Total Arrow Weight Calculator
Calculate the total arrow weight in grains from shaft, insert, point, nock, and fletching weights.
Check front-of-center (FOC) balance.
Arrow weight affects trajectory, penetration, and noise. Heavier arrows penetrate better and are quieter; lighter arrows fly faster and flatter but are louder and may not penetrate as well for hunting.
Arrow weight formula: Total weight = shaft weight + point/insert weight + nock weight + fletching weight
Typical component weights (grains):
| Component | Typical Weight |
|---|---|
| Carbon shaft (per inch) | 4–12 gr/in |
| 28-inch shaft | 112–336 gr |
| Insert | 8–20 gr |
| Field/target point (100gr) | 100 gr |
| Broadhead (100gr) | 100 gr |
| Nock | 8–15 gr |
| Vane (per vane, 3 vanes) | 5–15 gr each |
| Feather (per feather) | 10–30 gr each |
Finished arrow weight guidelines:
- Speed archery / 3D: 300–350 gr (very light)
- Target / competition: 350–450 gr
- General hunting: 400–500 gr
- Big game hunting: 450–600 gr
- High-penetration hunting: 600+ gr
Front of Center (FOC): FOC = (balance point from nock - arrow length/2) / arrow length × 100%
- Target: 7–15% FOC for good flight stability
- Hunting: 10–19% FOC for maximum penetration
Higher FOC means more weight forward of center. Modern broadhead hunters often prefer 15–19% FOC for deeper penetration.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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