Bushel

The bushel is a unit of volume used in the United States customary and British imperial systems, primarily for dry goods such as grain and produce. The term originated in medieval England and has since become a standard for trade and storage of agricultural commodities.

In the United States, a bushel is defined as 2,150.42 cubic inches, equal to 35.2391 liters, and it is also defined as eight US dry gallons or four pecks. In the United Kingdom, the imperial bushel is defined as eight imperial gallons, equal to 36.3687 liters (about 2,219.35 cubic inches). Both are dry-volume measures; there is no distinct liquid bushel.

Weights per bushel vary by commodity. For example, a U.S. bushel of wheat typically weighs about 60 pounds (27.2 kg); corn about 56 pounds (25.4 kg); soybeans around 60 pounds; oats about 32 pounds. The "bushel" is thus a measure of capacity, not a fixed weight.

In practice, bushels are used in marketing, pricing, and statutory trade of grains and some fruits. Today, many countries have moved toward metric units, but the bushel remains recognized in certain markets and historical contexts.