Trailer hitch weight calculator
Tongue Weight Calculator
Tongue weight should be 10–15% of loaded trailer weight for a conventional trailer, and 15–25% for a fifth wheel or gooseneck. Enter your loaded trailer weight below to see that range in pounds, whether your measured figure lands inside it, and how much tow-vehicle payload it uses up. Your actual safe range still depends on trailer design, hitch rating, and manufacturer guidance.
Enter trailer weight and payload details
Trailer
From a tongue scale or CAT scale. Leave blank to use the percentage.
Tow vehicle payload
Tongue weight results
Payload near limit
Estimated/measured tongue weight
910lb
13.0% of 7,000 lb
Target range (10-15%)
- 10%
- 700lb
- 13%
- 910lb
- 15%
- 1,050lb
A 7,000 lb loaded trailer should put 700 lb–1,050 lb on the hitch. Budget that much tow-vehicle payload before passengers and cargo.
Remaining payload
190lb
1,610 of 1,800 lb
Tongue weight that is too low can contribute to trailer sway. Tongue weight that is too high can overload payload, rear axle, hitch, tires, or suspension.
- Estimated/measured tongue weight
- 910 lb
- Payload used by passengers/cargo/hitch/tongue weight
- 1,610 lb
- Remaining payload
- 190 lb
- Tongue weight percentage
- 13.0%
- Tongue weight percentage
- =tongue weight ÷ loaded trailer weight × 100
- Estimated tongue weight
- =loaded trailer weight × target percentage
- Remaining payload
- =payload capacity − passengers − cargo − hitch equipment − tongue weight
- Fifth-wheel pin weight estimate
- =loaded fifth-wheel weight × pin weight percentage
Tongue weight chart by trailer weight
Tongue weight at the three percentages that matter, plus the tow-vehicle payload the hitch alone consumes once you add a typical 500 lb of passengers, cargo, and hitch hardware. Read the row closest to your loaded trailer weight — not its dry weight, which is usually 800–1,500 lb lighter once water, propane, and gear are aboard.
| Loaded trailer weight | 10% | 13% (typical) | 15% | Payload needed at 13% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 lb | 200 lb | 260 lb | 300 lb | 760 lb |
| 3,000 lb | 300 lb | 390 lb | 450 lb | 890 lb |
| 4,000 lb | 400 lb | 520 lb | 600 lb | 1,020 lb |
| 5,000 lb | 500 lb | 650 lb | 750 lb | 1,150 lb |
| 6,000 lb | 600 lb | 780 lb | 900 lb | 1,280 lb |
| 7,000 lb | 700 lb | 910 lb | 1,050 lb | 1,410 lb |
| 8,000 lb | 800 lb | 1,040 lb | 1,200 lb | 1,540 lb |
| 10,000 lb | 1,000 lb | 1,300 lb | 1,500 lb | 1,800 lb |
| 12,000 lb | 1,200 lb | 1,560 lb | 1,800 lb | 2,060 lb |
What is tongue weight?
Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer applies to the hitch. It is also called hitch weight, and it counts against tow vehicle payload. Tongue weight affects stability, steering, braking, rear axle load, and trailer sway. It can change when you add water, propane, batteries, tools, bikes, food, cargo, or heavy gear in different parts of the trailer.
What is a safe tongue weight percentage?
Many conventional travel trailers commonly target about 10–15% of loaded trailer weight. Too little tongue weight can increase sway risk, while too much tongue weight can overload payload, hitch, rear axle, or tires. Boat trailers, utility trailers, toy haulers, and specialty trailers can differ, so always verify trailer manufacturer and hitch guidance.
- 5,000 lb trailer × 10%
- =500 lb tongue weight
- 5,000 lb trailer × 15%
- =750 lb tongue weight
- 8,000 lb trailer × 13%
- =1,040 lb tongue weight
Does tongue weight count against payload?
Yes, tongue weight is carried by the tow vehicle. Payload includes passengers, cargo, accessories, hitch equipment, and tongue weight. A truck can be below advertised tow rating but above payload because of tongue weight.
- Payload rating
- 1,600 lb
- Passengers/cargo/hitch
- 500 lb
- Tongue weight
- 950 lb
- Remaining payload
- 150 lb
Tongue weight vs hitch weight vs pin weight
Tongue weight and hitch weight are often used similarly for conventional trailers. Pin weight applies to fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers and is often higher than travel trailer tongue weight. Weight-distribution hitches can redistribute load but do not erase tongue weight or increase official payload.
| Term | Used for | Typical range | Counts against payload? | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tongue weight | Conventional bumper-pull trailers | Often 10–15% for many travel trailers | Yes | Too low can contribute to sway; too high can overload payload or hitch. |
| Hitch weight | Common manufacturer term for conventional trailer tongue load | Dry hitch weight may differ from loaded tongue weight | Yes | Using dry hitch weight can underestimate real payload impact. |
| Fifth-wheel pin weight | Fifth-wheel trailers with a bed-mounted hitch | Often 15–25% of loaded trailer weight | Yes | Can use most of a half-ton truck's payload quickly. |
| Gooseneck pin weight | Gooseneck trailers with a bed ball | Often 15–25% of loaded trailer weight | Yes | Can overload payload, rear axle, tires, or hitch hardware. |
| Weight-distribution hitch load | Spring-bar hitch systems for some conventional trailers | Depends on hitch setup and trailer | Yes | Redistribution does not erase tongue weight or raise ratings. |
How to measure tongue weight
Tongue weight scale
- Use a purpose-built tongue weight scale under the coupler or jack point, following the scale and trailer instructions.
