Aircraft Weight and Balance
Calculator
Free online aircraft weight and balance calculator with pre-configured profiles for Cessna 172, Cessna 152, Piper PA-28, Cirrus SR22, and more. Calculate center of gravity, verify CG envelope limits, and visualize takeoff and landing weight and balance instantly, at no cost.
Pre-Configured Aircraft Profiles
Select from built-in weight and balance profiles for popular aircraft including Cessna 172, Cessna 152, Piper PA-28 Archer, Cirrus SR22, Cessna 182 Skylane, and Beechcraft Bonanza. Station arms, CG limits, and maximum weights are pre-loaded for instant calculations.
CG Envelope Visualization
See your aircraft's center of gravity plotted directly on the CG envelope chart. Visualize both takeoff and landing CG positions after fuel burn, with clear safe/unsafe indicators showing exactly where you sit within the approved weight and balance envelope.
Takeoff & Landing Weight Analysis
Calculate weight and balance for both takeoff and landing conditions. Enter your trip fuel burn to see how CG shifts during flight, with automatic checks against MTOW, maximum landing weight, and maximum zero fuel weight limits.
Custom Aircraft Support
Enter your own station arms, CG limits, and maximum weights for any aircraft type. The weight and balance calculator adapts to any configuration with support for multiple baggage compartments, imperial and metric units, and both Avgas and Jet-A fuel types.
How to Calculate Aircraft Weight and Balance
Select Your Aircraft Type
Choose a pre-configured aircraft profile from the dropdown Cessna 172, Cessna 152, Piper PA-28, Cirrus SR22, Cessna 182, or Beechcraft Bonanza. The weight and balance calculator automatically loads the correct station arms, CG limits, and maximum weight data. For aircraft not listed, select Custom Aircraft and enter your data from the POH.
Enter Basic Empty Weight
Find your aircraft's Basic Empty Weight (BEW) and moment arm in the weight and balance section of your POH or Flight Manual. The BEW includes the aircraft structure, engine, installed equipment, and unusable fuel. Always use the most recent weight and balance report as equipment changes affect these values.
Add Occupant and Cargo Weights
Enter the actual weight for each occupant and baggage compartment. Use real weights rather than standard weights when possible for accurate weight and balance calculations. Include all items carried on the flight including passengers, baggage, cargo, and any special equipment.
Enter Fuel Load and Trip Burn
Enter your fuel load in US gallons. For Avgas use 6.0 lbs per gallon, for Jet A/A-1 use 6.7 lbs per gallon (calculated automatically). Enter your expected trip fuel burn to see CG position at both takeoff and landing critical for long flights where fuel burn shifts the center of gravity.
Verify CG is Within the Envelope
Review the CG envelope chart to confirm your aircraft's center of gravity falls within the approved limits at both takeoff and landing weights. If outside limits, redistribute weight by moving passengers, reducing baggage, or adjusting fuel load until the CG is within the approved envelope.
Why Accurate Aircraft Weight and Balance Matters
Flight Safety
Proper CG position ensures stable and controllable flight characteristics. Operating outside CG limits can result in loss of control the NTSB cites improper weight and balance as a contributing factor in numerous accidents each year.
Performance Optimization
Correct weight distribution improves fuel efficiency, takeoff performance, and landing characteristics. A properly loaded aircraft with CG near the aft limit climbs faster, cruises faster, and uses less fuel.
Regulatory Compliance
FAR 91.9 requires pilots to comply with operating limitations including weight and balance. EASA OPS and ICAO Annex 6 impose similar requirements internationally. Proper W&B calculation is a regulatory requirement for every flight.
Structural Protection
Operating within approved weight limits protects aircraft structure from overstress. Exceeding maximum takeoff weight, landing weight, or zero fuel weight can lead to structural damage and reduced airframe service life.
Stall and Spin Prevention
An aft CG position reduces longitudinal stability and stall warning margin. A forward CG increases stall speed and requires higher approach speeds. Staying within the CG envelope maintains predictable stall and spin characteristics.
Free Weight and Balance Software
Professional-grade aircraft weight and balance calculations at no cost. No registration, no subscriptions just instant accurate results with CG envelope visualization, aircraft presets, and takeoff-to-landing analysis for every flight.
