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Aviatize — Flight School Management Software

Cessna 152 Weight & Balance Calculator

Calculate weight and balance for the Cessna 152, a 2-seat single-engine piston with a 1,670 lb maximum takeoff weight. Enter your loading and fuel to plot zero-fuel, takeoff, and landing CG on the Cessna 152's approved envelope — in kg or lbs, with an emailed PDF worksheet. No signup required.

Disclaimer: This weight and balance calculator is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not a substitutefor the official Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), or any FAA-approved weight and balance documentation for your specific aircraft. The pilot-in-command is solely responsible for determining that the aircraft is loaded within all applicable limits before every flight, using the aircraft's official documents. Aviatize, its officers, employees, and affiliates assume no liability whatsoever for any property damage, personal injury, or death resulting from the use or misuse of this tool. By using this calculator, you acknowledge that you understand and accept these terms. FAA Weight & Balance Handbook

1. Select Aircraft Type

Choose your aircraft type, then update the empty weight and arm with your specific aircraft's data.

Standard Cessna 152 with Lycoming O-235-L2C (110 HP). Fuel capacity: 26 gallons total (24.5 usable, standard tanks); wing-tank fuel arm 42.0 in aft of datum. Two-seat trainer configuration. Verify empty weight and moment from your specific aircraft's weight and balance record.

2. Enter Loading & Fuel

Enter weights for each station and your fuel plan. Results update in real time.

Aircraft Empty Weight

Enter values from your specific aircraft's official weight and balance record. Default values shown are approximate.

You are using a typical empty weight. For accurate results, enter your specific aircraft's empty weight and moment arm from the official W&B record.
Occupants (Pilot + Passenger)
Arm: 39.00 in · Max: 400 lbs
lbs
Baggage
Arm: 64.00 in · Max: 120 lbs
lbs
Fuel Plan

Which two do you know? The third is calculated.

151 lbs
gal

On board at start of takeoff roll

91 lbs
gal

Burned en route (takeoff → landing)

61 lbs
gal

Remaining at landing

5 lbs
gal

Ramp fuel = takeoff + taxi. Burned before takeoff.

3. Results

Zero-fuel, takeoff and landing weights and CG — updated instantly.

WITHIN LIMITS

All flight phases within weight and CG limits

Flight Phases
PhaseWeight (lbs)LimitCG (in)Env.
ZFWZero Fuel Weight127432.50
RAMPRamp Weight1430167533.54
TOWTakeoff Weight1425167033.51
LWLanding Weight1335167032.93

Takeoff is within the utility-category envelope.

Loading Breakdown
ItemWeight (lbs)Arm (in)Moment
Empty Weight110431.5034776
Occupants (Pilot + Passenger)17039.006630
Baggage064.000
Zero Fuel Weight127432.5041406
Takeoff Fuel15142.006350
Takeoff Weight142533.5147756

4. CG Envelope

Zero-fuel (ZFW), takeoff (TOW) and landing (LW) plotted against the approved envelope. The dashed line shows how the CG travels as fuel burns off.

31.0032.0033.0034.0035.0036.0010001100120013001400150016001700CG Position (in aft of datum)Weight (lbs)ZFWLWTOWNormal CategoryUtility Category
ZFW1274 lbs · 32.50 inLW1335 lbs · 32.93 inTOW1425 lbs · 33.51 in

5. Get the Worksheet

We'll email you a printable PDF worksheet of this calculation.

Email me this worksheet (PDF)

Get this Cessna 152weight & balance calculation as a printable PDF — fuel plan, ZFW/TOW/LW, and the CG envelope.

By submitting, you agree to receive the PDF and occasional Aviatize updates.

Cessna 152 weight and balance data

The station arms, CG envelope, and weight limits this calculator uses for the Cessna 152. These are representative type values — always confirm against your specific aircraft's POH and individual weight and balance record.

Max takeoff weight
1,670 lb
Max ramp weight
1,675 lb
CG range (normal)
31 – 36.5 in aft of datum
Seats
2
Usable fuel
26 gal (156 lb)
Loading stationArm (in)Max weight (lb)
Occupants (Pilot + Passenger)39.0400
Baggage64.0120
Fuel (26 gal max)42.0156

Data sources

The Cessna 152 reference data above is drawn from the following primary sources, last checked on 2026-06-20.

  • Federal Aviation Administration

    Datum at the front face of the firewall; wing fuel tanks at +42 in; two seats at +39 in; baggage at +64 in. Search TCDS 3A19 (Cessna 150/152) on the FAA Dynamic Regulatory System.

  • POH/AFMCessna 152 Pilot's Operating Handbook

    Cessna Aircraft Company / Textron Aviation

    Loading arrangement (station arms), normal- and utility-category CG envelope, and 1,670 lb maximum takeoff weight for the standard Model 152.

Cessna 152Weight & Balance FAQ

How do I calculate weight and balance for the Cessna 152?

Start with your specific aircraft's basic empty weight and empty-weight arm from its individual weight and balance record — not a generic POH number. Add each loading station (pilot, passengers, baggage, fuel) multiplied by its arm to get the moment, total the weights and moments, then divide total moment by total weight for the CG. This calculator has the Cessna 152's station arms and CG envelope built in, so you only enter weights and fuel and it plots the result on the approved envelope. Always confirm against your aircraft's POH before flight.

What is the maximum takeoff weight of the Cessna 152?

The Cessna 152 has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,670 lb and a maximum ramp weight of 1,675 lb, leaving roughly 5 lb for taxi and run-up fuel. These are representative type values — verify the limits for your specific airframe and equipment in its POH and weight and balance record.

What is the CG range of the Cessna 152?

The normal-category center-of-gravity envelope for the Cessna 152 runs from about 31 in to 36.5 in aft of datum, with the forward limit typically moving aft as weight increases. Loading outside this range degrades stability and control, so this calculator plots your zero-fuel, takeoff, and landing CG against the envelope and flags any point that falls outside it. Always verify against the CG chart in your aircraft's POH.

How much fuel does the Cessna 152 hold and what does it weigh?

This Cessna 152 profile uses 26 gallons of usable fuel, which at the standard 6 lb per US gallon for avgas weighs about 156 lb. The calculator lets you plan takeoff, trip, and reserve fuel so you can check the center of gravity at zero-fuel, takeoff, and landing — the CG shifts as fuel burns off. Confirm your aircraft's usable fuel and fuel arm in its POH.

This Cessna 152weight and balance calculator is provided for educational and reference purposes only. Preset station arms, CG envelopes, and weight limits are representative type values and may not match your specific aircraft. Always refer to your aircraft's official POH/AFM and individual weight and balance record for authoritative data, and confirm the loading is within limits before every flight. For regulatory guidance, see the FAA Weight & Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1). Built by Aviatize — flight school management software.