D&D 5e Carry Weight Calculator
Calculate your carrying capacity, encumbrance, and maximum load for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.
What is D&D 5e Carry Weight?
The D&D 5e carry weight system is a mechanic within Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition that governs how much physical mass a character can carry. It's a crucial element for adventurers, directly impacting their ability to haul loot, essential supplies, and even their own adventuring gear. Understanding your D&D 5e carry weight is vital for effective roleplaying and strategic decision-making, preventing characters from becoming overburdened and suffering detrimental penalties. This calculator aims to simplify the often-confusing calculations around carrying capacity in D&D 5e carry weight.
Who should use it: Any Dungeon Master or player looking to accurately track their character's carrying capacity, especially those playing characters with a lower Strength score, carrying a lot of treasure, or needing to manage a large inventory. It's also useful for understanding the trade-offs between armor, weapons, and adventuring gear concerning weight.
Common misconceptions: Many players assume carrying capacity is a single, fixed number. In reality, it's derived from Strength and can be affected by how items are carried. Another common mistake is overlooking the weight of mundane items like rope, torches, or rations, which can quickly add up. The D&D 5e carry weight is more nuanced than a simple slot system.
D&D 5e Carry Weight Formula and Mathematical Explanation
The core of the D&D 5e carry weight calculation relies on the character's Strength score and how they are carrying items. The Player's Handbook (PHB p. 176) outlines these rules.
The basic calculation for carrying capacity is:
Maximum Carrying Capacity = Strength Score x 15 (in pounds)
This is your "normal" carrying capacity. However, D&D 5e also defines:
- Push, Drag, or Lift: You can lift a maximum weight that you can push, drag, or lift, which is ten times the carrying capacity.
- Encumbrance: When you carry weight in excess of your carrying capacity, you become encumbered.
Encumbrance Thresholds (based on your Maximum Carrying Capacity):
- Encumbered: If you carry up to twice your Maximum Carrying Capacity, you are encumbered.
- Heavily Encumbered: If you carry more than twice your Maximum Carrying Capacity, you are heavily encumbered.
Important Distinction: How Items are Carried
- Carrying with Hands Free: This is the standard calculation where you utilize your full Strength for carrying. Your Maximum Carrying Capacity is Strength x 15 lbs.
- Carrying with Hands Full: If your hands are occupied (e.g., dual-wielding weapons, carrying large objects), your ability to carry additional weight is significantly reduced. Your D&D 5e carry weight is limited to half your normal carrying capacity (Strength x 7.5 lbs).
Variable Explanations
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength Score | Your character's raw Strength attribute. | Score (1-30) | 3-20 (20 is peak human) |
| Carrying Method | Whether your character has free hands or is carrying items in their hands. | Categorical | 'hands_free', 'hands_full' |
| Total Equipment Weight | The sum of the weights of all items your character possesses. | Pounds (lbs) | 0+ lbs |
| Maximum Carrying Capacity | The most weight your character can comfortably carry without penalty, based on Strength and carrying method. | Pounds (lbs) | Calculated |
| Encumbrance Threshold | Twice the Maximum Carrying Capacity, marking the point of being encumbered. | Pounds (lbs) | Calculated |
| Push, Drag, Lift Limit | The absolute maximum weight a character can move by these strenuous means. | Pounds (lbs) | Calculated (10x Max Carrying Capacity) |
Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)
Let's illustrate the D&D 5e carry weight with practical scenarios.
Example 1: The Stout Warrior
Grok, a mighty barbarian, has a Strength score of 18. He's wearing heavy plate armor (65 lbs), wielding a greataxe (2 lbs), and carries a backpack with basic adventuring gear (rations, bedroll, flint and steel, 50ft rope) totaling 20 lbs, plus a modest collection of gems found in a dungeon (10 lbs).
