Orchard Yield Calculator
Estimating orchard production before harvest helps with labor planning, packing house scheduling, and sales contracts. Enter the number of trees per acre, average fruit count per tree, average fruit weight, and orchard area to get yield per tree, per acre, and total orchard output in pounds and bushels.
Orchard yield formula
Yield per tree (lb) = Fruit per tree x Fruit weight (oz) / 16
Yield per acre (lb) = Yield per tree x Trees per acre
Yield per acre (bu) = Yield per acre (lb) / 42
Total orchard (lb) = Yield per acre x Orchard area (acres)
42 pounds per bushel is the USDA AMS standard bushel weight for apples. For other fruit, use the appropriate USDA standard: pears = 50 lb/bu; peaches = 48 lb/bu; cherries = 56 lb/bu.
Typical orchard yields by crop
- Apples (high-density): 40,000 to 80,000 lb/acre in mature production.
- Apples (standard): 10,000 to 20,000 lb/acre.
- Peaches: 10,000 to 20,000 lb/acre.
- Tart cherries: 5,000 to 10,000 lb/acre.
- Pears: 15,000 to 25,000 lb/acre.
Orchard yield calculator: frequently asked questions
How is orchard yield calculated?
Orchard yield per acre = trees per acre x average fruit per tree x average fruit weight per unit. Total orchard yield = yield per acre x orchard area in acres. Yield can be expressed in pounds, bushels, bins, or tons depending on the crop and market channel.
What is a typical apple yield per tree?
Mature standard-size apple trees can produce 400 to 800 pounds per tree. Semi-dwarf trees typically yield 200 to 400 pounds. Dwarf trees on high-density systems (M.9 rootstock) may produce 50 to 150 pounds per tree but are planted at 400 to 1,500 trees per acre, resulting in total orchard yields of 40,000 to 80,000 pounds per acre in well-managed systems, per Cornell University Extension.
How many apples are in a bushel?
A US bushel of apples weighs approximately 42 pounds. This is the standard commercial bushel for apples defined by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
How does tree density affect total orchard yield per acre?
Higher tree density generally increases yield per acre, especially with size-controlling rootstocks. However, very high density plantings require more intensive management, trellising, and irrigation. The optimal density depends on the cultivar, rootstock, training system, and available budget and labor.
At what age do fruit trees reach full production?
Dwarf apple trees on M.9 may begin bearing commercially at 2 to 3 years and reach full production at 5 to 7 years. Semi-dwarf trees take 4 to 6 years to full production. Standard trees may take 7 to 10 years. Stone fruits (peaches, cherries) typically reach full production in 3 to 6 years depending on rootstock.
Official sources
- Cornell University Fruit Resources: Apple Production Guides.
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: Apple Grade Standards and Bushel Weights.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.