Truck Payload Capacity Chart
Payload is the number that decides most towing questions, and it is the one buyers check last. This chart ranks every model in our database by payload and translates it into the trailer weight it can actually support.
Written by Imtinan Farooq, Editor, TowCapacityCalc · Updated
Quick answer
Payload is everything the truck carries: passengers, cargo, accessories, the hitch, and the trailer's tongue or pin weight. The chart below shows each model's best-case payload, what remains after two adults and 150 lb of gear, and the loaded trailer weight that supports at a 13% tongue weight.
Worked example: reading a door sticker correctly
A crew-cab half-ton with a door sticker reading 1,780 lb, fitted after purchase with a bed cover, running boards, and a winch bumper.
| Line item | Weight | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Door sticker payload | 1,780 lb | Already accounts for factory options |
| Bed cover | −60 lb | Added after purchase |
| Running boards | −70 lb | Added after purchase |
| Winch bumper and winch | −180 lb | Added after purchase |
| Effective payload today | 1,470 lb | What the truck can still carry |
| Two adults and gear | −490 lb | 340 lb people, 150 lb gear |
| Available for tongue weight | 980 lb | Supports about a 7,500 lb trailer at 13% |
Three accessories quietly removed 310 lb — about 17% of the sticker — and roughly 2,400 lb of supportable trailer weight. The door sticker is a starting point, not a running total.
Your sticker, not the chart
The figures here are the highest published for each model. The payload of your specific truck is printed on a yellow-and-white label in the driver's door jamb, under the words "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed…". Options fitted at the factory reduce it, and that label already accounts for them.
Everything that comes out of payload
People, pets, tools, fuel cans, bed toppers, aftermarket bumpers, winches, roof racks, the weight-distribution hitch, and the trailer's tongue weight all draw on the same number. Accessories bolted on after purchase are not reflected in the door sticker, so subtract them yourself.
How the trailer column is calculated
The final column takes the model's best-case payload, subtracts 340 lb for two adults and 150 lb for gear, treats the remainder as available tongue weight, and divides by 0.13 to get the loaded trailer weight that produces it. Carry more people or more gear and the supported trailer weight falls quickly.
Payload is not the only carrying limit
GVWR caps the whole loaded truck; GAWR caps each axle separately. Because tongue weight lands on the rear axle, the rear GAWR can be exceeded while total payload still looks fine. Weigh each axle, not just the total, when the numbers are close.
Maximum payload by model
| Model | Years in database | Max payload | Left after 2 adults + gear | Supports trailer at 13% tongue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-350 | 2020–2024 | 7,650 lb | 7,160 lb | ≈55,100 lb |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD | 2020–2024 | 7,200 lb | 6,710 lb | ≈51,600 lb |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD | 2020–2024 | 7,200 lb | 6,710 lb | ≈51,600 lb |
| Ram 3500 | 2020–2024 | 6,570 lb | 6,080 lb | ≈46,800 lb |
| Ford F-250 | 2011–2024 | 4,050 lb | 3,560 lb | ≈27,400 lb |
| Ram 2500 | 2020–2024 | 4,010 lb | 3,520 lb | ≈27,100 lb |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 2020–2024 | 3,530 lb | 3,040 lb | ≈23,400 lb |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD | 2020–2024 | 3,530 lb | 3,040 lb | ≈23,400 lb |
| Ford F-150 | 2004–2025 | 3,315 lb | 2,825 lb | ≈21,700 lb |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 2007–2024 | 2,060 lb | 1,570 lb | ≈12,100 lb |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 2009–2024 | 2,060 lb | 1,570 lb | ≈12,100 lb |
| Nissan Titan | 2004–2024 | 2,000 lb | 1,510 lb | ≈11,600 lb |
| Toyota Tundra | 2007–2024 | 1,940 lb | 1,450 lb | ≈11,200 lb |
| Ram 1500 | 2009–2024 | 1,880 lb | 1,390 lb | ≈10,700 lb |
| Toyota Tacoma | 2016–2024 | 1,710 lb | 1,220 lb | ≈9,400 lb |
| Jeep Gladiator | 2020–2024 | 1,710 lb | 1,220 lb | ≈9,400 lb |
| Chevrolet Colorado | 2015–2024 | 1,684 lb | 1,194 lb | ≈9,200 lb |
| GMC Canyon | 2015–2024 | 1,640 lb | 1,150 lb | ≈8,800 lb |
| Ford Maverick | 2022–2024 | 1,500 lb | 1,010 lb | ≈7,800 lb |
| Ford Ranger | 2019–2024 | 1,430 lb | 940 lb | ≈7,200 lb |
| Nissan Frontier | 2022–2024 | 1,430 lb | 940 lb | ≈7,200 lb |
Payload figures are the highest listed for any configuration of that model. Deductions assume 340 lb of passengers and 150 lb of gear.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my truck's payload capacity?
On the yellow-and-white tire and loading label in the driver's door jamb. It states the combined weight of occupants and cargo that must not be exceeded for that specific vehicle.
Does tongue weight count against payload?
Yes. Tongue weight or fifth-wheel pin weight presses down on the tow vehicle and uses payload exactly like passengers and cargo.
Why is my payload lower than the chart?
The chart lists the best-case configuration. Crew cabs, four-wheel drive, larger engines, sunroofs, and heavier trim all reduce payload, and accessories added after purchase reduce it further.
Can I increase payload with airbags or stronger springs?
No. Those change ride quality and load levelling, but the payload, GVWR, and GAWR on the certification label are set by the manufacturer and do not change.
Before you trust any number here
Every figure on this page is a planning estimate. The binding limits are printed on your vehicle: the driver-door payload sticker, the certification label, the hitch label, the tire sidewalls, and the trailer data plate. Weigh the loaded rig before a long trip.
Read the full verification checklistExplore this topic cluster
Why payload runs out before tow rating on most family setups, and how to turn a trailer weight into the payload figure you need.