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TongueWeight

Tongue Weight Calculator

Find the correct tongue weight for your trailer in seconds. Enter your loaded trailer weight to get the recommended range, check a measured tongue weight, and see when you need a weight distribution hitch. Runs entirely in your browser.

Written by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify

Your trailer

lb

The fully loaded weight of the trailer — everything on board.

lb
Advanced: check against a hitch rating
lb

The max tongue weight stamped on your hitch or ball mount — the lowest of these governs.

Try an example:

Result

Enter your loaded trailer weight to see the recommended tongue weight range.

Quick answer

What percentage should tongue weight be?

It depends on the trailer. Pick your type in the calculator, or see the standard bands below.

Trailer typeTargetOf what
Travel / utility / cargo (bumper-pull)10–15%gross trailer weight
Boat trailer5–7%total loaded weight
Gooseneck / 5th-wheel (pin weight)15–25%gross trailer weight

What is tongue weight?

Tongue weight is the static downward force your loaded trailer's coupler puts on the hitch ball at the back of the tow vehicle. It is one of the most important towing numbers because it controls stability: too little and the trailer wants to sway; too much and it overloads the tow vehicle's rear axle. For a conventional bumper-pull trailer it should be roughly10–15% of the trailer's total loaded weight.

Why the right tongue weight matters

When tongue weight is too low, the trailer's center of gravity sits too far back, creating a pivot that lets the trailer oscillate side to side — sway, or fishtailing — especially at highway speed, in crosswinds, or when a truck passes. Uncorrected sway can build into a loss of control within seconds and is a leading factor in towing crashes.

When tongue weight is too high, the tow vehicle's rear squats, overloading the rear axle and tires while lifting weight off the front wheels. That lightened front axle means less steering grip and weaker front braking — a longer stopping distance and a vehicle that's harder to control. It can also exceed your hitch or ball-mount rating.

How to use this calculator

  1. Pick your trailer type — it sets the correct percentage band.
  2. Enter the trailer's loaded weight (for boats, the whole loaded rig).
  3. Read the recommended range and target.
  4. Optionally type in a measured tongue weight to grade it as too light, in range, or too heavy — and check it against your hitch's rating.

A calculated figure is an estimate based on the standard percentage. Your real tongue weight depends entirely on how the trailer is packed, so once you're loaded,measure it on a scale to be sure.

Tongue weight by trailer type

Each guide sets the calculator to the right band and adds loading tips for that trailer.

travel trailer / RV

10–15% tongue weight

A conventional bumper-pull travel trailer or RV should carry 10–15% of its loaded weight on the tongue. That downforce on the hitch ball is what keeps the trailer tracking straight instead of swaying.

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utility trailer

10–15% tongue weight

An open utility trailer follows the standard bumper-pull rule: 10–15% of the loaded weight on the tongue. Because the deck is open, where you place the load has a big effect on tongue weight.

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enclosed cargo trailer

10–15% tongue weight

An enclosed cargo trailer uses the same 10–15% band as other bumper-pull trailers. The closed box makes it easy to load too much toward the rear, so tongue weight deserves a check.

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boat trailer

5–7% tongue weight

Boat trailers run a lower tongue weight — 5–7% of the total loaded weight — because their axles sit farther aft and the engine biases the load rearward. Aim for about 6% on a single axle, 5% on a tandem.

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gooseneck trailer

15–25% pin weight

A gooseneck carries far more at the hitch than a bumper-pull: 15–25% of the loaded trailer weight as pin weight, commonly planned around 20%. That pin weight sits in the truck bed and eats into payload.

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fifth-wheel trailer

15–25% pin weight

A fifth-wheel RV puts 15–25% of its loaded weight on the kingpin, usually planned at about 20%. Because that pin weight rides in the truck bed, it is the number that most often uses up your truck’s payload.

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horse trailer

10–15% tongue weight

A bumper-pull horse trailer follows the standard 10–15% rule. Live, shifting load makes stability especially important, so keeping tongue weight in range matters more than usual.

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Related tools & guides

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Frequently asked questions

What is trailer tongue weight?
Tongue weight (TW) is the static downward force the loaded trailer’s coupler puts on the hitch ball at the rear of the tow vehicle. It matters because too little causes sway and too much overloads the vehicle’s rear. For a conventional bumper-pull trailer it should be about 10–15% of the trailer’s total loaded weight.
How do I calculate tongue weight?
Multiply the trailer’s gross (loaded) weight by the target percentage for its type. Conventional travel, cargo and utility trailers: GTW × 10–15% (use ~12.5% as a target). Boat trailers: total loaded weight × 5–7% (about 6% single-axle, 5% tandem). Gooseneck/5th-wheel pin weight: GTW × 15–25% (plan around 20%). Example: a 5,000 lb travel trailer targets ~625 lb, with 500–750 lb acceptable. A calculated value is only an estimate — verify by measuring.
How do I measure tongue weight?
Measure with the trailer fully loaded as you’ll tow it, on level ground. Options: lower the coupler onto a bathroom scale for tongues under ~300 lb; use a board-and-two-supports lever method for heavier tongues; use a dedicated tongue-weight scale; use a ball mount with a built-in scale; or use a public CAT scale — weigh the rig hitched, then unhitch and re-weigh the tow vehicle alone, and the difference is the tongue weight (disconnect any weight-distribution bars first).
What percentage should tongue weight be?
It depends on the trailer type. Conventional/bumper-pull travel, cargo and utility trailers: 10–15% of gross trailer weight. Boat trailers run lower at 5–7% of the total loaded rig because their axles sit farther aft (≈6% single-axle, 5% dual-axle). Gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers carry much more on the pin — 15–25% of GTW, commonly planned at ~20%. Check the measured value against the band for your trailer type, not a single number.
Do I need a weight distribution hitch?
Consider one if the loaded trailer weighs 50% or more of the tow vehicle’s weight, or above roughly 5,000 lb gross trailer weight and/or 500 lb tongue weight. The exact trigger varies by vehicle: Ford, Ram, Toyota and Nissan half-tons generally recommend one above ~5,000 lb, while GM Sierra/Silverado 1500 trucks specify ~7,000 lb. Your owner’s manual is the binding authority. Note that U-Haul prohibits weight-distribution/sway devices on its rental trailers, and some surge-brake, aluminum or Airstream setups restrict them.
What happens if tongue weight is too high?
Too much tongue weight sags the tow vehicle’s rear, overloading the rear axle and tires while lifting weight off the front steer axle. That lightened front axle reduces steering response and front-brake effectiveness, lengthening stopping distance. It can also exceed the hitch or ball-mount tongue-weight rating. Fix it by shifting cargo rearward; a weight-distribution hitch restores front-axle load but does not license exceeding a component’s rating.

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