CAT scale / public scale method
- Use scale tickets to compare tow-vehicle axle weights with and without the trailer attached.
Bathroom scale method
- For lighter trailers only, use cautious lever methods from a reliable source and stay within the scale and material limits.
Manufacturer estimate
- Use dry hitch weight only as a starting point. Real loaded tongue weight changes with water, propane, batteries, tools, bikes, and cargo.
Tongue weight example for towing
- Loaded trailer weight
- 7,000 lb
- Target tongue weight
- 13%
- Estimated tongue weight
- 910 lb
- Tow vehicle payload
- 1,800 lb
- Passengers/cargo/hitch
- 600 lb
- Remaining payload
- 290 lb
This setup is within a typical travel-trailer tongue weight range, but only leaves 290 lb of payload. More cargo or passengers could push the tow vehicle near its limit.
Common tongue weight mistakes
- Using trailer dry weight instead of loaded trailer weight.
- Ignoring water, propane, batteries, bikes, tools, and cargo.
- Assuming 10% is always enough.
- Loading too much weight behind the trailer axle.
- Ignoring payload impact.
- Ignoring hitch tongue weight rating.
- Assuming a weight-distribution hitch increases payload.
- Forgetting that toy hauler cargo changes tongue weight.
- Not rechecking after changing trailer load.
Tongue weight calculator FAQ
What is tongue weight?
Tongue weight is the downward force a conventional trailer applies to the tow vehicle hitch. It is also called hitch weight and it counts against tow vehicle payload.
How do I calculate tongue weight?
Divide tongue weight by loaded trailer weight and multiply by 100 to get the percentage. To estimate tongue weight, multiply loaded trailer weight by a target percentage that fits your trailer and hitch guidance.
What percentage should tongue weight be?
Many conventional travel trailers commonly target about 10–15% of loaded trailer weight. Fifth-wheel and gooseneck pin weight is often around 15–25%, but trailer design and manufacturer guidance matter.
Is 10% tongue weight enough?
Ten percent may be a starting point for some conventional trailers, but it is not always enough. Trailer design, loading, speed, hitch setup, and manufacturer guidance can require a higher percentage.
Can too little tongue weight cause trailer sway?
Yes. Tongue weight that is too low can contribute to trailer sway because the trailer may not have enough downward force at the hitch for stable tracking.
Does tongue weight count against payload?
Yes. Tongue weight is carried by the tow vehicle, so it reduces remaining payload just like passengers, cargo, accessories, and hitch equipment.
Is hitch weight the same as tongue weight?
For conventional bumper-pull trailers, hitch weight and tongue weight are often used similarly. Always check whether a manufacturer is describing dry hitch weight or loaded, measured hitch weight.
How do I measure tongue weight?
Use a tongue weight scale, a public scale or CAT scale method, or a cautious bathroom-scale method for lighter trailers only. Recheck after loading water, propane, batteries, tools, bikes, and cargo.
What is fifth-wheel pin weight?
Fifth-wheel pin weight is the downward load a fifth-wheel trailer places in the truck bed through the kingpin and hitch. It is often around 15–25% of loaded trailer weight.
Does a weight-distribution hitch reduce tongue weight?
A weight-distribution hitch can redistribute some load across the tow vehicle and trailer axles, but it does not remove tongue weight or increase the manufacturer-assigned payload, GVWR, GAWR, or hitch rating.
Can I be under towing capacity but over payload because of tongue weight?
Yes. A trailer can be below advertised tow rating while tongue weight, passengers, cargo, and hitch equipment push the tow vehicle over payload.
What should tongue weight be for a 5,000 lb trailer?
Roughly 500 lb at 10%, 650 lb at 13%, and 750 lb at 15% of loaded weight. Most conventional travel trailers sit closest to the 13% figure once water, propane, and gear are aboard, so budget about 650 lb of tow-vehicle payload for the hitch alone.
What should tongue weight be for a 7,000 lb trailer?
About 700 lb at 10%, 910 lb at 13%, and 1,050 lb at 15%. On a half-ton truck with roughly 1,700 lb of payload, a 7,000 lb trailer leaves only 650-1,000 lb for passengers, cargo, and hitch hardware.
How much tongue weight is too much?
Above roughly 15% of loaded trailer weight for a conventional trailer, or any figure that exceeds your hitch receiver's tongue-weight rating or leaves negative payload. Excess tongue weight lifts the front axle, lightens the steering, and overloads the rear axle and tires.