Tongue weight calculator
How much tongue weight should your trailer have? Enter its loaded weight for the target range, and your measured tongue weight to see whether it’s too light, too heavy or right. Free, nothing stored.
Your trailer
Enter the loaded trailer weight to see the tongue weight it should have.
The tongue weight formula
Tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight for a bumper-pull travel trailer, utility or boat trailer, and 15–25% for a fifth wheel or gooseneck, where it’s called pin weight. Multiply the trailer’s loaded weight by the two ends of the range: a 7,000 lb travel trailer × 0.10 = 700 lb and × 0.15 = 1,050 lb. Your measured tongue weight ÷ loaded trailer weight × 100 is the percentage you actually have.
Tongue weight by trailer weight
| Loaded trailer | Bumper-pull (10–15%) | Fifth wheel / gooseneck (15–25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 lb | 300–450 lb | 450–750 lb |
| 5,000 lb | 500–750 lb | 750–1,250 lb |
| 7,000 lb | 700–1,050 lb | 1,050–1,750 lb |
| 9,000 lb | 900–1,350 lb | 1,350–2,250 lb |
| 12,000 lb | 1,200–1,800 lb | 1,800–3,000 lb |
| 15,000 lb | 1,500–2,250 lb | 2,250–3,750 lb |
Too light, too heavy
Under 10%, the trailer is tail-heavy and prone to sway — the classic fishtail a passing semi can start. Over 15%, the truck squats, the front tires lose grip for steering and braking, and the extra weight comes straight out of your payload capacity. Both are usually fixed by moving cargo, not removing it: forward of the trailer’s axles adds tongue weight, behind them takes it away. The tongue weight guide covers why, and the CAT scale guide shows how to measure it for a few dollars.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of trailer weight should tongue weight be?
For a bumper-pull trailer, 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight. For a fifth wheel or gooseneck, 15–25% — that downward force is called pin weight. Aim for the middle of the range, not the minimum: a trailer right at 10% has little margin against sway.
How do I calculate tongue weight?
Multiply the loaded trailer weight by 0.10 and by 0.15 to get the bumper-pull range. A 7,000 lb travel trailer should put 700–1,050 lb on the ball. To get the percentage you actually have, divide your measured tongue weight by the loaded trailer weight and multiply by 100.
Should I use dry weight or GVWR?
Use the weight the trailer actually tows at. If you have not weighed it, use its GVWR. Dry weight leaves out water, propane, options and everything you pack, so a range worked from it comes out several hundred pounds too low.
Does tongue weight count against payload?
Yes. Tongue weight presses down on the truck, not on the trailer’s axles, so it comes out of the truck’s payload capacity the same as a passenger. A 1,000 lb tongue on a half-ton with 1,800 lb of payload leaves 800 lb for everyone and everything in the truck.
How do I measure tongue weight?
A tongue-weight scale under the coupler is the simplest. For heavier trailers, a CAT scale works: weigh the truck hitched with the weight-distribution bars unhooked, then the truck alone. The difference is the tongue weight.
The app does even more
- Scan the door-jamb sticker instead of typing the GVWR
- Add each person, pet and piece of gear — the total keeps itself up to date
- Save a profile per trip and re-check in seconds
- A pre-tow checklist you tick off before every departure
Free — with an optional $2.99 one-time Pro upgrade.
TowCheck is an informational planning aid that does arithmetic on the figures you supply. It is not a certification or inspection service and does not replace a certified scale — always verify your weights before you tow.