Ford F-150 Towing Capacity Chart by Year, Engine and Trim

The Ford F-150 tows between 8,200 and 14,000 pounds depending on how the truck is built. For 2026, a properly configured F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 tows up to 13,500 pounds, the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 reaches 12,800 pounds, the 3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid manages 11,600 pounds, and the F-150 Lightning is rated at 10,000 pounds. Engine, axle ratio, GCWR, cab, drivetrain and payload decide the real number - not the trim badge.

The highest-rated current F-150 is the 2024–2026 truck with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and Max Tow equipment, rated at 13,500 lbs. The 2023 F-150 published a higher ceiling of 14,000 lbs in specific 3.5L EcoBoost configurations. Every other F-150 falls somewhere below those numbers.

Ford F-150 Towing Capacity Chart by Year (2023–2026)

This is the master chart. It shows the maximum conventional towing rating for each engine in each recent model year, when the truck is properly equipped.

How to read this chart: every figure is a ceiling, not a rating that applies to every truck with that engine. A 3.5L EcoBoost F-150 can be rated as low as roughly 10,400 pounds depending on wheelbase, cab, drivetrain, axle ratio and towing equipment, even though the same engine family reaches 13,500 pounds in the correct configuration.

Three patterns matter more than the individual numbers:

1. Horsepower does not equal towing capacity. The 720-horsepower Raptor R tows 8,700 pounds. The 400-horsepower 3.5L EcoBoost tows 13,500 pounds.
2. Ratings move between model years. The PowerBoost hybrid gained 400 pounds for 2026 (11,200 → 11,600), while the 5.0L V8 lost 100 pounds (12,900 → 12,800).
3. A newer truck is not automatically a stronger tow vehicle. The 2023 3.5L EcoBoost outranks every 2024–2026 F-150 on paper.

2026 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

Ford offers six F-150 powertrains for 2026 across the gasoline, hybrid and high-performance lineup. Every conventional engine pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

2026 F-150 Towing Capacity by Engine

Best 2026 F-150 engine for towing

• Best overall: 3.5L EcoBoost V6 — up to 13,500 lbs
• Best V8: 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 — up to 12,800 lbs
• Best hybrid: 3.5L PowerBoost V6 — up to 11,600 lbs
• Best for moderate trailers: 2.7L EcoBoost V6 — up to 8,400 lbs
• Best electric: F-150 Lightning — up to 10,000 lbs

The Raptor and Raptor R are engineered around desert-running suspension travel and high-speed off-road durability, which restricts their trailer ratings despite their power output.

2025 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

The 2025 F-150 matches the 13,500-pound conventional ceiling with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6.

2025 F-150 Towing Capacity by Engine

Payload figures represent maximum published ratings and vary by cab, box, drivetrain and package. Always confirm against the doorjamb label.

2025 vs 2026 differences: the PowerBoost hybrid climbs from 11,200 to 11,600 pounds, while the 5.0L V8 drops from 12,900 to 12,800 pounds. Everything else carries over.

Ford's detailed 2025 towing selector also shows how far ratings spread within one engine family. Depending on wheelbase, cab, drivetrain, axle ratio, GCWR and towing equipment, a 3.5L EcoBoost F-150 may be rated near 10,400 pounds or reach the full 13,500-pound maximum.

2024 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

The maximum 2024 Ford F-150 towing capacity is 13,500 pounds. Ford identifies the maximum configuration as a SuperCrew with the 6.5-foot box, 4x4 drivetrain, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, Tow/Haul Package and optional Max Tow Axle.

2024 F-150 Towing Capacity by Engine

The 2024 chart proves the point that trips up most buyers: the supercharged 720-horsepower V8 tows 4,800 pounds less than the 400-horsepower EcoBoost. Ford states directly that horsepower, torque, payload and towing are independent attributes and do not reach their maximum values simultaneously.

2023 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

The 2023 F-150 carries the highest published maximum of any recent model year: 14,000 pounds.

2023 F-150 Towing Capacity by Engine

The 14,000-pound rating required the 3.5L EcoBoost with the Max Trailer Tow Package on specific SuperCab 8-foot-box 4x2 and SuperCrew 4x2 configurations.