- Inputs: Strength Score: 18, Total Equipment Weight: 97 lbs (65+2+20+10), Carrying Method: Hands Free
- Calculations:
- Max Carrying Capacity = 18 (Strength) x 15 = 270 lbs
- Encumbrance Threshold = 270 lbs x 2 = 540 lbs
- Push, Drag, Lift Limit = 270 lbs x 10 = 2700 lbs
- Outputs:
- Primary Result: 270 lbs (Max Carrying Capacity)
- Current Status: Not Encumbered (97 lbs < 270 lbs)
- Encumbrance Threshold: 540 lbs
- Push, Drag, Lift Limit: 2700 lbs
- Interpretation: Grok can easily carry all his gear. He has plenty of room for more loot or supplies and can even push, drag, or lift significantly heavy objects up to 2700 lbs.
Example 2: The Nimble Rogue
Lyra, a dexterous rogue, has a Strength score of 9. She's wearing light leather armor (10 lbs), wielding two daggers (1 lb each), and carries a backpack with thieves' tools, caltrops, a crowbar, and a few potions (total 15 lbs). She needs to carry a large, ornate statue (50 lbs) she found, holding it carefully.
- Inputs: Strength Score: 9, Total Equipment Weight: 77 lbs (10+1+1+15+50), Carrying Method: Hands Full (holding statue)
- Calculations:
- Normal Max Carrying Capacity = 9 (Strength) x 15 = 135 lbs
- Modified Carrying Capacity (Hands Full) = 9 (Strength) x 7.5 = 67.5 lbs
- Encumbrance Threshold (based on normal capacity) = 135 lbs x 2 = 270 lbs
- Push, Drag, Lift Limit (based on normal capacity) = 135 lbs x 10 = 1350 lbs
- Outputs:
- Primary Result: 67.5 lbs (Modified Carrying Capacity)
- Current Status: Not Encumbered (77 lbs > 67.5 lbs, but still within 135 lbs normal capacity)
- Encumbrance Threshold: 270 lbs
- Push, Drag, Lift Limit: 1350 lbs
- Interpretation: Lyra is technically carrying more than her 'hands full' capacity (77 lbs > 67.5 lbs). However, she is not yet encumbered according to the D&D 5e carry weight rules (77 lbs < 135 lbs). The DM might impose disadvantage on Dexterity checks or saving throws due to the awkward load, or she might need to drop some items to avoid being overburdened if she were carrying even more. If she continues to carry this way, she is not *mechanically* encumbered but is certainly carrying awkwardly.
How to Use This D&D 5e Carry Weight Calculator
Using the D&D 5e carry weight calculator is straightforward. Follow these simple steps:
- Determine Your Strength Score: Find your character's Strength score from their character sheet. Enter this number into the 'Strength Score' field.
- Calculate Total Equipment Weight: Go through your character's inventory. Sum the weight of all items, armor, weapons, and consumables. You can often find item weights in the Player's Handbook or other sourcebooks. Enter this total into the 'Total Equipment Weight' field.
- Select Carrying Method: Choose whether your character is carrying items primarily using their Strength (hands free) or if their hands are occupied with other items (hands full).
- Click Calculate: Press the 'Calculate Weight' button.
How to Read Results
- Primary Result (e.g., Max Carrying Capacity): This is the most crucial number. It represents the maximum weight your character can carry without incurring penalties.
- Current Status: The calculator will tell you if your current equipment weight puts you in the 'Not Encumbered', 'Encumbered', or 'Heavily Encumbered' categories based on your calculated thresholds.
- Encumbrance Threshold: This is the weight limit that, if exceeded, makes your character 'Encumbered'.
- Push, Drag, Lift Limit: The maximum weight you can move using these strenuous actions.
Decision-Making Guidance
If you are 'Encumbered', you suffer disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity checks, saving throws, and ability checks. If 'Heavily Encumbered', your speed is reduced by 10 feet. Use this calculator to:
- Decide which items are essential for a journey.
- Prioritize magical items that might reduce weight or offer benefits.
- Plan for acquiring or ditching loot.
- Understand if you need a pack animal or a way to magically increase carrying capacity.
