Square Baler Finance

Spread the cost of square balers from £30,000 to £170,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance

Can you finance a square baler?

Yes, square balers are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £30,000 to £170,000, and most deals are written over 12–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£30k – £170k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Seasonal payment profiles available

Rates From

4.6% APR

What would a square baler cost per month?

Square Baler price (ex VAT) £90,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical square baler price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 5.0% APR
Term: 12–72 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Straw and hay contractors wanting to own the baler outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 4.6% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient, spreads the cost of a high-value asset used intensively for a few weeks a year

Operating Lease

Rate: From 5.3% APR
Term: 24–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Large-scale contractors upgrading regularly to minimise downtime risk during harvest

Representative example

On a purchase price of £90,000: a 10% deposit of £9,000, then 48 monthly payments of £1,899 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £100,152, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Kuhn SB 1290	£32,000 – £48,000	Small/Medium Square Baler
New Holland BigBaler 1290	£95,000 – £130,000	Large Square Baler
Claas Quadrant 5300	£110,000 – £145,000	High-Density Large Square Baler
Krone BigPack 1270 VC	£130,000 – £170,000	Variable-Density Large Square Baler

Market context

Large square balers are a specialist, high-value purchase, typically made by straw and hay contractors covering many farms rather than by an individual arable or livestock business baling only its own crop. Because the machine represents a significant proportion of a contracting business's annual turnover, lenders usually look closely at the customer base and forward bookings alongside the asset itself. Big square balers see intense use over short straw and hay windows, so replacement decisions tend to follow bale counts and knotter wear, and the strong export market for these machines into Europe supports healthy UK residual values.

Bad credit?

Some specialist lenders consider businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options may be available. Fundably may use a soft credit check for matching, which does not affect your credit score. A hard check may happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.

Frequently asked questions

Can a contracting business finance a large square baler without a big deposit?

Yes, finance lease and operating lease options are available with no deposit, spreading the cost over the term instead. Lenders will look at the strength of your existing baling and haulage customer base as well as the asset, so having forward bookings or a track record in contracting helps secure the best terms.

Can I finance a used large square baler?

Yes. Most lenders finance used large square balers up to around 10 years old, subject to bale counts where available and an independent inspection given the value involved. Well-maintained machines from the established manufacturers hold value well in the UK and export markets.

Are seasonal or harvest-linked repayments available for square balers?

Yes. Given that square baler income is concentrated into a few weeks of hay and straw contracting, many agricultural lenders will structure payments annually or seasonally rather than spreading them evenly across the year, so the repayment profile matches when the business is actually being paid.

Is dealer finance or independent finance better for a new square baler?

Both are worth comparing. Manufacturer-backed schemes are sometimes subsidised at certain order windows and can offer a competitive headline rate on new machines, while independent lenders often have more flexibility on term length, seasonal structuring, and combining the baler with a wrapper or trailer purchase.

How does financing work if my contracting business is a partnership?

Sole traders and farming or contracting partnerships are assessed on the partners' combined financial standing and business accounts rather than a single company balance sheet, so having up-to-date accounts and evidence of contracted work for the coming season helps the application move quickly.