On a 4-foot baler the size debate is 48″ versus 51″. Step up to a 5-foot chamber and it becomes 64″ versus 67″ — and the trade-offs flip in a way that surprises people. The wider 67″ wrap looks like the obvious upgrade, and for some operations it is. But the most experienced round-balers we’ve listened to deliberately run the narrower 64″ for a specific, well-earned reason. Here’s how to tell which one belongs on your baler.
Why a 5-foot baler takes both sizes
A 5-foot round baler builds a bale whose face is roughly 60–61″ across. The chamber, spreader rolls, and net-feed channel are engineered with enough clearance that a single OEM frame accepts either a 64″ or a 67″ roll without modification — the same way 4-foot balers take both 48″ and 51″. What changes is purely how the net sits across that 60-61″ face:
- 64″ wrap (edge-to-edge): the net lands right at the bale’s shoulders, covering the face flush. The very edge of the crop is held by the wrap pulling inward.
- 67″ wrap (over-the-edge): the extra ~3″ of width — about 1.5″ per side — folds around each shoulder, physically tucking net over the outer crop layer. This is the “coveredge” look.
Both hold the bale with the same wrap count; wraps per bale are set by chamber rotation, not wrap width. For the full width-by-baler map across all four sizes, see our net wrap sizes guide.
64″ edge-to-edge: what you gain
Operators who choose 64″ aren’t just saving a few cents. The narrower wrap has real working advantages that show up every day at the baler and the feed site:
- It comes off easier. Edge-to-edge net doesn’t stick around the shoulders, so it peels cleanly. Several operators describe the over-the-edge style grabbing the bale — especially when you drop a bale flat on its face to cut the net — making removal a hassle. If you flip bales onto the flat side to feed, 64″ is noticeably less fight. (For removal tips either way, see how to make net wrap peel off easier.)
- It stays clear of the roller bearings. Keeping the net inboard of the bale shoulders means less chance of wrap creeping into the end bearings of the baler — a small thing that saves a big headache.
- It handles cold and tubing better. In freezing conditions, over-the-edge wrap tends to freeze the bales together when they’re tubed, or freeze to the ground when the edge “mushrooms” out. Edge-to-edge keeps the wrap away from those contact points. If you’re fighting frozen wrap at feed-out, our guide on removing frozen net wrap helps.
- It stretches a touch further per roll. Because edge-to-edge puts slightly less material around each bale than over-the-edge, a 7,000 ft roll of 64″ covers a few more bales than the same length of 67″. A standard XES Extreme 7,000 ft roll runs about 123–178 standard 5×5 to 5×6 bales depending on wraps; the feet-per-roll breakdown has the exact math.
67″ over-the-edge: what you gain
The case for 67″ is just as real — it’s mostly about the finished bale:
- A tidier, better-selling bale. The shoulder tuck gives a clean, fully covered look that holds the outer crop in place. Operators selling hay are candid that a nicer-looking package brings a better dollar — “better looking bales should bring a better dollar” is exactly how one resale-focused baler put it.
- Better shoulder hold on free-standing bales. A bale that sits on its own — spaced in a barn, or going onto a truck for resale — keeps its edges crisper with the over-the-edge tuck. Less fluff, fewer loose ends.
- It mirrors branded coveredge wraps. 67″ standard wrap captures most of the look-and-protection benefit of premium edge-cover products at standard-wrap cost. See our CoverEdge alternative guide for that comparison.
One caveat operators raise: 64″ can occasionally leave a slightly “fluffy” edge if the crop pushes right to the shoulder, where 67″ would have tucked it in. For premium horse or dairy hay sold by appearance, that tuck can matter. If your wrap isn’t reaching the shoulder at all, that’s a setup issue covered in net wrap not covering to the edge.
The outdoor tight-row water trap (the nuance that flips the decision)
Here’s the counterintuitive part that generic “wider is better” advice misses entirely. When you butt over-the-edge 67″ bales tight, end-to-end, in long outdoor rows, the net pulled down over each shoulder creates a little lip — and that lip funnels rainwater down into the seam between bales instead of letting it run off. The result is molded bale ends right where two bales meet.
This isn’t a one-off complaint. One operator left a row of 67″-wrapped bales out for ten months through a lot of rain and found the damage was mostly superficial on the faces but ugly in the seams: “water funneled in between the bales. The more the edge of the bales were pulled down, the bigger the funnel, the worse the damage.” Another summed up the whole trade cleanly: cover-edge bales look a lot better coming off the back of the baler, but edge-to-edge will stack and shed water better when conditions are anything less than perfect.
