A practical guide to prilled urea, its nitrogen content, typical specifications, and applications in agriculture and industry, from a US-based distributor.
Prilled urea is a concentrated nitrogen fertilizer and industrial feedstock, urea (CO(NH₂)₂) formed into small, uniform white prills. At about 46% nitrogen, it is the most concentrated dry nitrogen source, dissolves readily, and blends and handles well. Stratus Chemical supplies prilled urea across the United States, with COAs and specification sheets provided.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | Urea |
| Synonyms | Carbamide, carbonyl diamide, prilled urea, 46-0-0 |
| CAS number | 57-13-6 |
| Molecular formula | CO(NH₂)₂ (CH₄N₂O) |
| Molecular weight | 60.06 g/mol |
| Fertilizer grade | 46-0-0 |
| Form supplied | Prilled |
| Packaging | 50 lb bags, 2,000 lb super sacks |
| Documentation | COA & SDS provided on request |
Urea (CO(NH₂)₂) is an organic nitrogen compound and the most widely used solid nitrogen fertilizer in the world, carrying roughly 46% nitrogen, the highest nitrogen content of any common dry fertilizer. Prilling is the process of spraying molten urea from the top of a tower so it solidifies into small, uniform spherical prills as it falls and cools.
The result is a white, free-flowing product that dissolves quickly, blends evenly with other dry fertilizers, and is straightforward to store, meter, and handle.
Prilled urea's small, uniform prills give it several practical advantages:
Prilled is the urea grade Stratus supplies as standard.
| Parameter | Typical Specification |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 46.0% min |
| Biuret | 1.0% max |
| Moisture | 0.5% max |
| Prill size | ~1 – 2.4 mm (typical) |
| Appearance | White, free-flowing prills |
Certificates of analysis (COA) and specification sheets are provided with shipments. Exact values vary by source, tell us your target specification and we'll confirm current availability and pricing.
Common applications include:
| Prilled urea | Ammonium sulfate | UAN solution | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen content | About 46% N | About 21% N, plus about 24% S | Commonly 28–32% N |
| Form | Dry prills | Dry granules or crystals | Liquid |
| Nitrogen per ton freighted | Highest of the three | Lowest, roughly half of urea | Low, since much of the load is water |
| Effect on soil pH | Slightly acidifying | Strongly acidifying, useful on high-pH soils | Slightly acidifying |
| Main loss pathway | Ammonia volatilization if left on the surface | Minimal volatilization | Volatilization from the urea fraction |
| Also supplies | Nitrogen only | Sulfur, often the real reason it is chosen | Nitrogen only |
| Handling | Hygroscopic, store dry and sealed | Less hygroscopic, stores well | Needs tanks and pumps, salts out in cold |
How to choose: urea wins on nitrogen delivered per ton of freight, which is why it dominates where nitrogen is the only requirement and the distance is long. Where it loses is at the surface. Urea must be incorporated by tillage, irrigation, or rainfall, or treated with a urease inhibitor, or a meaningful share of the nitrogen leaves as ammonia gas before the crop sees it. Ammonium sulfate carries less than half the nitrogen per ton, so it costs more to freight per unit N, but it does not volatilize the same way and it supplies sulfur, which is increasingly the limiting nutrient as atmospheric deposition has fallen. On high-pH soils its acidifying effect is a benefit rather than a side effect. UAN suits operations already set up for liquid application and sidedressing, at the cost of hauling water and managing salt-out in cold weather.
Many blends use more than one. If you are sourcing both, see ammonium sulfate and our other agricultural minerals.
Urea is a global commodity whose price moves with natural gas, production, and freight conditions. A distributor with a diversified, qualified supplier base helps you avoid single-source risk and secure competitive pricing. Stratus sources domestically and internationally, manages qualification and import logistics, and responds to quote requests within one business day.
Want more detail on using urea in the field? Read our guide to urea as a nitrogen fertilizer, covering application methods and how to reduce nitrogen loss.
Sourcing other crop inputs too? See our agricultural minerals range or request a quote.
Prilled urea is urea (about 46% nitrogen) formed into small, uniform white prills by cooling molten urea in a prilling tower. It is used as a concentrated nitrogen fertilizer and as an industrial feedstock.
It is used as a nitrogen fertilizer for direct application, bulk blends, fertigation, and foliar feeding; as a feedstock for urea-formaldehyde and melamine resins; in NOx-reduction systems; and as a non-protein nitrogen source in ruminant animal feed.
The CAS number for urea is 57-13-6. Its molecular formula is CO(NH₂)₂ and its molecular weight is 60.06 g/mol. Urea is also known as carbamide, and as a fertilizer it is graded 46-0-0. Stratus Chemical supplies prilled urea across the United States.
Prilled urea typically contains about 46% nitrogen, the highest nitrogen content of any common solid fertilizer.
Biuret is a byproduct that forms when urea is overheated in production. It is held to low levels (commonly 1.0% max) because elevated biuret can harm plants, especially in foliar use.
Urea carries the highest nitrogen content of common dry sources (about 46% N), so it delivers more nitrogen per ton and costs less to freight. Ammonium nitrate and UAN solutions have different handling, storage, and volatilization characteristics. The right choice depends on your equipment, application method, and local availability.
Store prilled urea in a dry, covered area. Urea is hygroscopic, so it absorbs moisture from humid air, which can cause caking and handling problems. Keep bags and super sacks sealed and off damp floors.
Prilled urea is supplied in 50 lb bags or 2,000 lb super sacks. We arrange packaging and logistics around your volume and delivery needs.
Tell us the specification and volume. We'll respond with pricing and availability within one business day.
Request a Prilled Urea Quote →