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Last updated: October 9, 2024

How Much Does the Average Car Weigh?

You may not know the weight of your car, but it matters when it comes to collision damage, fuel efficiency, hauling, and maintenance.

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Do you know how much your car weighs? The amount may not be top of mind, but it’s important in determining factors like how safe your car is, your car mileage, and vehicle performance.

Fortunately, it’s easy to find out how much your car weighs and the average weight of cars in general by type and manufacturer. While heavier vehicles typically face less damage in collisions, they get fewer miles per gallon, assuming they’re non-electric. Dive deep into the wonderful world of average car weights below.

Editor’s note (last updated July 22, 2024): We have updated this page with the latest data for average car weight, driver deaths by vehicle type, and mileage by car type.

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How much does the average car weigh?

Body Style

Across all body styles, the average vehicle weighs 4,303 pounds according to the
2023 EPA Automotive Trends Report.1 Cars are lighter, with an average weight of 3,797 pounds, while trucks are heavier, coming in at 4,601 pounds on average, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, there’s weight variation between types of cars and trucks, as you’ll see below.

Regulatory class Vehicle type Average car weight in pounds in 2023 (preliminary data collected December 2023) Average car weight in kg
All All 4,439 2,013
Car All 3,797 1,722
Car Sedan/wagon 3,682 1,670
Car Car SUV 4,010 1,818
Truck All 4,779 2,167
Truck Minivan/van 4,689 2,126
Truck Truck SUV 4,601 2,087
Truck Pickup 5,2982 2,403

Commercial Vehicles

For commercial vehicles, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration dictates weight standards.

Type of commercial vehicle Standard weight in pounds
Single axle 20,000
Tandem axle 34,000
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) 80,0003

Battery

Car batteries vary in weight, depending on the type of car and battery. For example, while standard car batteries typically weigh between 25 to 60 pounds, electric vehicle batteries can be much heavier, reflecting their larger size and energy storage capabilities.

Standard Car Batteries

  • Weight Range: 25 to 60 pounds (11.3 to 27.2 kg)
  • Details: Most conventional lead-acid batteries fall within this range, with an average weight around 40 to 50 pounds (18.1 to 22.7 kg) for standard 12-volt batteries used in cars and trucks.

Lightweight Car Batteries

  • Weight Range: 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11.3 kg)
  • Details: These batteries are often found in smaller vehicles or electric cars. Lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter than traditional lead-acid batteries, typically weigh in this range.

Electric Vehicle Batteries

  • Weight Range: 800 to 3,000 pounds (363 to 1,361 kg)
  • Details: Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are significantly heavier due to their size and capacity requirements. For example, a Tesla Model S battery weighs approximately 1,080 pounds (479 kg).

Hybrid Car Batteries

  • Weight Range: 50 to 120 pounds (22.7 to 54.4 kg)
  • Details: Hybrid vehicles use both a standard 12-volt battery and an additional electric battery, which contributes to the overall weight.

Heavy-Duty Car Batteries

  • Weight Range: 130 to 190 pounds (59 to 86 kg)
  • Details: Batteries used in large vehicles such as buses and trucks are designed to handle greater energy demands and thus weigh more.

Car Manufacturer and Model

The EPA also tracks car weights by manufacturer and vehicle type.

