.3999999999999995,
        "dieselPrice": 2.25,
        "laborHr": 14
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "price": 240000,
        "salvage": 90000,
        "years": 10,
        "rate": 7.5,
        "acres": 1800,
        "acresHr": 12,
        "fuelGph": 9,
        "dieselPrice": 3.75,
        "laborHr": 24
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "price": 384000,
        "salvage": 144000,
        "years": 16,
        "rate": 7.5,
        "acres": 2900,
        "acresHr": 19.200000000000003,
        "fuelGph": 14.4,
        "dieselPrice": 6,
        "laborHr": 38
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why does acres per year matter so much?",
      "a": "Ownership cost is fixed. Running the same machine over twice the acres nearly halves the per-acre burden, which is the entire argument for custom hiring."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I compare to custom rates?",
      "a": "Yes. If your per-acre number exceeds the local custom rate, hiring the operation out is cheaper than owning."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Farm Equipment Cost Per Acre Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/farm-equipment-cost-per-acre)"
}