D&D 5e Carrying Capacity Calculator
Free D&D 5e carrying capacity calculator for Strength, creature size, variant encumbrance, Powerful Build, current load status, mount presets, and vehicle haul limits — with shareable builds.
Unencumbered
180carry360push / drag / lift
Medium · STR 12 · load 0 lb
No encumbrance penalty — speed and checks unaffected.
Load meter
- Enc. 60 lb
- Heavy 120 lb
- Carry 180 lb
- Push 360 lb
Creature
Above Medium doubles capacity per size step; Tiny halves it.
Options
Carry
STR × 15 × size
180 lb
Push / drag / lift
STR × 30 × size · speed 5 ft over carry
360 lb
Unencumbered
≤ 60 lb
No penaltyEncumbered
> 60 lb
Speed −10 ftHeavily
> 120 lb
Speed −20 ft · disadvantageOver carry
> 180 lb
Can’t carry · push at 5 ftTable reminders
- Carrying capacity is Strength × 15 (pounds). You can push, drag, or lift twice that (Strength × 30).
- Each size above Medium doubles capacity; Tiny halves it. Powerful Build / Beast of Burden count as one size larger for these numbers only.
- Variant encumbrance: over 5× STR speed −10 ft; over 10× STR speed −20 ft and disadvantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution checks, attacks, and saves.
- Draft animals pulling a vehicle can move up to 5× their carrying capacity including the vehicle; multiple animals add capacities together.
Stop guessing whether the loot fits — or whether the mule can pull the wagon. Dice Cove’s carrying capacity calculator turns Strength and size into live carry, push/drag/lift, and optional encumbrance thresholds, then checks your current load against them with speed penalties, mount presets, and vehicle haul math.
How to use the carrying capacity calculator
- Pick a preset (adventurer or PHB mount) or set Strength and size yourself.
- Enter your current load to see which band you’re in and your effective speed.
- Toggle Powerful Build / Beast of Burden and variant encumbrance to match your table.
- Switch to Mounts & vehicles to add draft animals and carts, wagons, or carriages.
- Copy link or Copy summary for your sheet or Discord.
Core 5e carrying formulas
- Carrying capacity — Strength × 15 × size multiplier (pounds).
- Push, drag, or lift — Strength × 30 × size multiplier; speed becomes 5 feet while moving more than you can carry.
- Size — Tiny ×½; Small/Medium ×1; Large ×2; Huge ×4; Gargantuan ×8.
- Variant encumbrance — Encumbered above 5 × Strength; heavily encumbered above 10 × Strength (both scaled by size in this tool).
- Drawn vehicles — Pull up to 5 × combined animal carrying capacity, including the vehicle.
Why this beats a basic carrying table
- Live load status with a visual meter — not just static formulas you retype after every STR change
- Effective walking speed after encumbrance or push/drag loads
- Powerful Build / Beast of Burden and lb/kg units
- PHB mount presets plus carts, wagons, carriages, chariots, and sleds
- Transparent math breakdown and shareable URL state
Frequently asked questions
How much can I carry in D&D 5e?
Your carrying capacity in pounds equals your Strength score × 15. A Strength 12 Medium creature can carry 180 lb. You can push, drag, or lift twice that (Strength × 30), but moving a load heavier than your carrying capacity drops your speed to 5 feet.
How does creature size change carrying capacity?
For each size category above Medium, double carrying capacity and the amount you can push, drag, or lift. Tiny creatures halve those weights. Small and Medium use the same multiplier.
What is variant encumbrance?
If you carry more than 5 × Strength (scaled by size), you are encumbered and your speed drops by 10 feet. Above 10 × Strength you are heavily encumbered: speed −20 feet and disadvantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution checks, attack rolls, and saving throws.
Does Powerful Build stack with size?
Yes for carrying rules. Powerful Build, Equine Build, Beast of Burden, and similar traits let you count as one size larger when determining carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
How much can a cart or wagon haul?
An animal pulling a carriage, cart, chariot, sled, or wagon can move up to five times its base carrying capacity, including the vehicle’s weight. Multiple animals add their capacities together. Cargo capacity is that pull limit minus the vehicle’s weight.
Do I have to track encumbrance?
No. Variant encumbrance is an optional Player’s Handbook rule. Many tables only enforce the hard carrying capacity and push/drag/lift limits. Toggle variant encumbrance off in this calculator if your table skips it.