Tool
Tilapia Farming Profit Calculator
Calculate nowQuick answer
Tilapia profit comes down to how many fish reach harvest, what they weigh, how much feed they ate and what a pound of that feed costs. SRAC 280 uses about 4,000 fish/acre with feed, 90% or greater survival for all-male stock and 1 lb market fish; UF/IFAS gives a feed conversion of 1.5 to 3 lb of feed per lb of fish. You supply the prices.
Guide · $3.99Fishing Calendar 2027: Moon Phases, Solunar Times & Best DaysHow the math works
- Fingerlings = acres × stocking rate.
- Fish at harvest = fingerlings × survival.
- Biomass = fish × harvest weight (lb).
- Feed = biomass × feed conversion ratio.
- Margin = biomass × fish price − feed × feed price − other costs.
References
- SRAC Publication 280, Pond Culture of Tilapia: about 4,000 fish/acre with feed and no supplemental aeration, survival of 90% or greater for all-male tilapia, market fish of 1 lb or more.
- UF/IFAS Extension, Culture of Hybrid Tilapia (CIR1051): feed conversion of 1.5 to 3 with high-quality diets; fingerling-to-market survival of 70% to 98%.
Feed conversion moves the result most: at 3 instead of 1.5, the feed bill doubles. Try both ends.
Before you stock
Size the fingerling order in the fish pond stocking calculator. To track every pound of feed and every dollar of cost, use the Tilapia Cost & Production Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the default values come from?
Stocking (4,000/acre), survival (90%) and harvest weight (1 lb) come from SRAC Publication 280, Pond Culture of Tilapia. Feed conversion (1.5) is the low end of the 1.5 to 3 range in UF/IFAS circular CIR1051.
Why are prices blank?
Feed and fish prices change by region and month, so any number we filled in would be wrong for most growers. Enter what you pay per lb of feed and what your buyer pays per lb of fish.
What goes into other costs?
Fingerlings, electricity for aerators and pumps, labor, harvest, repairs and taxes. Leave it at zero to see the margin over feed only.
Will stocking more fish raise profit?
Only with more oxygen. SRAC 280 ties 8,000 fish/acre to emergency aeration and higher rates to continuous paddlewheel aeration, which adds electricity and equipment cost.
Sources
Keep going
See everything on Tilapia farming and aquaponics for small producersAquarium Volume CalculatorCat food calculator (calories per day)Cattle average daily gain (ADG) calculator and finish date