Load centre is the horizontal distance from the vertical face of the forks to the centre of gravity of the load.
In simple terms: it describes how far forward the weight sits when the load is on the forks.
If you’re looking at buying, you can browse our current used forklifts for sale.
Forklifts have a tipping point (the “tipping axis”) and a rated capacity based on a specific load centre. As the load’s centre of gravity moves further forward, the forklift’s stability reduces and its safe capacity decreases.
This is why the data plate / capacity chart matters: it tells you what the truck can lift at a given load centre (and often at different lift heights or with attachments).
For indoor warehouse work, you’ll often be looking at used electric forklifts. For yards and outdoor sites, used diesel forklifts are commonly a better fit.
If a load is evenly distributed, its centre of gravity is often roughly half the load depth.
For example, a standard pallet (1.2 m x 1.0 m) gives different load centres depending on which way it’s picked up:
If the wide face is against the fork heel, load depth is about 1.0 m, so the load centre is around 500 mm.
If the narrow face is against the fork heel, load depth is about 1.2 m, so the load centre is around 600 mm.
That extra distance can be enough to reduce safe capacity on some trucks.
If you need a flexible all-rounder, you may also want to look at our used LPG forklifts.
Many counterbalance forklifts are rated at 500 mm, but standard load centres vary by truck capacity and configuration. One common guideline is:
0–1,000 kg: 400 mm
1,001–5,000 kg: 500 mm
5,001–10,000 kg: 600 mm
Always check the specific truck’s data plate/spec sheet.
Load centre is often larger than expected when lifting:
long loads or oversized pallets
stillages/cages where weight sits forward
loads not pushed fully back against the backrest
fork extensions or attachments (which typically move the load forward and reduce capacity)
To stay safe and choose the right forklift, you need three basics:
load weight
load size (depth on the forks)
lift height required
If you’re unsure, don’t guess. Use the data plate/capacity chart and get advice, especially if you’re handling long loads or using attachments.
If you tell us your load weight, approximate load depth and required lift height, we can recommend suitable options from our used forklifts.
Is load centre measured from the fork tips?
No. It’s measured from the vertical face of the forks to the load’s centre of gravity.
Does lift height affect capacity as well?
It can. Capacity can reduce as lift height and load centre increase, depending on the truck. Check the plate/chart for that specific model.
Do fork extensions reduce capacity?
Yes, they can. Extensions often move the load forward, increasing load centre and reducing the effective capacity. Always refer to the truck’s capacity information.
If you’re buying a used forklift and want to be confident it’s suitable for your loads, tell us what you lift (weight, load depth and lift height) and we’ll recommend suitable options.
