Car Center of Mass Calculator — Weight Distribution
Enter the weight on each axle (measured on scales) and the wheelbase to find where the car's centre of gravity sits along the wheelbase and the front/rear weight percentage split.
kg
kg
m
Longitudinal centre of gravity position along the wheelbase
- 1
Total vehicle weight
800 + 700 = 1,500 - 2
Rear weight fraction
700 ÷ 1,500 = 0.466667 - 3
CG distance from front axle
0.466667 × 2.65 = 1.237CG = (Rear load ÷ Total weight) × Wheelbase — moment balance.
How does this calculator work?
CG from front axle = (Rear load / Total weight) × Wheelbase. This follows directly from moment equilibrium. For example, a 1,500 kg car with 800 kg on the front and 700 kg on the rear on a 2.65 m wheelbase has its CG 1.237 m behind the front axle — a 53/47 front/rear split.
Formula
How this is calculated
The longitudinal centre of gravity (CG) lies at the point where the moments of the front and rear axle loads about that point are equal. Taking the front axle as the origin and calling the wheelbase L, the moment balance gives: Total weight × d = Rear load × L, which solves to d = (Rear load / Total weight) × L. This is a direct consequence of the lever principle — the heavier the rear relative to the total, the further back the CG sits.
In practice you measure axle loads by driving each pair of wheels onto axle pads or corner scales with the car on a level surface. Include the driver and any typical payload if you want the loaded CG. Sum the left and right readings for each axle. Weight distribution percentages are (Front load / Total) × 100 and (Rear load / Total) × 100.
This calculator gives only the fore–aft (longitudinal) CG position. Lateral (left–right) CG requires individual corner weights. Vertical CG height requires a separate tilt test and is not computed here. Both lateral and vertical CG matter for roll and pitch dynamics but are beyond the scope of a simple axle-load measurement.
Frequently asked questions
Drive each axle onto a set of bathroom scales or dedicated corner-weight pads with the car on a flat, level surface — check with a spirit level. Record left and right readings and sum them for the front total and rear total. Repeat with a full fuel tank and, if relevant, with the driver seated.
It depends on layout and purpose. Most performance cars target 50/50. Front-wheel-drive family cars typically run 60/40 or heavier at the front. Rear-engine cars (like a Porsche 911) are often 38/62 or similar. A more forward CG aids braking stability; a more rearward CG improves rear-drive traction but promotes oversteer.
Yes — if you have individual corner weights (front-left, front-right, rear-left, rear-right) just sum the front pair and rear pair before entering them. Individual corner weights also let you calculate the lateral (left/right) CG by the same method applied side to side.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Car Center of Mass Calculator — Weight Distribution [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-mass-center-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Car Center of Mass Calculator — Weight Distribution." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-mass-center-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Car Center of Mass Calculator — Weight Distribution," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-mass-center-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_car_mass_center_calculator, title = {Car Center of Mass Calculator — Weight Distribution}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-mass-center-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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