Ute and 4WD payload calculator

Add up accessories, passengers, gear and towball download to see how much of your GVM is left.

Short answer Payload is GVM minus kerb weight. Bull bars, canopies, drawers, passengers, gear and the towball download all come out of it. Many dual-cab utes have around a tonne of payload on paper, and accessories plus towball download can use up most of it before you pack anything.

Start from your vehicleOptional. Fills in the manufacturer's figures, which you can still change.

Vehicle not listed? Enter the figures from its compliance plate or owner's manual below. See all vehicles.

Your vehicleFrom the compliance plate, owner's manual or manufacturer specs
That figure is the
What you add

How payload is worked out

Payload = GVM − kerb weightRemaining = payload − accessories − people − gear − towball download

If your vehicle's paperwork gives tare weight instead of kerb weight, the calculator adds the fuel needed to fill the tank from the 10 litres included in tare. Fuel weights are approximate: about 0.84 kg per litre for diesel and 0.74 kg per litre for petrol.

Worked example

A ute with a 3,200 kg GVM and a 2,250 kg kerb weight has 950 kg of payload. Fit 250 kg of accessories, add two people at 160 kg and 150 kg of gear, and 390 kg is left. Hitch a caravan with 300 kg on the towball and only 90 kg remains.

Where the weight hides

  • Accessories. Steel bull bars, canopies, drawer systems, roof racks, dual batteries and long-range tanks add up quickly. Use the weights from each product's specs, or weigh the vehicle before and after.
  • The towbar itself. It's rarely in the published kerb weight.
  • Towball download. A caravan's towball download is often more than one adult passenger weighs.
  • Water and fuel in extra tanks. One litre of water weighs about one kilogram.

Payload is only one limit. Once you're towing, also check the full towing setup, because the GCM may run out before the GVM does.

Common questions

How do I calculate my ute's payload?
Payload is GVM minus kerb weight. From that, subtract every accessory added after the factory (bull bar, towbar, canopy, drawers, roof rack, long-range tank), the people on board, your gear, and the towball download when towing. What's left is your remaining payload.
What is the difference between kerb weight and tare weight?
In Australia, tare weight is the empty vehicle with all fluids but only 10 litres of fuel. Kerb weight is the same with a full fuel tank. Manufacturers usually quote kerb weight. If you only have the tare, this calculator adds the rest of the fuel for you.
Is a towbar included in kerb weight?
Usually not, unless it was fitted at the factory as part of that variant. Treat dealer-fitted and aftermarket accessories, including the towbar, as extra weight. A weighbridge reading of the vehicle as it sits is the most reliable starting point.
Does towball download use up payload?
Yes. When you hitch a trailer, the towball download is carried by the vehicle and counts against its GVM just like a passenger or a toolbox.

Sources

Rules checked against these sources on 12 October 2026. See rules, sources and method.

Check your own plates. This calculator uses the numbers you enter. Your limits come from your vehicle's compliance plate and owner's manual, your trailer's plate and your towbar's rating. The only way to know your real weights is to weigh the loaded rig at a public weighbridge.