Trailer hitch class and hitch ball weight ratings
CURT rates Class 1 hitches up to 2,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 200 lbs tongue weight, Class 3 up to 8,000 and 800, and Class 4 up to 10,000 and 1,000. CURT's 2-inch balls are rated 3,500 to 12,000 lbs. Your rating is capped by the lowest-rated part, including the vehicle.
Last updated: October 10, 2026.
Built by Jeremy Panasuk.
Ratings vary by part number, and your towing limit is capped by the lowest-rated part in the setup, including the vehicle, as published by CURT. WD means with a weight-distribution hitch. "--" means CURT lists no weight-distribution rating for that class.
The data (10 rows)
Figures as published by CURT, Trailer ball sizes, CURT, Types of trailer hitches. Sources accessed October 10, 2026. Each row links to the page or document the number was read from.
| Type | Class or ball | Receiver / shank | GTW (lbs) | Tongue weight (lbs) | WD GTW | WD TW | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitch class | Class 1 | 1-1/4 in | Up to 2,000 | Up to 200 | -- | -- | CURT, Types of trailer hitches |
| Hitch class | Class 2 | 1-1/4 in | Up to 3,500 | Up to 350 | -- | -- | CURT, Types of trailer hitches |
| Hitch class | Class 3 | 2 in | Up to 8,000 | Up to 800 | Up to 12,000 | Up to 1,200 | CURT, Types of trailer hitches |
| Hitch class | Class 4 | 2 in | Up to 10,000 | Up to 1,000 | Up to 12,000 | Up to 1,200 | CURT, Types of trailer hitches |
| Hitch class | Class 5 - Xtra Duty | 2 in | 16,000 to 17,000 | 2,400 to 2,550 | 17,000 | 2,400 to 2,550 | CURT, Types of trailer hitches |
| Hitch class | Class 5 - Commercial Duty | 2-1/2 in | 18,000 to 20,000 | 2,700 | 18,000 to 20,000 | 2,700 | CURT, Types of trailer hitches |
| Trailer ball | 1-7/8 in ball | 1-5/8 to 3 in shank length; 3/4 to 1 in shank dia. | 2,000 to 3,500 | CURT, Trailer ball sizes | |||
| Trailer ball | 2 in ball | 1-3/4 to 3 in shank length; 3/4 to 1-1/4 in shank dia. | 3,500 to 12,000 | CURT, Trailer ball sizes | |||
| Trailer ball | 2-5/16 in ball | 2-1/8 to 3-1/2 in shank length; 1 to 2 in shank dia. | 6,000 to 30,000 | CURT, Trailer ball sizes | |||
| Trailer ball | 3 in ball | 3-1/4 in shank length; 2 in shank dia. | 30,000 | CURT, Trailer ball sizes |
Download
Download the CSV (10 rows, updated 2026-10-10). Same rows as the table, plus each row's source URL and access date.
Cite this data
Suggested citation:
Panasuk, J. (2026). Trailer hitch class and hitch ball weight ratings. trailertowcalc.com. https://trailertowcalc.com/hitch-class-and-ball-ratings-data.html (accessed YYYY-MM-DD). Underlying figures: CURT Manufacturing hitch and ball guides.
BibTeX:
@misc{panasuk2026trailertowcalc,
author = {Panasuk, Jeremy}, title = {Trailer hitch class and hitch ball weight ratings}, year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://trailertowcalc.com/hitch-class-and-ball-ratings-data.html}}, note = {Data from CURT Manufacturing hitch and ball guides; accessed YYYY-MM-DD} }
Please cite the original source too. Questions or corrections: jpanasuk@gmail.com.
Hauling a car on a U-Haul trailer? See what size hitch for a U-Haul car trailer.
Towing a bike? See what size hitch for a U-Haul motorcycle trailer.
Towing a car on two wheels? See what size hitch for a U-Haul tow dolly.
Sources
- CURT, Trailer ball sizes: https://www.curtmfg.com/towing-accessories/trailer-balls/learn-more. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- CURT, Types of trailer hitches: https://www.curtmfg.com/types-trailer-hitches. Accessed October 10, 2026.
License
All rights reserved. Citation and non-commercial reuse are fine with a link back to this page. The underlying figures belong to the original publishers; this page only compiles them.
Use it with the calculator
Run your own numbers on the homepage calculator. How this site handles sources is on the methodology page. Related guides: what size hitch for my trailer, what size hitch ball for a travel trailer, how much tongue weight is safe, towing capacity explained, best hitches weight distribution.
Compiled with AI assistance from the sources linked above. Spot an error? Email jpanasuk@gmail.com.