- Ensure you aren't burdened by too many mundane but heavy items, impacting your character's effectiveness in combat and exploration.
Key Factors That Affect D&D 5e Carry Weight Results
Several factors influence your character's D&D 5e carry weight and overall carrying situation:
- Strength Score: This is the primary determinant. A higher Strength score directly translates to a higher carrying capacity. Characters built for strength, like Fighters and Barbarians, excel here.
- Carrying Method: As demonstrated, having your hands full significantly halves your effective carrying capacity. This is a major consideration for characters wielding two-handed weapons or needing to carry bulky items.
- Item Weights: The actual weight of your gear is paramount. Plate armor, heavy weapons, and large amounts of treasure weigh more than light armor, simple weapons, or small coins. Careful inventory management is key.
- Magical Items: Certain magic items, like Bags of Holding or portable holes, circumvent normal carrying limits by storing items in extradimensional spaces. Potions of Strength can temporarily boost your Strength score, thus increasing carrying capacity.
- Racial Traits: Some races might have specific traits or abilities that interact with carrying capacity, though this is less common in 5e than in previous editions. Always check your race's specific features.
- Character Class and Feats: While Strength is universal, feats like 'Dungeon Delver' might offer advantages related to exploration, and some class features could indirectly affect inventory management (e.g., spells that create or duplicate items).
- DM Rulings: Ultimately, the Dungeon Master has the final say. They might interpret carrying rules differently or implement house rules for weight, especially for unusual items or scenarios. This calculator provides RAW (Rules As Written) guidance for D&D 5e carry weight.
- Environmental Factors: While not directly in the calculation, carrying large amounts of water in a desert, or heavy winter gear in a blizzard, adds to the practical burden even if not explicitly calculated by weight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The base carrying capacity is your Strength Score multiplied by 15. This is the maximum weight you can carry without becoming encumbered.
If you carry more than your carrying capacity (but less than twice that amount), you are encumbered. This imposes disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity checks, saving throws, and ability checks.
If you carry more than twice your carrying capacity, you are heavily encumbered. In addition to the penalties for being encumbered, your speed is reduced by 10 feet.
No, not directly. The rules for D&D 5e carry weight are based on total weight. A shield's weight contributes to your total load, but it doesn't change your carrying method in the same way as holding multiple items or large objects.
The rules generally assume coins are negligible in weight unless a very large amount is carried. A DM might rule that thousands of gold pieces weigh something significant, but typically, they don't factor into the standard D&D 5e carry weight calculation unless specified.
All worn items (armor, clothing) and items carried (in backpack, hands, etc.) contribute to your total weight. The distinction is whether your hands are free or full, which modifies your *effective* carrying capacity.
Yes, spells like 'Strength' can temporarily increase your Strength score, thereby increasing your carrying capacity. Magic items like a 'Bag of Holding' allow you to store items extradimensionally, effectively bypassing weight limits for those stored items.
A character can push, drag, or lift a maximum weight that is ten times their carrying capacity. This is a separate calculation from simply carrying items.
Only indirectly. Encumbrance imposes disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws. If a spell requires a Dexterity saving throw to resist its effects, you would have disadvantage on that save. It does not directly impede the casting of spells that don't require such saves.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
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D&D 5e Carry Weight Calculator
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The calculator you are using now, for precise tracking of your adventuring load.
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D&D 5e Item Weights Guide
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A comprehensive list of common D&D 5e items and their official weights to help you accurately calculate your load.
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D&D 5e Strength-Based Feats
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Explore feats that can enhance your character's Strength, carrying capacity, and combat prowess.
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D&D 5e Magic Items for Inventory Management
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Discover magical items that can help you manage your inventory and overcome carrying limitations.
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D&D 5e Encumbrance Rules Explained
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A detailed breakdown of the official rules for encumbrance and its effects in D&D 5e.
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D&D 5e Strength Score Calculator
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If you're unsure about generating your character's Strength score, use this tool for assistance.