If you're planning to grow oyster mushrooms commercially, one of the most important things to understand is how much yield you can expect from your grow room.
This data is essential for evaluating the profitability of your mushroom operation, estimating raw material and electricity needs, and setting realistic production goals.
Productivity levels vary from 14% to 25%—use the 14% figure if you're just starting or working with basic conditions.
More experienced growers working with optimized microclimate systems may reach up to 25% or higher.
Electricity values refer only to the fruiting room (fans, humidifiers, lights) and do not include pasteurization or heating. All figures are approximate and meant to be used for general planning.
| Growing Room Area (sq.m / sq.ft) | Grain Spawn (kg / lbs) | Raw Materials (tons) | Electricity (kWh/month) | Yield (kg/lbs) at 14% | Yield at 16% | Yield at 19% | Yield at 22% | Yield at 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 / 215 | 65 / 143 | 0.7 | 80–90 | 200 / 440 | 230 / 507 | 270 / 595 | 320 / 705 | 370 / 815 |
| 25 / 269 | 75 / 165 | 0.9 | 85–110 | 330 / 728 | 380 / 838 | 450 / 990 | 500 / 1100 | 590 / 1300 |
| 35 / 377 | 100 / 220 | 1.3 | 200–250 | 450 / 990 | 540 / 1200 | 660 / 1455 | 770 / 1700 | 875 / 1930 |
| 50 / 538 | 150 / 330 | 1.9 | 350–400 | 720 / 1600 | 825 / 1820 | 980 / 2160 | 1130 / 2500 | 1300 / 2900 |
To estimate your monthly production per square meter, divide the yield by the size of your grow room.
For example, at 25% productivity, a 20 m² room can give 370 kg (815 lbs) of mushrooms, which means roughly 18.5 kg/m² (or 40 lbs/sq.m).
If your results are below expectations, check your microclimate systems—ventilation, humidity, and temperature control. Even a small adjustment can significantly improve yield.
For more detailed information on improving mushroom yields, check out our articles on How to Increase Yield and Optimal Microclimate Settings.
Aside from the natural productivity of your substrate and how well your microclimate is adjusted, there are other important factors that influence how many mushrooms you can harvest per square meter (or 10 square feet).
✅Block arrangement and wall use.
Yield depends on how you arrange your grow bags or blocks in the room.
Are you stacking them efficiently? Are you using the walls for hanging blocks, or is that space left empty? In other words, how much substrate do you physically fit into each square meter?
I have a detailed article on block placement you might find helpful.
✅Ceiling height.
If you want to fully utilize your space and build shelving all the way to the ceiling, remember: airflow behaves differently in tall rooms. You’ll need to adjust your ventilation system accordingly to ensure all levels receive fresh air and maintain humidity balance.
✅Strain productivity vs. grow time.
Some modern oyster mushroom strains are genetically designed to produce the majority of their yield in the first flush. Many large-scale farms take advantage of this. Instead of waiting for a second or third flush, they harvest the first flush and immediately replace the blocks to start a new cycle. This strategy can significantly improve profitability per square meter.
If you're thinking about starting a small mushroom farm and wondering how much money it might take — I have a separate article that breaks down all the main costs and numbers. You might find it helpful as your next step.