Manufacturer Regulatory class Vehicle type Weight in pounds of 2022 models (preliminary data collected January 2023)
BMW Car Sedan/Wagon 4,024
BMW Car All Car 4,075
BMW All All 4,485
BMW Car Car SUV 4,500
BMW Truck All Truck 5,030
BMW Truck Truck SUV 5,030
Ford Truck Minivan/Van 4,029
Ford Car Sedan/Wagon 4,043
Ford Car All Car 4,067
Ford Car Car SUV 4,076
Ford Truck Truck SUV 4,590
Ford All All 4,701
Ford Truck All Truck 4,780
Ford Truck Pickup 5,058
GM Car Car SUV 3,546
GM Car All Car 3,589
GM Car Sedan/Wagon 3,636
GM All All 4,662
GM Truck Truck SUV 4,897
GM Truck All Truck 5,059
GM Truck Pickup 5,314
Honda Car Sedan/Wagon 3,346
Honda Car All Car 3,414
Honda Car Car SUV 3,750
Honda All All 3,816
Honda Truck Truck SUV 4,243
Honda Truck All Truck 4,314
Honda Truck Pickup 4,500
Honda Truck Minivan/Van 4,570
Hyundai Car Sedan/Wagon 3,423
Hyundai Car All Car 3,597
Hyundai Car Car SUV 3,703
Hyundai All All 3,820
Hyundai Truck All Truck 4,388
Hyundai Truck Truck SUV 4,388
Kia Car Sedan/Wagon 3,405
Kia Car All Car 3,413
Kia Car Car SUV 3,464
Kia All All 3,787
Kia Truck Truck SUV 4,169
Kia Truck All Truck 4,223
Kia Truck Minivan/Van 4,650
Mazda Car Sedan/Wagon 3,327
Mazda Car All Car 3,327
Mazda All All 3,866
Mazda Truck Truck SUV 3,977
Mazda Truck All Truck 3,977
Mercedes Car Car SUV 4,000
Mercedes Car All Car 4,221
Mercedes Car Sedan/Wagon 4,365
Mercedes All All 4,508
Mercedes Truck Minivan/Van 4,512
Mercedes Truck All Truck 4,735
Mercedes Truck Truck SUV 4,760
Nissan Car Sedan/Wagon 3,506
Nissan Car All Car 3,604
Nissan Car Car SUV 3,861
Nissan All All 3,988
Nissan Truck Truck SUV 4,355
Nissan Truck All Truck 4,553
Nissan Truck Pickup 5,166
Stellantis Car Car SUV 3,682
Stellantis Car All Car 4,100
Stellantis Car Sedan/Wagon 4,241
Stellantis Truck Minivan/Van 4,504
Stellantis Truck Truck SUV 4,619
Stellantis All All 4,815
Stellantis Truck All Truck 4,909
Stellantis Truck Pickup 5,509
Subaru Car All Car 3,629
Subaru Car Sedan/Wagon 3,629
Subaru All All 3,934
Subaru Truck All Truck 3,993
Subaru Truck Truck SUV 3,993
Tesla Car Sedan/Wagon 4,067
Tesla Car All Car 4,233
Tesla All All 4,330
Tesla Car Car SUV 4,446
Tesla Truck All Truck 4,704
Tesla Truck Truck SUV 4,704
Toyota Car Sedan/Wagon 3,488
Toyota Car All Car 3,535
Toyota Car Car SUV 3,700
Toyota All All 4,109
Toyota Truck Truck SUV 4,345
Toyota Truck All Truck 4,554
Toyota Truck Pickup 4,988
Toyota Truck Minivan/Van 5,000
VW (Volkswagen; includes Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, etc.) Car Car SUV 3,880
VW Car All Car 3,905
VW Car Sedan/Wagon 3,914
VW All All 4,352
VW Truck All Truck 4,667
VW Truck Truck SUV 4,6674

FYI:

The heaviest passenger vehicle of 2022 was the Stellantis pickup truck, which weighed in at 5,509 pounds. The lightest, on the other hand, was any Mazda car, which weighed only 3,327 pounds on average.

How to Find Your Vehicle’s Weight

  1. Check the car manual: Your car manual is one of the first places you should look to find out your vehicle weight.
  2. Check the driver’s side door: Typically, you’ll find a sticker on the inside of the door that includes the car’s curb weight and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Learn more about these measurement types below.
  3. Check online: You can look on the manufacturer’s website for the weight.
  4. Have your car weighed: Your last resort should be to physically weigh your car at either a junkyard or inspection center.5

Why Car Weight Matters

Car weight impacts vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, and safety. Heavier cars generally provide better stability and traction, which can enhance safety in collisions. However, increased weight also means higher fuel consumption, leading to reduced fuel efficiency and higher emissions. Additionally, a heavier car may experience more wear and tear on components like brakes and tires. Conversely, lighter cars often offer better fuel efficiency and handling but may compromise on safety and stability.

Collision Damage

Whether you cause a car accident or are involved but not at fault, large vehicles with heavier weights sustain less damage and fewer passenger injuries than smaller, lighter ones. In particular, vehicles with larger front ends protect passengers better in front crashes, continuing to move forward in the crash and subjecting the passengers to less force. On the other hand, larger vehicles with higher front ends also cause 45 percent more fatalities with pedestrians and cyclists than smaller cars or trucks.6

Data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety shows that the larger the car, the lower the driver death rate.

Type of vehicle Size Rate of driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old in 2022
Cars Mini 114
Cars Small 74
Cars Midsize 59
Cars Large 71
Cars Very large 30
Cars All 65
Pickups Small 44
Pickups Large 38
Pickups Very large 32
Pickups All 39
SUVs Small 40
SUVs Midsize 24
SUVs Large 24
SUVs Very large 27
SUVs All 31
All passenger vehicles All 437

Cars with better vehicle safety ratings, which are based partially on crash test statistics, have lower average costs of car insurance compared to vehicles with worse safety ratings.

Fuel Consumption

While larger vehicles may perform better in crashes, typically they require more fuel per gallon than smaller cars.

Vehicle type Real world miles per gallon Weight in pounds, low to high
Sedan/wagon 34 3,682
All cars 35 3,797
Car SUV 37 4,010
All vehicles 27 4,439
Truck SUVs 25 4,601
Minivans/vans 26 4,689
All trucks 24 4,779
Pickup trucks 21 5,298

That said, with the advent of electric cars, the tides are starting to turn, making both larger and lighter vehicles more fuel-efficient.

