Planning Tool
Cattle Corral Size Calculator
Enter how many head you work at once and their weight. The calculator sizes the holding pen, crowding pen and alley and counts the 12 ft panels to enclose them.
Size Your Pens
Space numbers come from Oklahoma State University Extension’s corral and working facilities fact sheet.
1,700 sq ft
Holding pen
About 41 x 41 ft for 100 head of 600 to 1,200 lb cattle at 17 sq ft each.
100 sq ft
Crowding pen
10 sq ft per head, sized for a group of 10 moved up from the holding pen at a time.
14 panels
Panels to enclose the holding pen
12 ft panels at $160 to $225 each: about $2,240 to $3,150.
20 ft+
Working alley
24 in. wide with straight sides for 600 to 1,200 lb cattle, 50 in. fence height. 20 ft minimum length.
Panel counts assume a square pen with no shared sides. A pen built against a barn wall or an existing fence needs fewer panels. Panel prices are Priefert utility and Premier panels at Tractor Supply.
Space per Head
Oklahoma State University Extension recommendations for cattle worked the same day.
| Cattle weight | Holding pen | Crowding pen | Alley, straight sides | Alley, sloped sides | Alley fence height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 600 lb | Holding pen14 sq ft per head | Crowding pen6 sq ft per head | Alley, straight sides18 in. wide | Alley, sloped sides13 in. bottom, 20 in. top | Alley fence height45 in. |
| 600 to 1,200 lb | Holding pen17 sq ft per head | Crowding pen10 sq ft per head | Alley, straight sides24 in. wide | Alley, sloped sides15 in. bottom, 24 in. top | Alley fence height50 in. |
| Over 1,200 lb | Holding pen20 sq ft per head | Crowding pen12 sq ft per head | Alley, straight sides28 in. wide | Alley, sloped sides16 in. bottom, 28 in. top | Alley fence height60 in. |
Cattle held overnight need far more room: Hi-Hog’s design guide lists 45 to 60 sq ft per head. Working alleys should run at least 20 ft.
Other Numbers for the Layout
20 ft
Working alley length
Minimum length for a single-file alley ahead of the chute. Longer alleys hold more cattle and keep the chute fed.
8 cows
Crowding area
OSU: a quarter-circle crowding area with a 12 ft crowding gate handles up to eight mature cows at a time.
26 in.
Loading chute width
12 ft minimum length and a rise of 3.5 in. per foot. Ramp top at 15 in. for a stock trailer, 28 in. for a pickup, 40 in. for a stock truck.
12 ft
Sorting alley width
The widest a common sorting alley should be. Wider and cattle turn back on you.
What the Pens Cost
$160–$225
Per 12 ft panel
Priefert utility panels run $160 to $170 and Premier panels $215 to $225. A 10 ft bow gate is $650.
$2,150–$6,500
Tub or sweep
Priefert Model 20 sweep $2,150, with a 16 ft alley $4,650. W-W tubs $3,665 to $5,930.
$14,350+
Packaged system
Priefert Premier with an S04 chute starts at $14,350 for 35 head and reaches $33,713 for 250 head.
Corral Sizing Questions
How big should a holding pen be for 50 cows?
For 50 head of 600 to 1,200 lb cattle worked the same day, 850 sq ft, or about 30 x 30 ft. Cows over 1,200 lb need 1,000 sq ft.
How many panels do I need for a corral?
A square pen needs its perimeter divided by 12 for 12 ft panels. 1,700 sq ft is about 41 x 41 ft, a 164 ft perimeter, so 14 panels, one of which should be a gate.
How big should a crowding tub be?
Crowding pens need 6 to 12 sq ft per head depending on weight. OSU puts a quarter-circle crowding area with a 12 ft gate at up to eight mature cows.
How wide should a cattle alley be?
For 600 to 1,200 lb cattle, 24 in. with straight sides, or 15 in. at the floor and 24 in. at the top with sloped sides. Calves under 600 lb need 18 in. straight; cattle over 1,200 lb need 28 in.
Where do these numbers come from?
Oklahoma State University Extension’s fact sheet on corral and working facilities for beef cattle, and Hi-Hog’s facility design guide for overnight pen space.