D&D 5e Carrying Capacity Calculator

Calculate character load, variant encumbrance, coins, containers, mounts, vehicles, special size traits, speed penalties, and custom campaign rules.

Character and Rule Settings

Choose the character statistics, edition label, measurement units, and encumbrance method.

Usually 1–30 for player-facing rules.
The edition label is saved with the calculation.
Changing units does not automatically convert typed values.
Use for weight not itemized below.

Encumbrance Thresholds

Variant values are shown by default. Custom mode uses every editable multiplier and penalty.

Special Character Features

Model Powerful Build, alternate forms, magic, feats, boons, penalties, and house-rule bonuses.

Inventory and Equipment Manager

Add weapons, armor, tools, supplies, treasure, ammunition, food, and custom equipment.

Carried items

External and extradimensional locations do not count toward the character’s load.

Item Category Qty. Weight each Location Container Equipped Notes Total
0.00
0.00
Live inventory subtotal: 0.00 lb

Coin Weight

Count mixed coin denominations and optionally ignore their weight.

Current coins: 0 · Weight: 0.00 lb

Containers and Storage

Track empty weight, contents, limits, extradimensional storage, ownership, volume, and overcapacity.

Container list

Contents in extradimensional containers are excluded from carried weight.

Name Empty weight Weight capacity Contents weight Volume capacity Extradimensional Carried by Notes

Mounts, Companions, and Vehicles

Estimate distributed cargo, passenger weight, pulling groups, vehicle bonuses, and custom towing multipliers.

Additional carriers

Each row calculates independently from the character.

Name Strength Size Count Cargo Passengers Vehicle bonus Custom multiplier

Presets, Saving, and Data Tools

Load examples, save locally, restore later, import JSON, or export inventory data.


Formula Used

The calculator keeps each modifier visible so Dungeon Masters can audit the result.

Base capacity = Strength × carrying multiplier × size multiplier
Final capacity = (Base capacity × special multiplier × percentage modifier) + fixed bonus
Push / drag / lift = (Strength × push multiplier × size multiplier × special modifiers) + fixed bonus
Inventory load = Σ(quantity × item weight), excluding external or extradimensional items
Total carried load = manual weight + inventory + counted containers + coin weight
Coin weight = total coins ÷ coins per pound

Default size multipliers

SizeMultiplierCapacity at Strength 10Push, drag, or lift
Tiny ×0.50 75.00 lb 150.00 lb
Small ×1.00 150.00 lb 300.00 lb
Medium ×1.00 150.00 lb 300.00 lb
Large ×2.00 300.00 lb 600.00 lb
Huge ×4.00 600.00 lb 1,200.00 lb
Gargantuan ×8.00 1,200.00 lb 2,400.00 lb

How to Use This Calculator

Follow these steps to build a complete character, mount, or party load assessment.

  1. Enter the character’s Strength score, creature size, and normal walking speed.
  2. Select standard, variant, or custom encumbrance rules.
  3. Add special size or capacity modifiers granted by species traits, magic, feats, forms, or house rules.
  4. Enter any manual weight that is not represented by an inventory row.
  5. Add equipment to the inventory table. Choose external or extradimensional storage when the item should not count.
  6. Enter coins and decide whether coin weight is active.
  7. Add containers, including empty weight, contents, limits, and extradimensional behavior.
  8. Add mounts, companions, vehicles, or pulling groups when the party distributes cargo.
  9. Press the calculation button. Review capacity, remaining weight, speed, active penalties, and warnings.
  10. Save locally, export a JSON backup, download the inventory as CSV, print the summary, or copy a share link.

Understanding carrying capacity

Carrying capacity represents the weight a creature can normally carry without relying on the special push, drag, or lift allowance. Under the common rule, a Small or Medium creature’s carrying capacity equals fifteen times its Strength score in pounds. Tiny creatures use half that amount, while each size category above Medium doubles the capacity. The calculator applies size before special modifiers and then adds any fixed bonus.

Standard and variant encumbrance

Standard rules keep the calculation simple: compare the total load with normal carrying capacity and the separate push, drag, or lift limit. Variant encumbrance introduces lower thresholds. A load above five times Strength is encumbered, and a load above ten times Strength is heavily encumbered. The 2014 variant also imposes ability, attack, and saving throw disadvantages while heavily encumbered. Custom mode lets a Dungeon Master replace those thresholds and speed reductions.

Containers and extradimensional storage

A mundane container normally contributes its own empty weight plus the weight of its contents when the character carries it. An extradimensional container can be modeled by enabling its extradimensional option. The calculator then counts the container’s empty weight but excludes its contents from the character’s carried total. Capacity warnings remain visible so the user can still detect an overfilled container.

