Free · Instant · In-browser

Moisture Content Converter & Wet Basis ↔ Dry Basis

Converts grain moisture

Wet basisDry basisDry matterWeight at target

“Got a result worth sharing? Someone is stuck exactly where you were.

Convert moisture between wet and dry basis, see the dry-matter %, and find the weight at a target moisture — for grain, fodder and produce.

Enter your moisture

Measured moisture

On which basis?

Weight at a target moisture

Current weight

Target moisture

% wb

Wet basis

Your result

25% db

= 20% wet basis

20%

Wet basis

25%

Dry basis

80%

Dry matter

930 kg

Weight at target

−70 kg

Water removed

What this means

Wet basis measures water against the total weight (used in trade and grain grading); dry basis measures water against the dry matter (used by labs and engineers), which is why the same sample reads 20% wb but 25% db. Drying 1,000 kg from 20% to 14% wet basis leaves 930 kg — the dry matter is conserved, so about 70 kg of water evaporates.

Next: always state which basis a moisture figure is on — trade and grain markets quote wet basis, while labs and engineers use dry basis, so the same grain reads as two different numbers.

db = wb / (1 − wb); weight scales with conserved dry matter, so drying removes only water.

Moisture basis — key facts

Wet basis: water ÷ total
Dry basis: water ÷ dry matter
db from wb: wb ÷ (1 − wb)
wb from db: db ÷ (1 + db)
Dry matter %: 100 − wb%
Trading uses: wet basis
Labs/feed use: dry basis
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Never mix up your moisture basis again

The same sample has two different moisture numbers depending on the basis — wet basis (water as a share of the whole) or dry basis (water as a share of the dry matter) — and confusing them causes real, costly errors: drying grain to the wrong target, mis-stating a feed analysis, or arguing past each other over a number that's actually the same moisture.

This converter makes both explicit: enter a moisture on either basis and it returns the other plus the dry-matter percentage, and it finds the weight at a target moisture (and the water removed) since dry matter is conserved. Grain trade uses wet basis; labs and feed science use dry basis — convert before you compare. Pair it with the Grain Moisture Shrinkage, Crop Drying Time and Feed Formulation tools.

Convert either way

Wet basis to dry basis and back, instantly.

Get dry matter

The dry-matter % for feed and drying calculations.

Weight at moisture

What a lot weighs at a target moisture, and water removed.

Avoid errors

State the basis clearly so numbers compare correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between wet basis and dry basis moisture?+

Wet basis (wb) expresses water as a fraction of the total weight (water ÷ total); dry basis (db) expresses it as a fraction of the dry matter only (water ÷ dry matter). Grain trading and most field talk use wet basis; labs, engineers and feed scientists often use dry basis. The same sample has a higher db number than wb.

How do I convert wet basis to dry basis?+

db = wb ÷ (1 − wb), and wb = db ÷ (1 + db), with moistures as fractions. For example, 20% wet basis = 0.20 ÷ 0.80 = 0.25 = 25% dry basis. This tool converts either way and also shows the dry-matter percentage.

Why does the basis matter?+

Because the same moisture is a different number on each basis, and mixing them causes costly errors — buying or drying grain to the wrong target, or mis-stating feed analysis. Always state which basis you mean. The tool makes both explicit so you can compare like with like.

How do I find the weight after drying?+

Dry matter is conserved, so weight at a new moisture = original weight × (1 − old wb) ÷ (1 − new wb). Drying 1,000 kg of grain from 24% to 14% wet basis leaves about 884 kg, removing ~116 kg of water. Enter the weight and target moisture and the tool gives the new weight and water removed.

What is dry matter?+

Dry matter is everything except water — the part with the actual nutritional or grain value. Dry matter % = 100 − wet-basis moisture %. Feed rations are often balanced on a dry-matter basis because the water content of feeds varies so much (fresh grass vs hay vs silage).

Which basis is used for grain trading?+

Wet basis — grain is bought and sold at a stated wet-basis moisture (e.g. 14%), with price adjustments for grain wetter or drier than the standard. The Grain Moisture Shrinkage tool handles the weight and value adjustment; this converter handles switching between bases.

Why is dry basis used in the lab?+

Because it references a fixed quantity (the dry matter) that doesn't change as water comes and goes, making analyses comparable and the maths cleaner for engineering (drying curves, equilibrium moisture). That's why a moisture you measured in the lab on a dry basis needs converting before you compare it to a field wet-basis figure.

Can dry-basis moisture exceed 100%?+

Yes — dry basis can be over 100% for very wet materials, because the water can weigh more than the dry matter (e.g. fresh produce at 80% wet basis = 400% dry basis). Wet basis, by contrast, never exceeds 100%. The tool handles both ranges.

How do I use this for fodder or feed?+

Convert your feed's moisture to dry basis (or read its dry-matter %), then balance the ration on a dry-matter basis so you compare feeds fairly regardless of their water. Enter the as-fed moisture and the tool gives the dry matter; combine with the Feed Formulation tool for the protein blend.

Is the calculation exact?+

Yes — the basis conversion and the weight-at-moisture (from conserved dry matter) are exact for the inputs you give. The only uncertainty is how accurately you measured the moisture, so use a reliable moisture meter or the oven method.

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Calculator

Moisture Content Converter & Wet Basis ↔ Dry Basis

Enter your moisture

Moisture basis — key facts

Never mix up your moisture basis again

Convert either way

Get dry matter

Weight at moisture

Avoid errors

Frequently Asked Questions

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