That does not make every 2023 truck a stronger tow vehicle than every newer F-150. A base 2023 XL still tows what its own configuration allows. The individual truck's payload, axle ratio and equipment govern the outcome.

Ford F-150 Towing Capacity by Trim

Searching for "F-150 Lariat towing capacity" produces one of the most common shopping mistakes: a trim name is not a towing specification.

An XLT, Lariat or Platinum can be ordered with different engines, drivetrains, cab styles, bed lengths, axle ratios, option packages, and wheel and tire combinations. Each of those choices changes the towing rating and the available payload.

F-150 XL and STX towing capacity

The XL is the work-focused entry point and the STX layers on appearance and convenience equipment. Both accept multiple engines and body styles, so their towing ratings vary widely.

For buyers focused purely on towing and payload, a lower-option work-truck configuration can actually be the smarter choice: every added option adds weight, and added weight subtracts payload.

F-150 XLT towing capacity

The XLT spans the widest configuration range in the lineup. A properly configured XLT with the 3.5L EcoBoost and Max Tow equipment reaches the top of the chart. A different XLT with the 2.7L EcoBoost and a standard axle can be rated thousands of pounds lower — same badge, same cab, different truck.

F-150 Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum towing capacity

These trims offer the strongest engines and the most advanced towing technology, but they also carry the most weight. That creates the distinction that matters most:

• Maximum advertised towing capacity - what the configuration can theoretically pull.
• Usable towing capacity - what remains after passengers, cargo, accessories and tongue weight consume the payload.

A heavily optioned Platinum and a stripped XL with the same engine can have very different real-world capability.

F-150 Tremor towing capacity

The Tremor is an off-road-oriented configuration with unique suspension, tires and drivetrain hardware. Ford lists Tremor-specific figures separately in some configurations, which is precisely why the headline maximum should never be applied to a Tremor by default.

F-150 Raptor and Raptor R towing capacity

The Raptor with the high-output 3.5L EcoBoost tows 8,200 pounds. The Raptor R with the supercharged 5.2L V8 tows 8,700 pounds. Both sit near the bottom of the F-150 towing chart because they are engineered for high-speed off-road performance, not maximum trailer weight.

F-150 Lightning Towing Capacity

The electric F-150 Lightning uses a different towing architecture from the gasoline and hybrid trucks.

Two extra variables apply to an electric tow vehicle:

1. Range collapses under load. A heavy trailer can cut usable range dramatically compared with unloaded driving.
2. Charging logistics change. Most DC fast-charging stalls are not pull-through, so a long tow route needs planned stops where the trailer can be parked or unhitched.

For the Lightning, the maximum tow rating is only half the planning problem. The charging corridor is the other half.

Why Two Identical-Looking F-150s Have Different Towing Capacities

Consider two trucks both badged 2026 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4:

Identical badge. Identical body. A 5,100-pound difference in capability.

Ford's towing selectors organize ratings in this order:

Engine → axle ratio → GCWR → drivetrain → cab → wheelbase

That chain — not the trim badge — is how an F-150's towing capacity is identified.

What Determines Ford F-150 Towing Capacity?

1. Engine

The engine sets the ceiling. Recent choices:

2. Rear axle ratio

The axle ratio governs the relationship between engine speed and wheel rotation. Two trucks with the same engine but different axle ratios can carry different GCWR and trailer ratings. The axle code appears on the Safety Compliance Certification Label and maps to Ford's specification data.

3. Cab and bed configuration

Recent body configurations include Regular Cab, SuperCab and SuperCrew, with multiple wheelbases and bed lengths. A maximum published rating often applies to exactly one cab, box, drivetrain and axle combination.

4. 4x2 vs 4x4

Four-wheel drive adds hardware and weight. Depending on the year and configuration, a 4x2 and a 4x4 with the same engine may receive different towing ratings — sometimes the 4x2 is higher, sometimes not. Use the exact Ford table rather than a general rule.

5. GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)

GCWR caps the combined weight of the loaded truck, its passengers, its cargo and the loaded trailer. Ford recommends its VIN-based Towing Calculator or the applicable RV and Trailer Towing Guide to identify the correct GCWR.

