Tractor Fuel Consumption (GNR) & Field Work Cost Calculator
How much diesel does a tractor use per hectare and per hour? Indicative figures for ploughing, tillage and drilling, plus the field work cost per hectare.
Field operation cost: diesel, labour and machinery per hectare
Cost per hectare = fuel (L/ha × off-road diesel price, plus AdBlue) + (labour + hourly machinery cost) ÷ work rate in ha/h. For ploughing at 22 L/ha and 1.2 ha/h with diesel at €1.15/L, the tool finds about €73.7 per hectare, or €2,581 for 35 ha.
Tractor diesel use per hectare and per hour
| Operation | L/ha | L/h |
|---|---|---|
| Ploughing / Moldboard | 22 | 26.4 |
| Deep Tillage / Subsoiler | 14 | 35 |
| Shallow Disc Harrowing | 6.5 | 29.3 |
| Combined Rotary Seeding | 12.5 | 22.5 |
| Precision Planter | 5.5 | 17.6 |
| Boom Spraying | 1.8 | 25.2 |
| Mineral Fertilizer Spreader | 1.5 | 24 |
| Hay Mowing | 6 | 24 |
| Combine Harvesting | 18 | 39.6 |
Indicative calculator defaults, not verified: the work rate (ha/h) times the use per hectare gives litres per hour. Replace them with your own figures.
How it is calculated
- AdBlue = 5% of the diesel volume.
- Fuel per ha = L/ha × diesel price + AdBlue × its price.
- Time per ha = 1 ÷ work rate; hourly consumption = L/ha × ha/h.
- Labour per ha and machinery per ha = time per ha × hourly rate.
- Field totals multiply the per-hectare values by the area.
Default benchmarks: ploughing 22 L/ha at 1.2 ha/h, subsoiler 14 L/ha, disc stubble cultivation 6.5 L/ha, combined power-harrow drilling 12.5 L/ha, precision drilling 5.5 L/ha, spraying 1.8 L/ha at 14 ha/h, fertiliser spreading 1.5 L/ha, mowing 6 L/ha, combine harvesting 18 L/ha at 2.2 ha/h.
Worked example
Ploughing 35 ha, 22 L/ha, 1.2 ha/h, diesel €1.15/L, AdBlue €0.85/L, labour €22/h, machinery €35/h: fuel €25.30 + 1.1 L of AdBlue €0.94 = €26.24/ha; 0.83 h/ha, i.e. €18.33 of labour and €29.17 of machinery. Total €73.74/ha, 29.2 hours, 770 litres of diesel and €2,581 for the field. Hourly consumption comes to 26.4 L/h.
Limits
Consumption figures are averages: soil, depth, settings and tractor condition change them a lot. Replace the default diesel price with what you actually pay. The tool deducts neither recoverable VAT nor fuel aid.
Sources and dates: in France, off-road diesel for farming and forestry carries a reduced excise rate of €3.86/MWh, roughly €3.86 per hectolitre (Code of taxes on goods and services, art. L312-60, version in force since 01/01/2026); aid of 15 cents per litre delivered from May to August 2026 was created by decree no. 2026-477 of 10 June 2026; the €1.15/L diesel price, consumption and work rates are indicative values of the tool, not verified (checked 14/10/2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many litres of diesel does ploughing use per hectare?
The tool uses 22 L/ha for a 5-furrow plough at 1.2 ha/h, i.e. 26.4 L per hour. Disc stubble cultivation drops to 6.5 L/ha and spraying to 1.8 L/ha.
How do I calculate the cost of a field operation per hectare?
Add fuel (L/ha × price per litre, plus AdBlue) to the hourly labour and machinery costs divided by the work rate. For ploughing: €26.24 of fuel + €18.33 of labour + €29.17 of machinery = €73.74/ha.
What excise rate applies to French agricultural off-road diesel in 2026?
Off-road diesel used for farming and forestry carries a reduced rate of €3.86/MWh, roughly €3.86 per hectolitre (art. L312-60 of the French Code of taxes on goods and services, version in force since 01/01/2026). A decree of 10 June 2026 added aid of 15 cents per litre delivered from May to August 2026.
How much AdBlue does a tractor use?
The tool counts 5% of the diesel volume: 22 L/ha of diesel means 1.1 L/ha of AdBlue, or €0.94/ha at €0.85/L. The real ratio depends on the engine and its load.
Is this tool really free?
Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.
Is my data protected?
Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.