Hay bale prices in the UK run from around £5.50 for a small bale up to £55.00 for a premium round bale of haylage, based on retailer listings as of May 2026. The type of hay, bale size, and whether you are buying for horses, rabbits or other livestock all shift the price considerably. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay from named UK suppliers right now.
Small bales are the most practical option if you keep a few animals and lack bulk storage. Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery lists small hay bales at £5.50 each in May 2026, describing them as "expertly made, excellent quality hay in easy to handle small bales." That price sits at the lower end of the market and is broadly representative of farm-gate or small-supplier pricing for a standard small bale.
Leighs Animal Feeds sells horse hay bales at £7.70, which is slightly higher but still affordable if you are buying for one or two horses. The difference often comes down to cutting quality, drying conditions, and whether the supplier grades the hay specifically for equine use.
Large bales carry a bigger upfront cost but usually work out cheaper per kilogram. Brockswood sells a large bale of hay for £40.00, available daily from 10am to 4pm. On eBay UK, Shorefields Fresh Meadow Hay large bales are listed at £19.50 per unit, with over 970 units sold, which suggests reasonable buyer confidence in the product for pet and small-animal use.
The gap between £19.50 and £40.00 reflects real differences in bale weight, hay variety, and whether the product is aimed at small pets or horses. A meadow hay bale for rabbits will weigh far less than a large agricultural bale suitable for equines. Comparing by price alone can genuinely mislead.
Yes, generally. Haylage is partially fermented, higher in moisture, and often preferred for horses with respiratory issues or those needing a more digestible forage. Leighs Animal Feeds prices a standard round bale of haylage at £55.00, the highest price point in the current market data. At the budget end, Wrightpak Everyday Value Haylage is available from the same supplier for just £5.00 per bale, though that reflects a much smaller pack aimed at small animals rather than a full round bale.
If your horse is on a restricted diet or you need consistent nutritional values, haylage often justifies the premium. For general grazing top-up, standard hay at £7.70 to £40.00 per bale is usually sufficient.
Several things move the price between suppliers and across the year.
Your options run from local farm gates to national online retailers. eBay UK carries a reasonable range of smaller hay products, including the Shorefields Fresh Meadow Hay at £19.50. Specialist animal feed merchants such as Leighs Animal Feeds stock both hay and haylage across a range of sizes and budgets. Farm supply businesses like Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery also sell hay directly. For larger quantities, contacting local farms or agricultural merchants directly often produces the best price, particularly outside the winter peak when competition for stock is at its sharpest.
| Product | Price | Supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Small hay bale | £5.50 | Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery |
| Wrightpak Everyday Value Haylage | £5.00 | Leighs Animal Feeds |
| Horse hay bale | £7.70 | Leighs Animal Feeds |
| Shorefields Fresh Meadow Hay (large, pets/horses) | £19.50 | eBay UK |
| Large bale of hay | £40.00 | Brockswood |
| Standard round bale haylage | £55.00 | Leighs Animal Feeds |
Buying for the first time? A small bale at £5.50 to £7.70 is a sensible starting point to check palatability before committing to a larger order. For regular horse owners, establishing a relationship with a local supplier before autumn will save both money and the kind of last-minute scramble that tends to happen once the first cold snap arrives.
## Quotations > Expertly made, excellent quality hay in easy to handle small bales > — Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery (product listing) (https://www.peterhawkeyfarmmachinery.co.uk/shop/hay--small-bale~3640.html) ## Frequently asked questions ### how much does a hay bale cost UK 2026 Hay bale prices in the UK range from £5.50 for small bales up to £55.00 for premium round bales of haylage as of May 2026. The cost depends on bale size, hay type, and quality grading. Small bales from Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery start at £5.50, while large bales from Brockswood cost £40.00. ### where to buy hay bales UK cheap Leighs Animal Feeds offers budget-friendly options with horse hay bales at £7.70 and Wrightpak Everyday Value Haylage at £5.00 per bale. Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery sells small bales at £5.50 each, described as expertly made and excellent quality. eBay UK also lists Shorefields Fresh Meadow Hay large bales at £19.50 per unit. ### small hay bale price UK Small hay bales in the UK cost between £5.00 and £7.70 as of May 2026. Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery sells them at £5.50 each, while Leighs Animal Feeds charges £7.70 for horse-specific small bales. Small bales are ideal if you keep just a few animals and have limited storage space. ### large hay bale cost how much Large hay bales cost £19.50 to £40.00 depending on the supplier and quality. Shorefields Fresh Meadow Hay large bales are available on eBay UK for £19.50, while Brockswood charges £40.00 for their large bales. Large bales typically offer better value per kilogram than small bales. ### how much is haylage round bale Standard round bale haylage costs £55.00 from Leighs Animal Feeds as of May 2026, representing the premium end of the market. Budget haylage options like Wrightpak Everyday Value are available at £5.00 per bale from the same supplier. Round bales are typically used for larger livestock operations. ## Sources 1. [Hay Bale for sale | eBay UK](https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/bn_55211125) (www.ebay.co.uk) 2. [Hay Bale | Bradshaws Farm Shop](https://www.bradshawsfarmshop.co.uk/product-page/hay-bale) (www.bradshawsfarmshop.co.uk) 3. [Bale of Hay | Brockswood](https://www.brockswood.org.uk/product-page/bale-of-hay) (www.brockswood.org.uk) 4. [Horse Hay / Haylage, Leighs Animal Feeds](https://www.leighsanimalfeeds.co.uk/collections/horse-hay-haylage) (www.leighsanimalfeeds.co.uk) 5. [Hay - Small Bale, Only £5.50 - Peter Hawkey Farm Machinery](https://www.peterhawkeyfarmmachinery.co.uk/shop/hay--small-bale~3640.html) (www.peterhawkeyfarmmachinery.co.uk)