D&D 5e Carrying Capacity Calculator
Calculate your character's carrying capacity, encumbrance thresholds, and push/drag/lift limits based on Strength score and size, per the D&D 5e Player's Handbook (p. 176).
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Formulas
All values are multiplied by the size multiplier (Tiny ×0.5, Small/Medium ×1, Large ×2, Huge ×4, Gargantuan ×8) and doubled again if the creature has Powerful Build.
- Carrying Capacity = STR × 15 × size multiplier × build multiplier
- Push / Drag / Lift = STR × 30 × size multiplier × build multiplier
- Encumbered threshold (variant) = STR × 5 × size multiplier × build multiplier
- Heavily Encumbered threshold (variant) = STR × 10 × size multiplier × build multiplier
Assumptions & References
- Source: Player's Handbook (5th Edition), p. 176 — "Lifting and Carrying."
- The base carrying capacity rule (STR × 15) is the standard rule used at all tables.
- The Variant Encumbrance rule (STR × 5 / STR × 10 thresholds) is optional; check with your DM.
- Powerful Build is a racial trait (e.g., Goliath, Firbolg, Loxodon) that lets you count as one size larger for carrying capacity and push/drag/lift.
- When pushing, dragging, or lifting weight between the carry capacity and the push/drag/lift limit, your speed is reduced to 5 ft.
- Encumbrance penalties (speed reduction, disadvantage) apply only when using the variant encumbrance rule.
- Strength scores above 20 are possible for monsters and high-level characters; the calculator supports up to 30.