Understanding Aircraft Weight and Balance Concepts
Weight Terms
- Basic Empty Weight (BEW): Aircraft structure + fixed equipment + unusable fuel + full engine oil
- Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW): BEW + occupants + cargo, before fuel is added
- Ramp Weight: Total weight ready for taxi, includes start and taxi fuel
- Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): Maximum weight approved for takeoff
- Maximum Landing Weight (MLW): Maximum weight approved for landing
Balance Terms
- Datum: Reference point for all arm measurements, usually the firewall or nose
- Arm: Horizontal distance from datum to the center of a weight item, measured in inches
- Moment: Weight multiplied by Arm expressed in lb-in or kg-cm
- Center of Gravity (CG): Total moment divided by total weight the balance point of the aircraft
- CG Envelope: Approved range of CG positions at various weights, shown as a graph in the POH
CG Effects on Flight
- Forward CG: Increased longitudinal stability, higher stall speed, more elevator force required to flare
- Aft CG: Decreased stability, lower stall speed, less control authority, risk of unrecoverable spin
- Optimal CG: Slightly forward of mid-range for best balance of stability and efficiency
- Fuel Burn CG Shift: CG moves as fuel is consumed direction depends on tank position relative to CG
Important: Pre-configured aircraft profiles use typical values for demonstration and training. Always verify weight and balance data against your specific aircraft's POH or Flight Manual. Empty weights and moment arms vary by serial number, installed equipment, and modifications. The pilot-in-command is responsible for ensuring accurate weight and balance calculations using approved aircraft-specific data.
Aircraft Weight and Balance Profiles
This free weight and balance calculator includes pre-configured profiles for the most popular general aviation aircraft. Each profile comes pre-loaded with typical station arms, CG limits, and maximum weight data from the manufacturer's POH. Select your aircraft from the dropdown above to get started instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aircraft Weight and Balance
What happens if I fly with the CG out of limits?
Operating outside the approved CG envelope is extremely dangerous and violates federal aviation regulations. A CG too far forward makes the aircraft nose-heavy, requiring excessive elevator force to flare during landing and increasing stall speed. A CG too far aft makes the aircraft unstable and difficult to control, with reduced stall warning and potential for unrecoverable spins. Always redistribute weight to bring the center of gravity within limits before flight.
How do I find my aircraft's moment arms and CG limits?
Station arms and CG limits are listed in Section 6 (Weight & Balance) of your aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Flight Manual. Each aircraft model and sometimes each serial number has different data due to equipment variations. Pre-configured profiles in this weight and balance calculator use typical manufacturer values, but you should verify against your specific aircraft's data.
Do I need to calculate weight and balance for every flight?
Yes. FAR 91.9(a) requires the pilot-in-command to comply with operating limitations, including weight and balance. You must perform a W&B calculation before each flight whenever loading changes from your last calculation. For Part 135 and commercial operations, weight and balance documentation must be retained in flight records.
How does fuel burn affect CG during flight?
As fuel burns during flight, total weight decreases and CG position shifts. The direction of the CG shift depends on the fuel tank location relative to the current CG. On longer flights with significant fuel burn, verify that CG will remain within limits at landing weight by entering your trip fuel burn in this calculator.
Can I use standard passenger weights for weight and balance?
The FAA allows standard average weights for Part 121 and Part 135 operations (adults: 190 lbs summer / 195 lbs winter, children: 82 lbs per AC 120-27F). For Part 91 operations, actual weights are strongly recommended for accurate weight and balance calculations especially when carrying larger passengers or operating near maximum weight limits.
What is the difference between the CG envelope and CG limits?
CG limits define the forward and aft boundaries of the center of gravity at a single weight. The CG envelope is a graph showing how those limits vary across the full range of operating weights forming a polygon shape. An aircraft must remain within this envelope at all weights from taxi through landing. The CG envelope chart in this weight and balance software shows your position relative to these boundaries.
What aircraft does this weight and balance calculator support?
This free weight and balance calculator includes pre-configured profiles for the Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, Cessna 172M, Cessna 152, Piper PA-28-181 Archer III, Cirrus SR22, Cessna 182T Skylane, and Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. You can also enter custom data for any aircraft by selecting 'Custom Aircraft' and inputting your own station arms, CG limits, and maximum weights from the POH.
Need Automated Weight and Balance for Your Fleet?
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