Who we are
Scuba Weight Calculator is an independent website that helps divers work out, understand and check how much weight they need to carry. We build free calculators and publish plain-language guides about weighting, buoyancy and the equipment that affects them: exposure suits, tanks, belts and the water you dive in.
Everything on the site starts from one idea: a number is only useful if you can see where it comes from. Our calculators show every term in the result, and our guides explain the physics and the practical steps behind it, so that you can understand your weighting rather than just copy it.
Why this site exists
Getting weighting right is one of the most common challenges in scuba diving, especially for new divers and for divers who change their kit or travel to a different kind of water. Too little lead makes it hard to descend and to hold a safety stop. Too much lead makes buoyancy control harder and uses more air. Most advice online is a rule of thumb, and many calculators return a single number with no explanation.
We wanted something clearer: calculators that are transparent, guides that go into real depth, and a consistent message that an estimate is only a starting point which you confirm in the water.
What you will find here
- Calculators. The scuba weight calculator, plus the dive weight calculator (compare yourself with a buddy), the weight belt calculator, the buoyancy calculator and the scuba tank weight calculator.
- 16 setup calculators for specific suits, tanks, water types and body builds, each with a worked example and answers to common questions.
- 8 in-depth guides on dive weights, buoyancy, measuring your weighting, weight limits, gear weight and belt sizing, and 5 comparisons such as steel vs aluminum tanks and wetsuit vs drysuit. See all of them in the guides hub.
- A blog with shorter articles on weighting mistakes, travelling with weights and handling lead safely.
- 18 languages. The homepage and its calculator are available in English, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Bengali, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Polish, Indonesian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Turkish and Swedish.
How our calculators work
The main estimate adds a small term for your body weight, a term for your exposure suit, a term for your tank and a term for your build, then reduces the total in freshwater. The tank, buoyancy and belt calculators use the same approach with physical formulas such as the buoyant force and the weight of the air in a tank. All of the values are published on the method page, and the numbers in our guides and tables are generated by the same formulas, so the site agrees with itself.
These are estimates. They are typically within about 2 kg and cannot know your exact body, kit or the age of your suit. That is why every calculator points you to the buoyancy check, the step that gives you your real number.
Our principles
Safety first
We encourage conservative, instructor-supervised practice and never suggest that a calculator replaces training.
Transparent
Every term in a result is shown, every formula is published, and limits are stated plainly.
Clear and practical
Plain language, worked examples, tables and checklists that you can use on your next dive.
Independent
We are not a training agency or an equipment maker, and we are not affiliated with either.
Private
The calculators run in your browser. The values you enter are not sent to us or stored.
How we write and update content
We build explanations on established physics, such as Archimedes’ principle and Boyle’s law, and on typical equipment specifications. We label simplifications and approximate figures as such, and we show how they are calculated. When a reader reports a mistake, or when standards and equipment change, we review the page, correct it and update the date shown on it. Guides carry a “last updated” date so you can see how current they are.
Who the site is for
- New divers who want to understand why they carry the weight they do.
- Divers changing to a thicker suit, a drysuit or a steel tank.
- Travelling divers who need to estimate their lead for a new destination.
- Dive buddies comparing set-ups, and anyone curious about the physics of buoyancy.
What we do not do
We do not teach diving, certify divers or give personal medical, legal or dive-planning advice. Always learn from a qualified instructor, follow your training agency’s standards and the rules where you dive. Please read our disclaimer.
Get in touch
Questions, corrections and suggestions are welcome. Use the contact form or email nick@scubaweightcalculator.com. You can also follow us on social media: