Your essential tool for managing encumbrance and movement in Pathfinder.
Your character's base Strength score (e.g., 10).
Medium
Small
Large
Huge
Gargantuan
Colossal
Tiny
Diminutive
Fine
Select your character's size category.
Total weight of all gear, including armor, weapons, and carried items.
Typically 30 ft for Medium creatures.
Strength Bonus
—
Max Light Load
— lbs
Max Medium Load
— lbs
Max Heavy Load
— lbs
Encumbrance Level
—
Current Speed
— ft
Calculations based on Pathfinder rules for Strength and carrying capacity.
Movement Speed vs. Encumbrance Level
Encumbrance Level
Load (lbs)
Speed Modifier
Effective Speed (ft)
Light
—
+0 ft
—
Medium
—
-10 ft
—
Heavy
—
-20 ft
—
Beyond Max
—
-30 ft (Prone)
—
What is Carry Weight in Pathfinder?
Carry weight, or encumbrance, in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game refers to the total amount of gear, armor, weapons, and other items a character can comfortably carry. Managing your carry weight Pathfinder is crucial for character effectiveness. It directly impacts your character's ability to move around the battlefield, explore dungeons, and complete quests without being unduly hindered. Proper management of your carry weight Pathfinder ensures you can bring essential equipment without sacrificing mobility. It's a core mechanic that every player must understand to optimize their adventurer. Misconceptions often arise, such as believing a character can simply carry unlimited weight. This is false; the game provides clear rules to prevent characters from becoming overburdened to the point of immobility. Understanding these rules is key to successful adventuring and plays a significant role in item selection and inventory management.
Pathfinder Carry Weight Formula and Mathematical Explanation
The Pathfinder rules for carry weight are primarily determined by a character's Strength score and their size. The core concept is that a stronger character can carry more. This relationship is not linear but rather based on specific thresholds.
1. Strength Bonus:
The first step is to determine the Strength bonus, which is derived from the Strength score itself.
2. Base Load (Strength Score Dependent):
The base load a character can carry is directly tied to their Strength score. This is calculated using a formula that generally increases significantly with higher Strength scores. For most characters, this is calculated as:
Strength Score x Strength Score / 5
However, the official Pathfinder rules use specific tables, which we simplify here for calculation. The actual "lbs per Strength point" increases at certain thresholds. We will calculate the maximum load for Light, Medium, and Heavy categories based on the effective Strength value derived from the Strength Score and Size Modifier.
3. Size Modifier:
Larger creatures have a higher carrying capacity, and smaller creatures have a lower one. This is applied as a modifier to the strength score used for calculations, or directly to the load limits.
4. Load Categories:
Pathfinder defines several categories of encumbrance:
Light Load: Up to 1/3 of total carrying capacity. Affects speed minimally.
Medium Load: More than 1/3 and up to 2/3 of total carrying capacity. Reduces speed.
Heavy Load: More than 2/3 of total carrying capacity. Further reduces speed.
Beyond Maximum: Carrying more than the maximum Heavy Load. Reduces speed significantly and can lead to being prone.
5. Speed Adjustment:
Each load category has a corresponding penalty to base land speed.
Light Load: No penalty to speed.
Medium Load: Speed reduced by 10 ft.
Heavy Load: Speed reduced by 20 ft.
Beyond Maximum: Speed reduced by 30 ft and character becomes prone.
The calculator first determines the character's effective Strength (Strength Score + Size Modifier) to find the baseline carrying capacity and then calculates the thresholds for Light, Medium, and Heavy loads based on Pathfinder's established multipliers.
Carry Weight Pathfinder Variables
Variable
Meaning
Unit
Typical Range
Strength Score
The base score from the character sheet.
Score
3 – 30
Size Modifier
Adjustment to Strength-based calculations due to creature size.
Modifier
-6 to +8
Effective Strength
Strength Score plus Size Modifier, used for capacity calculation.
Score
-3 to 38
Base Land Speed
The character's unencumbered movement speed.
ft
10 – 50
Current Worn & Carried Weight
Total weight of all items.
lbs
0 – 1000+
Max Light Load
The upper limit for the Light Load category.
lbs
Varies greatly
Max Medium Load
The upper limit for the Medium Load category.
lbs
Varies greatly
Max Heavy Load
The upper limit for the Heavy Load category.
lbs
Varies greatly
Encumbrance Level
The current status of the character's carried weight.
Category
Light, Medium, Heavy, Beyond Max
Effective Speed
The character's movement speed after applying encumbrance penalties.
ft
0 – Base Speed
Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)
Example 1: A Standard Warrior
Let's consider 'Borin', a Human Fighter.
Strength Score: 16
Size Modifier: 0 (Medium)
Base Land Speed: 30 ft
Current Worn & Carried Weight: 75 lbs
Calculation:
Effective Strength: 16 + 0 = 16
Max Light Load (for Str 16): Approx. 53 lbs (based on ruleset)
Max Medium Load: Approx. 106 lbs
Max Heavy Load: Approx. 160 lbs
Result Interpretation:
Borin is carrying 75 lbs. This falls between his Max Light Load (53 lbs) and Max Medium Load (106 lbs). Therefore, Borin is under a Medium Load. His speed will be reduced by 10 ft, resulting in an Effective Speed of 20 ft. He can carry more gear before becoming heavily encumbered.
Example 2: A Small Rogue
Now consider 'Pip', a Halfling Rogue.
Strength Score: 12
Size Modifier: -2 (Small)
Base Land Speed: 25 ft
Current Worn & Carried Weight: 30 lbs
Calculation:
Effective Strength: 12 + (-2) = 10
Max Light Load (for Str 10): Approx. 33 lbs (based on ruleset)
Max Medium Load: Approx. 66 lbs
Max Heavy Load: Approx. 100 lbs
Result Interpretation:
Pip is carrying 30 lbs. This is less than his Max Light Load (33 lbs). Therefore, Pip is under a Light Load. His speed remains unaffected. His Effective Speed is 25 ft. He has room to carry more before facing penalties.
How to Use This Carry Weight Pathfinder Calculator
Enter Your Stats: Input your character's current Strength Score, select their Size Modifier from the dropdown, and input their Base Land Speed (usually 30 ft for Medium creatures).
Input Current Load: Accurately sum the weight of all your gear, armor, weapons, and carried items, then enter this total into the 'Current Worn & Carried Weight' field.
Click Calculate: Press the "Calculate" button.
Review Results:
The main result will tell you your current Encumbrance Level (Light, Medium, Heavy, or Beyond Max).
The intermediate results show your calculated carrying capacities (Max Light, Medium, Heavy loads), the effective strength used, and your final Effective Speed after penalties.
The table provides a detailed breakdown of the load thresholds and speed adjustments for each category.
The chart visualizes how your current load affects your movement speed compared to the different encumbrance levels.
Make Decisions: Use the results to decide if you need to drop items, invest in bags of holding, or consider magic items that increase carrying capacity or reduce weight. If you're heavily encumbered, consider tactics that don't require rapid movement or plan your encounters carefully.
Reset or Copy: Use the "Reset" button to clear the fields and start fresh. Use "Copy Results" to get a text summary of your current loadout and its effects.
Key Factors That Affect Carry Weight Results
Strength Score: This is the most significant factor. Higher Strength scores directly translate to higher carrying capacities across all load categories. Investing skill points or magic items into Strength is the primary way to increase what you can carry.
Size Category: Being Small or Tiny reduces your carrying capacity compared to a Medium creature with the same Strength score, while being Large or larger increases it. This modifier is crucial for smaller or larger races and monstrous characters.
Base Land Speed: While not directly affecting *what* you can carry, your base speed determines the impact of encumbrance penalties. A character with a base speed of 30 ft penalized to 20 ft (Medium Load) is more affected than a character with a base speed of 20 ft reduced to 10 ft (also Medium Load).
Total Weight of Gear: The sum of everything you carry is the direct input. This includes mundane items like rations and ropes, armor, weapons, adventuring gear, and treasure. Careful inventory management is key.
Magic Items: Items like Bag of Holding, Handy Haversack, or Belt of Giant Strength can dramatically alter a character's carrying capacity or mitigate the effects of weight. These are critical for characters who need to carry a lot.
Feats and Abilities: Certain feats, such as Heavy Armor Proficiency or Improved Initiative (which indirectly helps manage combat positioning when encumbered), and class abilities can influence how characters handle their gear and movement. Some classes might have abilities to mitigate encumbrance effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the maximum carry weight in Pathfinder?
The maximum carry weight is determined by your character's effective Strength (Strength Score + Size Modifier) and falls into the 'Heavy Load' category. Exceeding this 'Heavy Load' limit places you 'Beyond Maximum,' imposing severe speed penalties and potentially making you prone.
How does armor weight affect carry weight?
Armor counts towards your total carried weight. Heavy armors, especially full plate, contribute significantly to your encumbrance, often requiring a high Strength score to wear effectively without penalty.
Can I carry weapons without penalty?
Weapons count towards your total carried weight. However, they are often factored into your overall load. For example, a fighter might have a sword and shield, which are significant weights but necessary. The challenge is balancing these essential items with other gear.
What if I'm carrying multiple items, does each have its own penalty?
No, penalties are based on the *total* weight carried, not individual item weights. You sum up all the weights and then compare that total to your character's maximum load thresholds for Light, Medium, and Heavy categories.
How do I calculate my character's effective Strength?
Your effective Strength for carry weight calculations is your base Strength Score plus your Size Modifier. For example, a character with Strength 14 and a Small size modifier (-2) has an effective Strength of 12.
What is the typical weight of adventuring gear?
Weights vary greatly. Rations might weigh 1 lb per day, a backpack 2 lbs, a rope 10 lbs, a bedroll 5 lbs. Armor can range from 15 lbs (light) to over 50 lbs (heavy), and weapons also add weight.
What happens if I exceed my Heavy Load?
When you carry more than your maximum Heavy Load, you are considered "Beyond Maximum." Your speed is reduced by 30 ft, and you become prone. This makes you very vulnerable in combat.
Can magic items increase my carrying capacity directly?
Yes, items like a Belt of Giant Strength increase your Strength score, thereby increasing your carrying capacity. Other items, like a Bag of Holding, offer extradimensional spaces to store items, effectively reducing the weight you *personally* carry and thus your encumbrance.
Does encumbrance affect other stats besides speed?
Primarily, encumbrance affects movement speed. However, being prone due to exceeding Heavy Load has significant combat penalties, affecting attack rolls, AC, and movement options. Some specific magical effects or monster abilities might also interact with a character's carried weight.