Payload Capacity

Payload capacity is the maximum mass an industrial robot can carry at its mounting flange, measured in kilograms. It includes the end effector (gripper, welding torch, vacuum tool) plus the workpiece — both count against the rated limit.

Manufacturers publish payload at a reference centre of gravity and a defined wrist orientation. Heavy tools mounted far from the flange create a larger moment of inertia and effectively reduce the usable payload, so the tool's weight and offset must be planned together.

For used and refurbished robots, payload is the first hard filter when matching a machine to an application: a part-handling cell needs headroom above the combined part-plus-gripper weight, while welding or dispensing cells need far less. On The Robot Portal you can filter listed robots directly by rated payload.