How Much to Charge for Grain Bin Cleaning
Grain bin cleaning is priced per bin by diameter, with protectant treatment as a separate add-on per bin. A farm minimum and a travel charge beyond a stated radius matter because driving to a single small bin in a six-week season costs you a job you could have run elsewhere.
Per bin, by diameter
| Bin size | Basis |
|---|---|
| Under 24’ | Flat per bin |
| 24’–36’ | Flat per bin, higher |
| 36’+ | Flat per bin, higher again |
| Treatment | Add-on, per bin |
Depth, condition, and out-of-condition grain move you within a band.
What adds to the base
- Protectant treatment — per bin
- Heavy build-up or spoiled grain — surcharge, quoted on inspection
- Confined space / extra crew requirements
- Travel beyond a stated radius
- Farm minimum — for small sites
Quote the site, invoice the site
A farm with twelve bins should get one number and one invoice with a line per bin. It’s faster for them to approve, and it’s your record of which bins you actually did — see grain bin cleaning invoicing.
Book next year before you leave
Pre-harvest is a scramble every season. Ask for next year’s date while you’re still standing in the yard — it costs nothing and it locks in your route.
Frequently asked questions
Why price by diameter rather than by the hour?
Because farms think in bins and want a number they can multiply by twelve. Per-bin pricing lets a farmer approve a whole site on the phone, which is what fills a short season.
Should treatment be separate?
Yes, per bin. Cleaning and applying a protectant are different services with different materials, and separating them lets a customer buy one without balking at a combined number.
Do I need a farm minimum?
Yes. One 18-foot bin twenty miles out doesn't cover the drive. A stated farm minimum makes small sites viable or politely makes them somebody else's job.
How do I get paid inside a six-week window?
Take a card on site the day the work is done. Waiting for mailed checks means chasing August money into November while you're busy with something else.