Hay Scale: Loader and Floor Scale Options for Weighing Bales
Shop our top hay scale: the MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE loader scale, on sale for $979.00 (regular $1,498.00), in stock.
Short answer: a hay scale is how you weigh round or square bales and trailer loads, either on the loader in the field or on a floor scale at the barn. For weighing on the machine, we start with the MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE: a hydraulic loader scale with a 5,000 psi pressure sensor, a 6-digit LED display and totalizing, on sale for $979.00. The same system is also in stock with a thermal printer. For a scale at the barn, the MNM Scales 5,000 lb floor scale kit and the MNM Scales MS-20k 20,000 lb kit let you build a platform for bales and loads. We are an authorized dealer for every brand we sell.
On sale: $979.00 (regular $1,498.00) on the MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE (#914), in stock. Contact us or call (832) 290-3120 with questions.
Hay and farm scale guides from MNM Scales
- Hay scale: loader and floor scale options for weighing bales (you are here)
- Loader scale and forklift scale guide
- Scale kit guide
- Livestock scale for goats, sheep and pigs
- Cattle chute scale guide
Hay is sold and inventoried by the bale, the load and the ton, and the right hay scale depends on where you want to weigh. Weigh on the loader while you stack or load, or put a floor scale kit at the barn for a platform the trailer or the bales can sit on. Farms in the Waller, Hockley and Magnolia area use both approaches; we will help you match the job.
Ways to weigh hay
On the machine. A loader or bucket scale reads lift-cylinder pressure and shows the weight of each grab, which is the usual way to weigh bales in the field as you stack or load a trailer. The MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE is built for that job. For how the hydraulic system is laid out, see our loader scale and forklift scale guide.
At the barn. A floor scale kit becomes a platform for small square bales, a pallet of bales, or a loaded wagon or trailer, depending on capacity. The 5,000 lb kit covers lighter barn work; the MS-20k 20,000 lb kit covers heavier rounds and loads. Our scale kit guide walks through building the platform. If you also weigh animals on the same deck, see our livestock scale guide and cattle chute scale guide for those setups.
Hay scales in stock at live prices
| Hay scale | Use | How it weighs | NTEP | What you get | Price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE | Loader / bucket / forklift (hydraulic) | About 1–2% of machine capacity when installed | non-NTEP | 5,000 psi sensor, 6-digit LED, totalizing, 12 V DC | $979.00 (reg. $1,498.00) | Weighing bales and loads on the machine in the field |
| MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE with printer | Loader / bucket / forklift (hydraulic) | About 1–2% of machine capacity when installed | non-NTEP | Same system, plus a thermal printer for load records | $1,499.00 | Field weighing when you want a printed ticket and running total |
| MNM Scales 5,000 lb floor scale kit | 5,000 lb barn platform (kit) | Four 5,000 lb single-ended shear beam cells, indicator, junction box | non-NTEP | LCD indicator, mounting plates, cable, AC adapter | $269.00 (reg. $399.00) | Small square bales and lighter loads at the barn |
| MNM Scales MS-20k 20,000 lb floor scale kit | 20,000 lb barn platform (kit) | Four 10,000 lb shear beam cells, LP7515 indicator, junction box, feet | non-NTEP | LCD, RS-232C | $399.00 (reg. $699.00) | Heavier round bales, stacked loads and trailers at the barn |
Browse forklift and loader scales and floor scales, or animal and livestock scales if the same platform will also weigh livestock.
Weighing bales on the loader
The MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE is a complete hydraulic on-board system: a temperature-compensated 5,000 psi pressure sensor with a 12 ft hook-up cable tees into the pressure side of the lift cylinder (1/4 in NPT), and a high-brightness 6-digit LED display (0.56 in digits) sits in a water-resistant enclosure with a stainless steel tilt bracket. It has lock-on-weight, reweigh and totalization modes, plus a serial output for a printer or computer, and it runs on 12 V DC vehicle power (DC-DC converters for 24, 36 and 48 V electric trucks are options, not included). When installed, accuracy is about 1–2% of the machine capacity. The system is made in the USA. If you want a ticket for each load, the TR-1-NK-HE with thermal printer is in stock at $1,499.00.
