Piper PA-28-181 Archer Weight & Balance Calculator
Calculate weight and balance for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III, a 4-seat single-engine piston with a 2,550 lb maximum takeoff weight. Enter your loading and fuel to plot zero-fuel, takeoff, and landing CG on the Piper PA-28-181 Archer's approved envelope — in kg or lbs, with an emailed PDF worksheet. No signup required.
1. Select Aircraft Type
Choose your aircraft type, then update the empty weight and arm with your specific aircraft's data.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer III with Lycoming O-360-A4M (180 HP). Fuel capacity: 50 gallons total (48 usable); fuel arm 95.0 in. Shares the PA-28 airframe and station arms with the Warrior; the datum is 78.4 in forward of the wing leading edge. 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.
Which two do you know? The third is calculated.
On board at start of takeoff roll
Burned en route (takeoff → landing)
Remaining at landing
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
| Phase | Weight (lbs) | Limit | CG (in) | Env. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZFWZero Fuel Weight | 1870 | — | 85.77 | |
| RAMPRamp Weight | 2158 | 2558 | 87.00 | — |
| TOWTakeoff Weight | 2151 | 2550 | 86.98 | |
| LWLanding Weight | 1982 | 2550 | 86.30 |
| Item | Weight (lbs) | Arm (in) | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty Weight | 1700 | 86.30 | 146710 |
| Front Seats (Pilot + Passenger) | 170 | 80.50 | 13685 |
| Rear Seats | 0 | 118.10 | 0 |
| Baggage | 0 | 142.80 | 0 |
| Zero Fuel Weight | 1870 | 85.77 | 160395 |
| Takeoff Fuel | 281 | 95.00 | 26676 |
| Takeoff Weight | 2151 | 86.98 | 187071 |
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.
5. Get the Worksheet
We'll email you a printable PDF worksheet of this calculation.
Email me this worksheet (PDF)
Get this Piper PA-28-181 Archer IIIweight & balance calculation as a printable PDF — fuel plan, ZFW/TOW/LW, and the CG envelope.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer weight and balance data
The station arms, CG envelope, and weight limits this calculator uses for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer. These are representative type values — always confirm against your specific aircraft's POH and individual weight and balance record.
- Max takeoff weight
- 2,550 lb
- Max ramp weight
- 2,558 lb
- CG range (normal)
- 82 – 93 in aft of datum
- Seats
- 4
- Usable fuel
- 48 gal (288 lb)
| Loading station | Arm (in) | Max weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Front Seats (Pilot + Passenger) | 80.5 | 400 |
| Rear Seats | 118.1 | 400 |
| Baggage | 142.8 | 200 |
| Fuel (48 gal usable) | 95.0 | 288 |
Data sources
The Piper PA-28-181 Archer reference data above is drawn from the following primary sources, last checked on 2026-06-20.
Federal Aviation Administration
Covers the PA-28-181 Archer; confirms the 2,550 lb maximum takeoff weight, CG limits, and the PA-28 family station arms. Search TCDS 2A13 (Piper PA-28) on the FAA Dynamic Regulatory System.
Piper Aircraft, Inc.
Loading arrangement (front seats +80.5, rear seats +118.1, baggage +142.8, fuel +95.0 in) and the normal-category CG envelope with the forward limit moving aft above 2,050 lb.
Piper PA-28-181 ArcherWeight & Balance FAQ
How do I calculate weight and balance for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III?
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 Piper PA-28-181 Archer'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 Piper PA-28-181 Archer III?
The Piper PA-28-181 Archer has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,550 lb and a maximum ramp weight of 2,558 lb, leaving roughly 8 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 Piper PA-28-181 Archer III?
The normal-category center-of-gravity envelope for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer runs from about 82 in to 93 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 Piper PA-28-181 Archer III hold and what does it weigh?
This Piper PA-28-181 Archer profile uses 48 gallons of usable fuel, which at the standard 6 lb per US gallon for avgas weighs about 288 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 Piper PA-28-181 Archerweight 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.