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How to Measure a Grain Bin

Grain bins are cylindrical agricultural storage containers. They vary in size from a few yards across to several hundred feet, the latter of which are large enough to be converted into houses when their life as a grain bin comes to an end! Grain bins are found mainly on arable farms where they store freshly harvested grain until it is distributed to other locations. Measuring a grain bin may require climbing up ladders and a comfort level when dealing with heights.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure

Instructions

- 1
  Measure around the perimeter, or circumference, of the grain bin. The perimeter of a large bin may be greater than the length of the tape measure. If this is the case, measure as far around as possible, make a mark on the bin, and then start measuring again from that mark. Add together the separate distances to find the total perimeter. For example, if a 100-foot tape measure goes exactly three times around the grain bin then the perimeter is 300 feet -- 3 x 100 = 300.
- 2
  Divide the perimeter value by pi, usually rounded to 3.1415. The result is the diameter of the grain bin. Divide the diameter by 2 to find the radius. For example, if the perimeter is 300 feet, the diameter is 95.5 feet and the radius is 47.75 because 300 / 3.1415 = 95.4957, and 95.4957 / 2 = 47.7479.
- 3
  Measure the height of the grain bin, and record the value. Substitute the radius and height into the formula for the volume of a cylinder, volume = pi x radius x radius x height. The result is the volume of the grain bin. For example, a grain bin with a height of 50 feet and a radius of 47.75 feet has a volume of 358,140.8172 cubic feet -- 3.1415 x 47.75 x 47.75 x 50 = 358,140.8172.

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