Weighing bales at the barn
The MNM Scales 5,000 lb floor scale kit includes four 5,000 lb single-ended shear beam load cells, an LCD indicator, a junction box, mounting plates, hardware, cable and an AC adapter, on sale for $269.00 (regular $399.00). The MNM Scales MS-20k builds a 20,000 lb floor, platform or livestock scale from four 10,000 lb shear beam load cells, a junction box, an LP7515 indicator with RS-232C, four feet, hardware and cable, on sale for $399.00 (regular $699.00). You supply the deck to the size you need. For kit layout and assembly, use the scale kit guide.
Selling hay by weight
The MNM Scales Tara loader scales and both floor scale kits in the table are non-NTEP. They are a solid fit for inventory, feeding and load checks. If you sell hay by weight and need a legal-for-trade scale, an NTEP alternative is the MNM Scales EH-544: a 5,000 lb × 1 lb, 48 × 48 in floor scale, NTEP under Certificate of Conformance 15-085 (EH Series, Class III), on sale for $2,199.00 (regular $2,998.00), in stock, with a Cardinal 185 indicator included. The MNM Scales EH-1044 is the 10,000 lb × 2 lb NTEP version on the same certificate, at the same price. Read what NTEP and legal for trade mean, compare NTEP floor scales, or check a complete scale with our legal-for-trade scale checker.
Calibration and service
The 5,000 lb and 20,000 lb kits are complete indicator-and-load-cell sets, so they follow the over-150 kg calibration tiers: in-house calibration with a certificate is $495, and NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate is $995. Mail-in calibration is available nationwide by mail, for in-house and NIST certificates, and usually takes 1–3 business days after we receive the scale. On-site calibration across Houston and its suburbs is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip. For a loader scale, get a quote.
We work with farms in the Waller, Hockley and Magnolia area from our Cypress shop. See scale service in Waller and scale service in Magnolia, or visit us in Cypress, TX (21249 FM 529 Rd, Cypress, TX 77433) by appointment. We repair all brands and types of scales through our Houston scale repair service.
Notes from our Cypress, TX shop
- Pick the place you weigh: a loader scale is for bales and grabs on the machine; a floor scale kit is for a platform at the barn.
- Size to the heaviest load, not the average bale: stacked rounds and trailer loads outgrow a 5,000 lb deck quickly.
- Selling by the ton is a different setup than inventory: use an NTEP floor scale such as the EH-544 when you need legal-for-trade weights.
Ready to order? The MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE is our usual hay scale for the loader, on sale at $979.00 (regular $1,498.00), in stock. Building a platform at the barn? See the 5,000 lb kit and the MS-20k 20,000 lb kit in the table, or browse loader scales and floor scales. Questions? Call (832) 290-3120 or get a quote.
Shop the TR-1-NK-HE (#914) Call (832) 290-3120 Request a quote
Frequently asked questions
What is a hay scale?
A hay scale is the scale you use to weigh round or square bales and loads, either on the loader in the field or on a floor scale at the barn. The MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE loader scale is our usual on-machine pick at $979.00.
Can I weigh hay on a front-end or bucket loader?
Yes. The MNM Scales Tara TR-1-NK-HE tees a 5,000 psi pressure sensor into the lift cylinder, shows the load on a 6-digit LED display, and can totalize successive lifts. It runs on 12 V DC vehicle power. See our loader scale guide for the equipment detail.
What capacity hay scale do I need?
Match the scale to the heaviest bale or load, not the average. Individual large round bales often fit a 5,000 lb barn kit; stacked bales, trailer loads and heavier rounds are a better fit for the MNM Scales MS-20k 20,000 lb kit. A loader scale reads the lift on the machine, so size it to the loader and the heaviest grab you make.
Is a hay scale NTEP if I sell hay by the ton?
The MNM Scales Tara loader scales and the 5,000 lb and MS-20k floor scale kits in the table are non-NTEP. For selling hay by weight, an NTEP alternative is the MNM Scales EH-544, a 5,000 lb × 1 lb, 48 × 48 in floor scale, NTEP under CC 15-085, at $2,199.00. The MNM Scales EH-1044 is the 10,000 lb × 2 lb NTEP version at the same price.
Can you calibrate a hay scale?
For a finished floor scale kit (cells, junction box and indicator), in-house calibration with a certificate is $495 and NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate is $995, because these kits are over 150 kg. Mail-in is available nationwide by mail. For a loader scale, get a quote.
Do you service hay scales near Waller, Hockley and Magnolia?
Yes. We work with farms in the Waller, Hockley and Magnolia area from our Cypress, TX shop. See our Waller and Magnolia service pages, or call (832) 290-3120.