Mounts and vehicles

Mount and vehicle rows are calculated separately. Each row accepts Strength, size, number of pulling creatures, cargo, passengers, a vehicle bonus, and a custom multiplier. The result helps a party compare loads, but unusual harnesses, terrain, creature traits, and vehicle rules may require a Dungeon Master’s decision.

Accessibility and practical use

Status is communicated with written labels as well as colors. Tables can be used with a keyboard, every major control has a visible label, and the print view removes editing controls. Saved data stays in the browser’s local storage unless the user exports it. JSON exports contain form values, so users should review files before sharing them publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common carrying capacity, inventory, and campaign-rule questions.

Do worn armor and equipped weapons count toward carried weight?
Yes, unless a feature or house rule says otherwise. The equipped checkbox is organizational; weight still counts while the location is carried, worn, or contained.
Does Powerful Build stack with being Large?
The calculator can model any stacking method by increasing effective size and applying a capacity multiplier. Actual stacking depends on the exact feature text and the Dungeon Master’s interpretation.
Why are Small and Medium creatures given the same multiplier?
The normal carrying rule changes capacity for Tiny creatures and for each size above Medium. Small and Medium therefore use the same baseline multiplier.
Can I ignore coin weight?
Yes. Clear the Count coin weight checkbox. Coin totals remain visible, but their weight becomes zero.
Can this calculator distribute items automatically?
The mount and carrier summaries make comparisons easier, while item assignment remains manual. This avoids moving equipment in ways that conflict with player choices, container limits, attunement, or immediate access needs.
Does the edition selector change every rule automatically?
The selector records the edition context. Encumbrance mode and custom settings control the actual calculation, allowing tables to match their preferred interpretation or campaign rules.
Are kilograms and stone exact conversions?
The calculator converts pounds using 0.45359237 kilograms per pound and fourteen pounds per stone. Displayed values are rounded, while calculations retain more precision.
Is this a replacement for a Dungeon Master ruling?
No. It is a transparent rules aid. Creature anatomy, terrain, leverage, awkward objects, magic, vehicles, and campaign-specific rules can change the outcome.

Strength Reference Table

Standard Small or Medium carrying values from Strength 1 through 30.

StrengthVariant encumberedVariant heavily encumberedMaximum carryPush, drag, or lift
1 5.00 lb 10.00 lb 15.00 lb 30.00 lb
2 10.00 lb 20.00 lb 30.00 lb 60.00 lb
3 15.00 lb 30.00 lb 45.00 lb 90.00 lb
4 20.00 lb 40.00 lb 60.00 lb 120.00 lb
5 25.00 lb 50.00 lb 75.00 lb 150.00 lb
6 30.00 lb 60.00 lb 90.00 lb 180.00 lb
7 35.00 lb 70.00 lb 105.00 lb 210.00 lb
8 40.00 lb 80.00 lb 120.00 lb 240.00 lb
9 45.00 lb 90.00 lb 135.00 lb 270.00 lb
10 50.00 lb 100.00 lb 150.00 lb 300.00 lb
11 55.00 lb 110.00 lb 165.00 lb 330.00 lb
12 60.00 lb 120.00 lb 180.00 lb 360.00 lb
13 65.00 lb 130.00 lb 195.00 lb 390.00 lb
14 70.00 lb 140.00 lb 210.00 lb 420.00 lb
15 75.00 lb 150.00 lb 225.00 lb 450.00 lb
16 80.00 lb 160.00 lb 240.00 lb 480.00 lb
17 85.00 lb 170.00 lb 255.00 lb 510.00 lb
18 90.00 lb 180.00 lb 270.00 lb 540.00 lb
19 95.00 lb 190.00 lb 285.00 lb 570.00 lb
20 100.00 lb 200.00 lb 300.00 lb 600.00 lb
21 105.00 lb 210.00 lb 315.00 lb 630.00 lb
22 110.00 lb 220.00 lb 330.00 lb 660.00 lb
23 115.00 lb 230.00 lb 345.00 lb 690.00 lb
24 120.00 lb 240.00 lb 360.00 lb 720.00 lb
25 125.00 lb 250.00 lb 375.00 lb 750.00 lb
26 130.00 lb 260.00 lb 390.00 lb 780.00 lb
27 135.00 lb 270.00 lb 405.00 lb 810.00 lb
28 140.00 lb 280.00 lb 420.00 lb 840.00 lb
29 145.00 lb 290.00 lb 435.00 lb 870.00 lb
30 150.00 lb 300.00 lb 450.00 lb 900.00 lb

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.