Vehicle Payload Calculator
How much you can legally load before you are overweight.
Enter your values
Enter the gvwr from the door placard in lb.
Enter the curb weight in lb.
Enter the passenger weight in lb.
Enter the cargo in the bed or boot in lb.
Enter the accessories (rack, canopy, tools) in lb.
Enter the trailer tongue weight in lb.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- 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
At a glance
| What it does | How much you can legally load before you are overweight. |
|---|---|
| Category | Auto |
| Inputs needed | GVWR from the door placard, Curb weight, Passenger weight, Cargo in the bed or boot, Accessories (rack, canopy, tools), Trailer tongue weight |
| Main output | Payload remaining |
| Formula | Remaining payload = GVWR − curb weight − loads |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
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.
Inputs explained
- GVWR from the door placard(lb)
- Enter the gvwr from the door placard in lb.
- Curb weight(lb)
- Enter the curb weight in lb.
- Passenger weight(lb)
- Enter the passenger weight in lb.
- Cargo in the bed or boot(lb)
- Enter the cargo in the bed or boot in lb.
- Accessories (rack, canopy, tools)(lb)
- Enter the accessories (rack, canopy, tools) in lb.
- Trailer tongue weight(lb)
- Enter the trailer tongue weight in lb.
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.
What do I need to enter into the Vehicle Payload Calculator?
Just 6 values: gvwr from the door placard, curb weight, passenger weight, cargo in the bed or boot, accessories (rack, canopy, tools), trailer tongue weight. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Vehicle Payload Calculator work out the answer?
Payload is GVWR minus curb weight, and everything you add — people, gear, accessories and hitch weight — comes out of that single number. It applies the formula Remaining payload = GVWR − curb weight − loads and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Vehicle Payload Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.