The mechanism lines up with what extension research has long shown about net wrap and water: net-wrapped bales shed water and resist the spoiled outer rind far better than twine — University of Wisconsin work measured roughly 7% dry-matter loss for net wrap versus about 20% for sisal twine in outdoor storage, and Michigan State Extension reports similar net-wrap advantages outdoors (MSU Extension). Net wrap’s whole job outdoors is to make water run off. Over-the-edge geometry, packed tight in a row, can locally defeat that — which is why the edge-to-edge 64″ often wins for open-stored hay. For the broader storage picture, see storing net-wrapped bales outside.
Decision matrix: which width for your operation
| Your situation | Best width |
|---|---|
| Hay stored outside in tight, end-to-end rows | 64″ |
| Hay stored inside and sold by appearance | 67″ |
| Freezing climate, tubing or mushrooming bales | 64″ |
| Premium horse / dairy hay, crisp edges matter | 67″ |
| You flip bales on the flat face to feed | 64″ (easier removal) |
| Free-standing or spaced bales, resale lots | 67″ |
| Want a few more bales per roll | 64″ |
| 4-foot chamber baler (not a 5-footer) | 48″ or 51″ — see 48 vs 51 |
Common myths about the 64 vs 67 choice
“67″ covers more, so it always spoils less outside”
Not in tight outdoor rows. The extra shoulder tuck that protects a free-standing bale can funnel water into the seams when bales are butted end-to-end, molding the ends. For open storage in rows, edge-to-edge 64″ frequently sheds better. Store either width on a well-drained base, not in a low spot.
“64″ leaves the bale half-covered”
No — 64″ covers the full 60–61″ bale face flush, edge to edge. It simply doesn’t fold over the shoulders. The crop on the very edge is held by the wrap’s inward tension. You may see a slightly fluffier edge on stemmy crops, but the face is fully covered.
“The wider roll means fewer wraps per bale”
Wrap count is set by chamber rotation, not width. A 5×6 bale takes the same 2.5–3 wraps whether it’s 64″ or 67″. The wider wrap just covers more of the bale’s width per turn — it doesn’t change how many turns the chamber applies.
How operators actually decide
Strip away the brand talk and the decision usually lands on one question: where does the hay live between baling and feed-out?
- Sells hay, stores inside → 67″. The cleaner package earns a premium and the indoor storage sidesteps the tight-row water problem. Many resale balers run 67″ for exactly this reason.
- Feeds or stores outside → 64″. Easier removal when flipping bales, better behavior in the cold, and crucially, better water-shedding in open rows.
- Runs both → splits the roll season. It’s common to put 67″ on the hay headed for the sale lot and 64″ on everything stacked outside — the single most-quoted conclusion among long-time balers is essentially “67 for inside resale, 64 for outside.”
Both are defensible. Pick based on storage and end use, not on which bale looks prettier coming off the baler.
Frequently asked questions
Will 64″ or 67″ net wrap fit my baler?
Both fit any standard 5-foot-chamber round baler, including the John Deere 569, Vermeer 605N and 605M, New Holland BR740, and Case IH RB565. The 60–61″ bale face on these machines has clearance for either roll. If you run a 4-foot baler, you need 48″ or 51″ instead — check the size guide or the baler size checker.
Is 67″ net wrap worth the extra cost over 64″?
If you sell hay by appearance and store it inside, yes — the tidier, fully tucked bale brings a better price. If your hay lives outside in rows or you feed it yourself, 64″ usually performs better and costs a little less per bale, so the extra width isn’t worth paying for.
Does 67″ over-the-edge wrap cause spoilage outside?
It can, in one specific situation: bales butted tight end-to-end in long outdoor rows. The pulled-down shoulder edges funnel rainwater into the seams between bales and mold the ends. Free-standing or spaced bales don’t see this, and indoor storage avoids it entirely. For open-row storage, 64″ tends to shed water better.
Which size gives more bales per roll?
64″ does, slightly. Edge-to-edge wrap puts a little less material around each bale than over-the-edge, so a 7,000 ft roll of 64″ stretches a few bales further than the same length of 67″. A standard XES Extreme 7,000 ft roll covers roughly 123–178 standard 5×5 to 5×6 bales depending on wraps per bale.
Can I switch between 64″ and 67″ on the same baler?
Yes. Both rolls drop into the same wrap cradle on any 5-foot baler with no modification — you may re-check the wrap brake tension when you load a different roll, but nothing else changes. Many operators run 67″ for their resale hay and switch to 64″ for hay headed outside.
Not sure which fits your machine?
Pick your baler model in the XES baler size checker and it will confirm whether 48″, 51″, 64″, or 67″ is right, with the matching XES Extreme roll. Ready to order? Shop factory-direct net wrap in 64″ × 7,000 ft and 67″ × 7,000 ft.
