Farm Operating Cost Calculator
Calculate per-hectare costs and profitability for arable farming. See break-even price per tonne.
Last updated: April 2026 · Source: Defra — Farm Business Survey
Costs per Hectare (£/ha)
Estimated Profit
£61,000.00
Total Costs
£83,000.00
Revenue
£144,000.00
Cost/Tonne
£103.75
Break-Even
£103.75/t
Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
Farm operating costs for arable farming in the UK include seed, fertiliser, crop protection (sprays), fuel, labour, machinery depreciation, rent and overheads. Variable costs — seed, fertiliser and sprays — typically run £600–£900 per hectare for winter wheat, while fixed costs (rent, labour, machinery) add another £400–£700 per hectare.
This calculator breaks down costs per hectare by category, allowing you to input your own figures or use national averages from the Farm Business Survey (FBS). It shows total cost of production per tonne, which you can compare against current market prices to assess profitability.
Understanding your cost base is essential for making cropping decisions, negotiating input prices and benchmarking against other farms. The calculator also shows how changes in a single input (e.g. a 10% rise in fertiliser cost) affect your overall cost per tonne.
Example: Winter wheat, 100 hectares
- Seed: £70/ha → £7,000
- Fertiliser: £280/ha → £28,000
- Sprays: £200/ha → £20,000
- Fuel and machinery: £180/ha → £18,000
- Total variable costs: £730/ha. At 8.2 t/ha yield: cost per tonne = £89
Source: Defra — Farm Business Survey
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Farm Operating Cost Calculator do?
- Calculate per-hectare costs and profitability for arable farming. See break-even price per tonne. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.
- Are these based on Defra rates?
- Where applicable, this calculator uses rates and data from Defra, the Rural Payments Agency and industry standard references for UK agriculture.
- Does this account for regional variations?
- UK farming conditions vary by region, soil type and climate. This calculator provides national average figures — adjust for your specific location and circumstances.