⚖️ Vehicle Weight Distribution Calculator

Enter the wheelbase (L), total vehicle weight (W), and the center-of-gravity distance from the front axle (d), and this calculator computes front/rear axle loads and their percentage split using the static lever principle.

Wheelbase (L) (m)

Total Weight (W) (kg)

CG Distance (d, from front axle) (m)

d is the horizontal distance from the front axle to the center of gravity, and must be between 0 and the wheelbase (L).

Results

Front Axle Load

— kg

—%

Rear Axle Load

— kg

—%

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GUIDE

Learn more

The Lever (Moment) Principle and the Axle Load Formulas

When a vehicle is at rest, the load carried by each axle can be found from moment (lever) equilibrium about the center of gravity. Requiring the sum of moments about either axle to equal zero yields:

Front axle load = W × (L − d) / L
Rear axle load = W × d / L

where W is the total vehicle weight, L is the wheelbase (front-to-rear axle distance), and d is the horizontal distance from the front axle to the center of gravity. The two loads always sum exactly to W, and dividing each by W gives the percentage split.

Worked Example

Take a vehicle with wheelbase L = 3.0 m, total weight W = 2,000 kg, and CG distance d = 1.2 m:

Front axle load = 2,000 × (3.0 − 1.2) / 3.0 = 2,000 × 1.8 / 3 = 1,200 kg (60%)
Rear axle load = 2,000 × 1.2 / 3.0 = 800 kg (40%)

The closer the center of gravity is to the front axle (smaller d), the greater the front axle load and its percentage share.

Notes: Applications and Limitations

Conversely, if you weigh each axle on scales, you can back-calculate the CG position: d = rear axle load × L / W.

Typical passenger cars, with the engine up front, tend toward roughly a 60:40 front-heavy split, while sports cars and high-performance vehicles are engineered to target a near-50:50 split for balanced cornering.

Note that this calculator covers only the static distribution. Under real-world braking or acceleration, the center of gravity effectively shifts and load transfers dynamically toward the front or rear axle (weight transfer). You should also separately verify that the computed axle loads stay within the manufacturer's rated axle limits (GAWR, Gross Axle Weight Rating).

Frequently asked questions

How do I actually measure the CG distance (d)?

The most accurate way is to place each axle on individual scales (corner-weight or axle scales) and measure the real front and rear axle loads. Once you know the rear axle load, you can back-calculate the CG position using d = rear axle load × L / W, which is also a good way to verify or calibrate the inputs to this calculator.

Why is a 50:50 split considered ideal?

When front and rear axle loads are equal, both the front and rear tires tend to reach their grip limits at the same time during cornering, reducing bias toward understeer or oversteer and giving more balanced handling. That's why sports cars and race cars are often designed from the ground up — placing the engine, battery, and other components — to target a near-50:50 split. Ordinary passenger cars are commonly closer to 60:40 due to interior packaging and structural constraints.

Does a roof box or roof rack load change the front/rear split?

Yes, but what matters is the horizontal position of its center of gravity, not its weight alone. A roof box mounted toward the front adds to the front axle load; one mounted toward the rear adds to the rear axle load. Keep in mind that rooftop cargo also raises the overall center of gravity, which separately hurts rollover stability — a factor outside this distribution calculation.

Can I use this calculator when towing a trailer?

This calculator only covers the vehicle's own static axle load distribution. Once a trailer is hitched, its tongue weight adds directly onto the rear axle, so for that case you should also use a dedicated trailer tongue weight calculator alongside this one.