How Many Olive Trees Do You Need to Make Olive Oil?

Olive trees have been cultivated for thousands of years, producing both table olives and high-quality olive oil. If you’re wondering how many trees are needed to yield usable oil, the answer depends on the variety, growing conditions, and the maturity of the trees. Here’s a detailed breakdown for Australian gardeners and small-scale growers.

On average, it takes 5–7 kilograms of olives to make 1 litre of olive oil. A single mature tree produces anywhere between 15–50 kilograms of fruit each season, depending on variety and care. This means one tree is capable of yielding approximately 3–7 litres of oil per year. Younger trees will naturally produce less, while established orchards with optimal nutrition can reach higher outputs.

For a small family’s annual oil supply (20–30 litres), 5–10 trees are usually enough. For hobby farms or boutique production aiming at 200–500 litres per season, around 40–100 trees are required. Commercial olive groves scale far beyond this, often planting hundreds to thousands of trees to achieve consistent production for market supply.

523426736_18471986230075197_2627598866204468041_n (1)

514003997_1334187685379013_3586352287523970961_n (1)

Factors That Influence Olive Oil Yield

Several growing conditions directly impact how much oil your olive trees can provide:

Tree Age: Olive trees usually begin bearing fruit after 3–5 years, but peak production is reached between 8–15 years.
Variety: Different olive cultivars (Frantoio, Arbequina, Kalamata) have varying oil contents, ranging from 12% to 30% of fruit weight.
Climate: Hot, dry summers and mild winters — typical of much of Australia — provide the best conditions for both yield and oil quality.
Nutrition & Fertiliser: Balanced NPK feeding is essential. Regular applications of Complete Grow NPK 20-20-20 during spring and summer improve flowering, fruit set, and overall oil recovery.
Harvest Timing: Olives picked too early produce less oil, while overripe fruit may reduce quality. Optimal harvest is when fruits transition from green to purple.

By combining good soil management, correct fertilisation, and consistent watering, you can maximise the oil potential of every olive tree. For hobbyists and commercial growers alike, carefully balancing these factors can mean the difference between a few litres and dozens of litres per tree.

521842425_18066299906153161_4570499868725622081_n (1)

514175242_1334187942045654_3297111995934842516_n (1)

FAQs About Olive Oil Production from Olive Trees

How many olive trees do I need for 1 litre of olive oil? Generally, the fruit from one healthy tree produces 3–7 litres. It takes about 5–7 kg of olives for just 1 litre of oil.

How many trees are needed for family use? For a household using 20–30 litres of oil annually, 5–10 trees are usually enough.

What fertiliser helps increase olive oil yield? Olive trees benefit most from a balanced NPK regime. We recommend Complete Grow 20-20-20 Liquid or Powdered Fertiliser, applied in spring and early summer to support flowering and fruit load, and again after harvest to restore energy reserves.

Can olive trees live long enough to provide oil for generations? Yes — olive trees are incredibly long-lived, often thriving for hundreds of years with the right care, making them a legacy crop in many Mediterranean and Australian regions.