Understanding boat trailer weights is really important, mainly for safety reasons when towing and trailering. You might also want to find a boat trailer weight calculator and chart if you going to be building your own.

The chart below will give you some very rough calculations. This should not be construed as legal advice, or safety advice, purely for information and illustrative purposes. It is your responsibility to ensure that your boat trailer is legal and safe at all times.

This chart lets you make a rough calculation on the approximate weight of a standard boat trailer. The numbers you see were taken by comparing a range of manufacturer models.

Trailer Weight CapacityNumber of AxlesLength of TrailerWidth of TrailerTrailer Weight
1,000 pounds115 foot 4 inches62 inches295 pounds
1,500 pounds115 foot 4 inches62 inches305 pounds
2,000 pounds117 foot 2 inches88 inches492 pounds
2,450 pounds118 foot 2 inches96 inches522 pounds
2,999 pounds118 foot 2 inches96 inches625 pounds
3,500 pounds119 foot 8 inches96 inches677 pounds
5,000 pounds120 foot 8 inches96 inches933 pounds
7,000 pounds127 foot 9 inches96 inches1,512 pounds

This boat trailer weight calculator chart was originally found on the excellent Glen-L.com website. Some small adaptations have been made to the chart above. Visit the website for boat plans, patterns, and supplies for the amateur boat builder.

What boat trailer do I need?

A boat trailer is an essential piece of kit for any boat owner. It means you don’t have pay out on expensive rental fees to marinas and docks, but also have the flexibility to take your boat to new areas.

It can also increase the price at which you might sell your boat in the future. Most people on the used boat market will like to have a trailer thrown in as part of the deal.

However, choosing the right boat trailer for you isn’t as straight forward as you might think. Yes, the boat trailer weight chart you see above will offer some guidance, but it’s not going to give you all of the answers.

There are other things to consider when choosing a trailer. I’ve listed the most important aspects below.

1. Boat trailer size

The size of your boat trailer depends on the size of your boat. Obvious I know, but you’d be surprised at how many people end up with a trailer that’s too small for what they need to tow.

You can use the boat trailer weight calculator and chart above as a rough guide, but always consult the manufacturer.

One of the most important weight measurements to know will be the GVWR, or gross vehicle weight of your trailer. This the maximum load that your trailer is safe to carry.

2. Tongue weight

This measurement is important for safety as if you get it wrong, your trailer could start to fish tail when you’re driving.

Tongue weight is how heavy your trailer is at the front and is important when attaching to the hitch.

This is what fish tailing looks like when trailer owners get it wrong:

3. Axle type

Single axle trailers are suitable for small trailers only, mainly being able to handle boats that up to 23 feet or 7 meters in length with a weight up to 3,300 pounds or 1,370 kilos.

Anything larger than that and you are going to need a trailer with multiple axles. They provide more stability and will be a lot safer on the road should you have a tire burst. 

4. Brakes

Laws on trailer brakes are different depending on where you live in the United States. The common consensus here is that you should aim to be as safe as possible, even if local laws don’t require brakes on your axles.

Any trailer with more than a single axle, should have brakes on them. You can get electric braking systems, but they aren’t great with salt water environments.

The best brakes for a boat trailer would be surge breaks. Read this article on a trailer website which explains why you should consider upgrading. 

5. Metal construction

The type of metal your trailer is made from should be dictated by where you will be taking your boat, and how heavy it is.

As an example, if you’re in a salt water area, you should choose a trailer made from aluminum or galvanized steel.

In freshwater areas, it’s okay to use a painted steel boat trailer.

6. Support systems

The type of support you have for your boat is also important; you can choose bunks or rollers.

Rollers are really easy to use and make loading and unloading your boat very simple. You just slide your boat on and off.

Bunks will offer a more supportive holding structure in the trailer for your hull and are best for high-speed boats.

7. Tires

Your choice of tire can also be an important safety factor. I’d recommend radial tires on a trailer as they will grip the road a lot better than the alternative bias-ply.

Bias-ply tires can flex under strain and load, meaning they can slip and provide a less efficient road grip.

8. Trailer security

Trailers are very prone to theft. In fact, some criminals will even steal boats and trailers to order.

You are never going to completely make your trailer theft-proof, but there are plenty of things you can do to make the criminal’s life more difficult.

One of the more popular guides on Pontoonopedia is how to stop scumbag trailer thieves. Read that to see what accessories you can buy to help prevent yours being stolen.

Trailering tips

On my website there is a wealth of information on boat trailers. One I recommend you check out is how to trailer a pontoon boat.

The steps are reasonably universal, so can be applied to many other boat types too.

The last word…

I hope you have found this boat trailer weight chart useful, and you can use it as a calculator for your own plans. It could be a good way for you to know how to determine boat trailer size if you are still a little unsure.

Ultimately though, please talk with a local boat dealer to get bonafide and legitimate advice on the boat you own, and the trailer weight you need to calculate and then purchase. So many accidents could be avoided if boat owners had only calculated their trailer weights and requirements more accurately.