6. Payload

Payload is the limit that stops most owners first. It includes the driver, passengers, cargo, accessories and trailer tongue weight. Ford defines payload capacity as GVWR minus curb weight, with the specific truck's carrying capacity printed on the doorjamb label.

7. Towing equipment

Maximum ratings usually require factory equipment such as the Tow/Haul Package, Max Tow Axle, Max Trailer Tow Package, an integrated trailer brake controller and upgraded hitch hardware. Never assume a truck has that equipment based on the trim badge or a hitch receiver being present.

Towing Capacity vs Payload: The Limit That Stops You First

A truck rated to tow 13,500 pounds can be illegal — and unsafe — with a 10,000-pound trailer. Here is why.

If that truck's doorjamb label shows 1,800 pounds of available payload, it is over its limit — even though the trailer weighs less than the advertised maximum.

Ford advises conventional trailer tongue load of roughly 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight, while requiring the truck to stay within its vehicle and axle weight limits.

A correct towing calculation checks seven numbers, not one:

1. Maximum loaded trailer weight
2. Truck payload (from the doorjamb label)
3. GVWR
4. Rear GAWR
5. GCWR
6. Hitch rating
7. Tongue weight

The lowest applicable limit is the one that governs.

Do You Need a Weight-Distribution Hitch?

Ford's recent F-150 towing guides state that trailer weight should not exceed 5,000 pounds when towing without a weight-distribution system. Higher weight-distributing hitch capacities apply to properly equipped trucks.

A weight-distribution hitch redistributes tongue load across the axles. It does not raise the factory tow rating. You still cannot exceed maximum loaded trailer weight, GVWR, GAWR, GCWR or the hitch's own limits.

How to Find the Exact Towing Capacity of Your F-150

For a truck you already own, a generic chart is a starting point, not an answer. Follow this sequence.

Step 1 — Identify the exact truck. Record model year, engine, trim, cab, bed length and drivetrain.

Step 2 — Read the doorjamb labels. Find GVWR, front GAWR, rear GAWR, tire and loading information, and available carrying capacity.

Step 3 — Identify the axle ratio. Use the axle code on the Safety Compliance Certification Label.

Step 4 — Confirm factory towing equipment. Determine whether the truck has the required towing package or Max Tow Axle.

Step 5 — Match the Ford towing guide. Line up engine + axle ratio + GCWR + drivetrain + cab + wheelbase against the applicable chart.

Step 6 — Run the VIN-based Ford Towing Calculator. Ford specifically recommends its VIN-based tool for vehicle-specific towing data.

Step 7 — Calculate real loaded weights. Account for the trailer, trailer cargo, passengers, truck cargo, tongue weight and accessories — then weigh the loaded truck-and-trailer combination on a certified scale (CAT scale or equivalent).

What Can an F-150 Actually Tow?

Payload, not the tow rating, is usually the deciding factor for travel trailers and toy haulers because of their high tongue weight.

Which Ford F-150 Is Best for Towing?

For maximum conventional towing in the current lineup, the correct build is:

3.5L EcoBoost V6 + SuperCrew + 6.5-ft box + 4x4 + Tow/Haul Package + Max Tow Axle = up to 13,500 lbs (2024–2026)

Alternatives by priority:

Choose based on the loaded trailer weight, expected passengers and cargo, desired payload margin, terrain and towing frequency — not the largest advertised number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

Ford F-150 towing capacity cannot be reduced to one number per year or per trim.

• Recent maximums range from 13,500 pounds (2024–2026) to 14,000 pounds (2023), but individual trucks are rated thousands of pounds lower.
• The variables that govern the rating are model year, engine, axle ratio, GCWR, cab and wheelbase, drivetrain, towing equipment and actual payload.
• Payload usually runs out before towing capacity does. Check the doorjamb label before you check the brochure.
• A maximum advertised tow rating is a configuration-specific ceiling — not a universal rating for every F-150 wearing the same badge.

Before hitching a heavy trailer, match your exact configuration to the official Ford towing data, confirm the payload label, and weigh the loaded combination.