DID YOU KNOW?

Every 100 pounds of vehicle weight decreases fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.

Maintenance

Car tools come with weight limits, so knowing a vehicle’s weight is essential for routine maintenance. Heavier vehicles wear out tires more quickly, so they require tire replacements more often than lighter cars.

Hauling

It’s also important to know a vehicle’s payload — the amount it can carry. If a vehicle is hauling too much weight, it can cause wear and tear, plus other damages. Typically, car insurance doesn’t cover wear and tear or driver negligence.

How to Measure Car Weight

There are a few different types of weight measurements. Here’s an overview of what they include, with more detailed information below.

Type of measurement and what it includes Standard equipment Full tank of fuel Passengers Cargo Optional equipment
Curb weight Yes Yes No No No
Gross vehicle weight rating No No Yes Yes No
Gross combination weight rating Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, trailer and hitch
Payload No No Yes Yes No
Gross axle weight rating No Yes Yes Yes No
Maximum load trailer weight Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, fully-loaded trailer
  • Curb weight: The curb weight is the closest thing to the actual weight of the vehicle, including a full tank of gas. You can calculate the curb weight by taking the GVWR (detailed below) and subtracting the payload, passenger, and cargo capacity.
  • Gross vehicle weight rating: You can find the GVWR on the door jamb label, also known as the vehicle compliance label, which is on the inside of the driver’s side door.
  • Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): The GCWR is the maximum weight of the vehicle’s cargo, passengers, and trailer combined. Also known as the gross combination rate, it includes the vehicle itself, its engine, transmission, optional equipment, axle ratio, and the type of trailer hitch it has, be it weight distributing or non-weight distributing, or a gooseneck.8
  • Payload: Along with the GVWR, you should be able to find the vehicle’s payload on the door jamb label.
  • Gross axle weight rating (GAWR): The GAWR measures how much weight you can put on a vehicle’s axle once it’s fully equipped.9
  • Maximum load trailer weight: Think of the maximum load trailer weight as the GCWR combined with the weight of a fully loaded trailer.10

Conclusion

Vehicle weight is one factor you should consider when buying a new car, as it affects safety ratings and, therefore, the cost of car insurance. Learn more about average car weights with our FAQ below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are two tons considered heavy for a car?

Two tons are a bit heavy for a car. Across all car types, the average weight is 1.8 tons, while SUVs weigh 1.9 tons. Trucks are more likely to weigh two tons or more, with the average weight across all trucks hitting 2.4 tons in 2022, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

What car weighs 500 kg?

No car weighs 500 kg. According to 2022 data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the lightest car, the Mazda, is 1,509 kg — three times that weight. Even a smart car only weighs about 700 kg, so 500 kg is far too low for any car to weigh.

How much is too much weight in a car?

If you have exceeded a car’s gross combination weight rating (GCWR), which is the maximum allowable weight of cargo, passengers, the trailer, the vehicle itself, and optional equipment, it is too much weight. You could risk wear and tear or more significant damages.

Which part of the car is heaviest?

The heaviest part of a car is its body, which makes up 23 to 28 percent of the total weight.

Car part Approximate vehicle mass breakdown
Body 23-28%
Powertrain 24-28%
Suspension/chassis 22-27%
Interior 10-15%
Closures, fenders 8%
Misc 7-8%

Citations

  1. The 2023 EPA Automotive Trends Report Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Fuel Economy, and Technology since 1975. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, Dec).
    https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-12/420r23033.pdf

  2. Explore the Automotive Trends Data. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2024).
    https://www.epa.gov/automotive-trends/explore-automotive-trends-data

  3. Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Program. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2024).
    https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/overview/index.htm

  4. Automotive Trends Report. EPA.gov. (2023).
    https://www.epa.gov/automotive-trends/explore-automotive-trends-data#SummaryData

  5. Average Weight Of A Car. J.D. Power. (2022, Dec 11).
    https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/average-weight-of-a-car

  6. Taller cars and trucks are more dangerous for pedestrians, according to crash data. NPR. (2023, Nov 14).
    https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212737005/cars-trucks-pedestrian-deaths-increase-crash-data

  7. Fatality Facts 2022 Passenger vehicle occupants. IIHS HLDI. (2024).
    https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants

  8. How do I find the Gross Combination Weight Rating of my Ford? Ford. (2024).
    https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/owner-resources/vehicle-specifications/how-do-i-find-the-gross-combination-weight-rating-gcwr-of-my-vehicle/

  9. Gross Axle Weight Rating. NWCG. (2024).
    https://www.nwcg.gov/term/glossary/gross-axle-weight-rating-gawr

  10. How Much Does An Average Car Weigh? Mechanic Base. (2023, Mar 9).
    https://mechanicbase.com/cars/car-weight/