bushel (US) [bu (US)] Unit Converter

Definition of bushel (US) [bu (US)] unit

The US bushel is a customary unit of dry volume equal to 4 pecks, 32 dry quarts, or 2,150.42 cubic inches (approximately 35.239 liters). It measures bulk agricultural commodities such as grain, fruit, and vegetables.

History of bushel (US) [bu (US)] unit

The bushel originated in medieval England as a container-based measure for grain, with regional standards varying considerably. The United States retained the term after independence but established a standardized Winchester bushel in 1836, defining it as 2,150.42 cubic inches. This standard became the legal basis for dry measurement, while commodity-specific bushel weights developed for trade. Although the unit is volumetric, markets often quote crops by weight, using prescribed weights per bushel to promote consistency in buying, selling, storage, and transportation.

Applications of bushel (US) [bu (US)] unit

Today, the US bushel is used chiefly in agriculture, especially for pricing and reporting corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, barley, apples, and other commodities. Grain elevators, commodity exchanges, farms, and government statistics may state production or market prices in bushels. Because actual mass varies by crop, contracts typically specify a standard weight per bushel.

Complete list of bushel (US) [bu (US)] unit conversion