Vehicle Payload Calculator
How much you can legally load before you are overweight.
Enter your values
ⓘ Live results
Results
- Payload remaining
- 700 lb
- Status
- Within limits
- Total payload capacity
- 1,600 lb
- Payload used
- 900 lb (56%)
- Loaded vehicle weight
- 6,300 lb of 7,000 lb GVWR
Quick answer
Payload is GVWR minus curb weight, and everything you add — people, gear, accessories and hitch weight — comes out of that single number.
Remaining payload = GVWR − curb weight − loads
How to use the Vehicle Payload Calculator
- 1Read GVWR and curb weight from the door placard or handbook.
- 2Add up everyone riding along and everything you are carrying.
- 3Include trailer tongue weight if you are towing.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- GVWR from the door placard7000 lb
- Curb weight5400 lb
- Passenger weight450 lb
- Cargo in the bed or boot300 lb
- Accessories (rack, canopy, tools)150 lb
- Trailer tongue weight0 lb
Results
- Payload remaining700 lb
- StatusWithin limits
- Total payload capacity1,600 lb
- Payload used900 lb (56%)
- Loaded vehicle weight6,300 lb of 7,000 lb GVWR
Frequently asked questions
Is payload the same as towing capacity?
No. Payload is what the vehicle itself can carry; tow rating is what it can pull. Tongue weight counts against payload, so both limits apply at once.
Do accessories really matter?
Yes — a canopy, bull bar, roof rack and tool box can easily add 300 lb, which is a fifth of the payload on many mid-size trucks.
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by James Whitfield · How we build and test calculators
- Report an error
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.