Pathfinder 1e Weight & Encumbrance Guide

Why PF1e Uses Weight (Not Bulk)

Unlike Pathfinder 2e's abstract "Bulk" system, Pathfinder 1st Edition tracks actual weight in pounds. This means more granular tracking, but also more math—unless you automate it.

Your character's carrying capacity is directly tied to their Strength score, and being overloaded has real mechanical penalties: slower movement, worse checks, and eventually being unable to move at all.

Understanding Load Limits

Carrying Capacity by Strength

STR	Light Load	Medium Load	Heavy Load	Max (Lift)
8	26 lbs	27-53 lbs	54-80 lbs	160 lbs
10	33 lbs	34-66 lbs	67-100 lbs	200 lbs
12	43 lbs	44-86 lbs	87-130 lbs	260 lbs
14	58 lbs	59-116 lbs	117-175 lbs	350 lbs
16	76 lbs	77-153 lbs	154-230 lbs	460 lbs
18	100 lbs	101-200 lbs	201-300 lbs	600 lbs
20	133 lbs	134-266 lbs	267-400 lbs	800 lbs
22	173 lbs	174-346 lbs	347-520 lbs	1,040 lbs
24	233 lbs	234-466 lbs	467-700 lbs	1,400 lbs

Encumbrance Penalties

Light Load

No penalties. Full movement speed, no armor check penalty from weight, no maximum Dex reduction. This is where you want to be.

Medium Load

Max Dex: +3 (can't add more than +3 Dex to AC)
Check Penalty: -3 to Climb, Swim, and similar skills
Speed: Reduced (30 ft → 20 ft, 20 ft → 15 ft)
Run: ×4 instead of ×5

Heavy Load

Max Dex: +1 (severely limited AC from Dex)
Check Penalty: -6 to Climb, Swim, and similar skills
Speed: Reduced (30 ft → 20 ft, 20 ft → 15 ft)
Run: ×3 instead of ×5

Over Maximum

Cannot move. You can lift the weight overhead, but you can't walk with it. Time to drop something.

Setting Up Weight Tracking

Step 1: Enter Character STR

1. Go to your campaign's Settings
2. Select the character to configure
3. Enter their Strength score
4. Load limits calculate automatically based on the table above

Step 2: Items with Weight

API items: Weight auto-populates from the Pathfinder database
Manual items: Enter weight in pounds when creating
Coins: 50 coins = 1 lb (tracked automatically)

Step 3: Reading the Weight Display

Your character's weight display shows current weight, limit, and status:

"45/100 lbs (Light)" - Under light load limit, no penalties
"120/100 lbs (Medium)" - Encumbered, penalties apply
"250/100 lbs (Heavy)" - Severely encumbered

Common Item Weights

Item	Weight
Longsword	4 lbs
Greatsword	8 lbs
Longbow	3 lbs
Full Plate	50 lbs
Chain Shirt	25 lbs
Heavy Steel Shield	15 lbs
Backpack	2 lbs
Bedroll	5 lbs
Rations (1 day)	1 lb
Rope, Hemp (50 ft)	10 lbs
Waterskin (full)	4 lbs
50 Gold Coins	1 lb

Tips for Managing Encumbrance

Mithral Armor (Half Weight)

Mithral versions of metal armor weigh half as much. A Mithral Full Plate is only 25 lbs instead of 50 lbs. Worth the cost for low-STR characters who need heavy armor.

Bags of Holding

These extradimensional containers reduce carried weight significantly. A Bag of Holding (Type I) weighs 15 lbs but holds 250 lbs of gear. Essential for adventurers.

Handy Haversack

Weighs 5 lbs, holds 120 lbs total. The main advantage: retrieving items is a move action instead of a full-round action, and items you want are always on top.

Muleback Cords

This cheap wondrous item (1,000 gp) treats your Strength as 8 higher for carrying capacity. A 10 STR character effectively has 18 STR for encumbrance only.

Pack Animals

A mule can carry 230 lbs (light load) and only costs 8 gp. For overland travel, let the animals carry the heavy gear. Create a "Mule" container to track separately.

Try It Yourself

Set up weight tracking for your Pathfinder 1e campaign. Enter your STR score and watch encumbrance calculate automatically.

Start Tracking Weight

No credit card • Free forever • Full PF1e encumbrance support

FAQ

Does coin weight get tracked automatically?

Yes. The system converts coins to weight at the standard rate (50 coins = 1 lb) and adds it to your total carried weight.

What about items in a Bag of Holding?

Create a container called "Bag of Holding" and put items in it. The bag itself weighs 15 lbs regardless of contents. You can track contents separately for when you need to find something.

How do I handle a character with a STR penalty?

Enter the actual STR score (even if it's 6 or 7). The system calculates the correct carrying capacity from the Pathfinder rules. Low-STR characters have very limited capacity.

Can I ignore encumbrance for my campaign?

Sure! The weight display is informational. If your table doesn't track encumbrance, you can simply ignore it. Many tables only enforce it when it becomes narratively relevant.

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