Axle Weight Distribution Calculator

Enter the wheelbase and the distance from the front axle to the center of gravity using any consistent length unit. The result reports each axle weight in the same unit as the total weight, plus the percentage carried at each end. It is useful for preliminary vehicle setup, loading comparisons, trailer-free road vehicles, and engineering checks based on level, stationary conditions.

Measure the three inputs on a consistent basis

Start with the vehicle's total weight in the condition you want to evaluate, not an unrelated catalog curb figure. Fuel, occupants, cargo, accessories, and removable equipment can all move both the total and the center of gravity. Measure the wheelbase between the centers of the front and rear axles. Then measure the horizontal center-of-gravity position rearward from the front axle along the same reference line. The two length values may be in millimeters, inches, feet, or metres, provided they use the same unit. Total weight may be expressed in kilograms-force, pounds-force, newtons, or another consistent weight unit; both axle results retain that unit. The center-of-gravity distance must fall between zero and the wheelbase. A position outside those limits describes a load whose resultant lies beyond the axle pair and is not supported by this two-axle calculator. For a measured vehicle, obtain total weight and axle loads from suitable scales whenever safety or legal compliance depends on the answer. This calculator is best used for transparent planning and cross-checking rather than as a substitute for certified weighing equipment.

Understand the static-equilibrium calculation

The calculation treats the vehicle as a rigid body resting on two supports: the front axle and the rear axle. Vertical force equilibrium requires the two axle reactions to add to the total vehicle weight. Moment equilibrium supplies the split. Taking moments about the front axle makes the rear axle weight equal to total weight multiplied by the center-of-gravity distance from the front axle, divided by the wheelbase. The front axle carries the remainder, which is equivalently total weight multiplied by the distance from the center of gravity to the rear axle, divided by the wheelbase. Percentages are the corresponding fractions multiplied by one hundred. A center of gravity exactly halfway along the wheelbase therefore produces a fifty-fifty distribution, while moving it rearward increases rear load by the same amount that front load decreases. Results are rounded to six decimal places for stable output. The model assumes level ground, no acceleration, and a single effective front and rear axle location. It does not calculate individual wheel loads, left-right imbalance, suspension geometry effects, aerodynamic downforce, hitch forces, or transient load transfer under braking, acceleration, cornering, or road slope.

Apply the result without overstating its precision

Use the computed axle weights to compare proposed loading arrangements, explore how relocating a component changes balance, or check whether an independently measured axle split is internally consistent with a known center-of-gravity position. For example, moving a battery or cargo rearward changes the combined vehicle center of gravity; calculate that new combined position first, then enter it here. Compare the returned axle weights with every applicable rating, including gross axle weight ratings, tire and wheel limits, suspension limits, and the permitted gross vehicle weight. Leave practical margin for measurement uncertainty and changing consumables. Static distribution alone cannot establish that a vehicle is safe, roadworthy, or legal. Dynamic forces can make the instantaneous axle load substantially different from the stationary result, and uneven loading can overload one tire even when the axle total appears acceptable. Multi-axle groups, trailers, drawbar loads, overhang payloads, and vehicles with lifting axles require a force-and-moment model that includes each support and applied load. When the decision affects public-road compliance or component selection, confirm the fully loaded vehicle on certified individual-axle scales and follow the vehicle manufacturer's limits and local rules. The API costs $0.002 per request when you automate repeated comparisons.