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Payload Capacity Calculator

Know exactly how much more your vehicle can carry without exceeding its GVWR.

How it is calculated

All inputs are in kilograms. The vehicle's payload is P = GVWR − curb weight. The load already on board is L = passengers + cargo, where passengers is the combined weight of the people, not a head count. The remaining capacity is P − L, and the share used is L / P × 100. A negative remaining figure and a share above 100 % mean the vehicle is over its rated weight. The tool needs the GVWR to be larger than the curb weight and does not accept negative passenger or cargo weights. It checks only the total, so it cannot tell you whether an individual axle is overloaded, and the towing hitch load is not separated out.

Worked example

A van with a GVWR of 3,500 kg and a curb weight of 2,300 kg, carrying 160 kg of passengers and 300 kg of cargo. Payload = 3,500 − 2,300 = 1,200 kg. Load on board = 160 + 300 = 460 kg. Remaining = 1,200 − 460 = 740 kg. Share used = 460 / 1,200 = 38.33 %. If the cargo were 1,300 kg instead, the load would be 1,460 kg and the remaining figure would show −260 kg, which means 260 kg over.

Try this example →

Common mistakes

  • Entering the number of passengers instead of their total weight in kg. Two adults is not 2, it is the sum of their weights.
  • Using the vehicle's towing capacity or its gross combined weight in place of the GVWR. Those are different ratings, and the GVWR is on the vehicle's plate.
  • Forgetting that fuel, roof racks, tow bars and other fitted accessories use up payload. If your curb weight figure excludes them, the remaining figure will be too generous.
  • Reading a negative remaining value as a rounding glitch. It means the vehicle is loaded above its GVWR by that many kg.
  • Entering the weight in pounds. All four fields are in kg, so convert first.

About this calculator

Payload capacity is the difference between a vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR — the maximum total weight the manufacturer certifies as safe) and its curb weight (the vehicle empty, with fluids but no passengers or cargo). Subtracting the weight of passengers and any cargo already loaded from that payload figure gives the remaining weight still available before the vehicle exceeds its GVWR.

Drivers, especially of trucks and vans used for towing or hauling, run this calculation because exceeding GVWR isn't just a legal violation in most jurisdictions — it degrades braking distance, tire life, suspension performance and handling, and can void a warranty in the event of an accident. It's easy to underestimate how much payload passengers, fuel, aftermarket accessories and cargo consume together, especially on trucks whose payload rating is lower than their apparent size suggests.

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