Tow Calculators

Calculator

Payload Calculator

Find rated payload remaining after people, cargo, hitch hardware, and tongue or pin load. This checks payload only, not overall towing suitability.

Your payload inputs

Units: lb

Use your vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information label.

Driver and all passengers together. Enter 0 if none.

Gear in the vehicle, not in the trailer. Enter 0 if none.

Only equipment not included in your starting rating or curb weight. Enter 0 if none.

Hardware weight not already included elsewhere. Enter 0 if none.

Enter the loaded trailer’s vertical hitch load, or 0 for a vehicle without a trailer.

Enter 0 for loads you are not adding. Results stay in this page.

Results

Your focused comparison appears here.

Enter the values above, then select Calculate. An estimate will remain labeled as an estimate.

What counts toward payload?

Payload is the vehicle’s allowance for occupants and added loads, not the trailer’s entire weight. People, vehicle cargo, added equipment, hitch hardware and the trailer’s tongue or pin load all belong in this check. Use the rating on your own vehicle’s loading label rather than a maximum advertised for the model.

Formula and weight basis

Payload used = people + vehicle cargo + accessories + hitch equipment + tongue/pin weight

Remaining payload = rated payload − payload used

Enter each item once. Factory equipment already accounted for in the vehicle’s rating is not an extra accessory load. For a vehicle without a trailer, explicitly enter 0 for tongue/pin weight. A blank field is not treated as a zero load.

Worked example

With 1,800 lb of rated payload, 350 lb of people, 200 lb of cargo, 100 lb of accessories, 100 lb of hitch equipment, and 600 lb of tongue/pin weight use 1,350 lb. That is 75% of the entered rating, leaving 450 lb of rated payload.

Illustrative scenario, not a manufacturer specification or approval.

How to interpret the result

Positive remaining payload is unused room under the rating you entered; zero means that rating is fully used; an overage means the listed loads exceed it. This estimate does not check GVWR, GCWR, axle, tire, tow or hitch ratings. A weight-distributing hitch does not turn its hardware or trailer load into free payload.

Common mistakes

  • Using a brochure maximum instead of the label for this vehicle.
  • Entering the full trailer weight as tongue/pin weight.
  • Forgetting the driver, pets, bed cargo or installed hitch hardware.
  • Subtracting accessories already reflected in the as-built payload rating twice.

Full Tow Calculator — compare the available vehicle, trailer and hitch limits together.

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Frequently asked questions

Does tongue weight count as payload?

Yes. The trailer’s vertical hitch load uses vehicle payload. A fifth wheel’s pin weight does too. Include hitch hardware separately if it is not already counted.

Can I calculate payload from GVWR minus curb weight?

That can give a derived estimate, but a generic curb weight may not describe your vehicle. This tool uses the rated payload you enter and does not replace it with a derived number.

Can this check a truck without a trailer?

Yes. Enter the people and loads being carried, and enter 0 for tongue/pin weight. Other vehicle ratings still need separate checks.

Sources and scope

Primary guidance reviewed September 28, 2026. Manufacturer labels and the manuals for your exact equipment take precedence.