Tow Calculators

Calculator

Tongue Weight Calculator

Estimate tongue weight from loaded trailer weight and your own percentage. This estimates hitch load; it does not recommend a loading percentage.

Estimate your tongue load

Units: lb

Total trailer weight including cargo, fluids and equipment.

Enter a percentage based on your trailer guidance or loading plan. None is assumed.

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.

See how tongue weight affects your vehicle’s payload.

What is tongue weight?

Tongue weight is the vertical load at a conventional trailer’s coupler. It is only part of total trailer weight, but it affects vehicle payload and hitch loading. This tool estimates that load from the percentage you supply; it cannot determine the trailer’s actual loaded balance.

Formula and weight basis

Estimated tongue weight = loaded trailer weight × (entered percentage ÷ 100)

Use the whole loaded trailer weight, including the coupler-supported portion. Enter a percentage informed by the trailer documentation or your loading plan. No percentage is selected for you. Changing the percentage creates a different estimate, not a recommendation.

Worked example

A 7,000 lb loaded trailer at an explicitly entered 12% produces an estimated tongue weight of 840 lb. This example does not recommend 12% for your trailer; measure the loaded tongue weight and follow its documentation.

Illustrative scenario, not a manufacturer specification or approval.

How to interpret the result

The result always says Estimated tongue weight. An actual measurement for the trip’s loaded condition is stronger evidence than a percentage estimate or an unloaded brochure hitch weight. Check the result against the vehicle’s payload and the applicable hitch/component ratings.

Common mistakes

  • Using dry trailer weight while the trailer is actually loaded.
  • Treating an example percentage as a universal target.
  • Assuming a weight-distributing hitch eliminates tongue load.
  • Comparing an unloaded brochure hitch weight with a fully loaded trip.

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

Browse all towing calculators
Browse all towing guides

Frequently asked questions

Is 12% the right tongue weight for my trailer?

Not automatically. It is the number in the worked example, not a universal recommendation. Use the vehicle and trailer documentation and confirm actual loaded tongue weight.

Is hitch weight the same thing as tongue weight?

For a conventional trailer, hitch weight often means its vertical tongue load. It does not mean the weight of the hitch hardware itself, which is a separate vehicle load.

Can I use this for a fifth wheel?

Use the pin-weight tool for fifth-wheel terminology and the option to enter known pin load. Neither tool assumes a universal percentage.

Sources and scope

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