Useful Load Calculator
Find your aircraft's useful load and how much payload remains after fuel. Enter the weights from your specific aircraft's documentation.
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Aircraft Weights
From the POH/AFM for your aircraft.
From the signed weight-and-balance record.
Fuel
Load
Understanding useful load
Every aircraft has a fixed maximum approved weight set by the manufacturer and a basic empty weight recorded for that specific airframe. The difference between them — the useful load — is everything you are allowed to add: usable fuel, the pilot and passengers, baggage, and cargo. Because fuel and payload compete for the same useful load, a full-fuel departure often leaves little capacity for people and bags, and a full-seats departure may require reduced fuel and an added stop.
This calculator makes that trade-off explicit so you can plan a legal, safe load. Enter your real numbers from the aircraft's paperwork — do not rely on generic model figures, which vary with installed avionics and equipment.
This calculator is for planning only and does not verify center of gravity. Always use your aircraft's current weight-and-balance data and POH/AFM limits, and confirm both weight and CG before every flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
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