Qeridoo magazine
40 kg or 60 kg? Why bicycle trailers come with two weight figures
60 kg according to the current European standard, 40 kg from an older German guidance leaflet – we explain the difference and what to watch out for in everyday use.
You may have noticed that different weight figures appear for bicycle trailers. Sometimes up to 60 kg is mentioned, elsewhere 40 kg. At first glance that seems contradictory. In fact, however, the two numbers describe different things.
What does the 60 kg figure mean?
The European standard EN 15918 sets out safety requirements and test procedures for bicycle trailers. Within its scope it names a permissible maximum weight of 60 kg. This refers to the total mass, i.e. trailer plus load and/or persons carried.
The standard is also designed for bicycle trailers carrying no more than two passively transported children. For child trailers the following applies: none of the children carried may weigh more than 22 kg.
For us as a manufacturer, EN 15918 is the central technical benchmark. Bicycle trailers are designed, engineered and tested according to it. If a trailer has been developed accordingly and tested by independent testing institutes, a technical approval up to 60 kg is comprehensible from the standard's point of view and corresponds to the current state of the art.
So where do the 40 kg come from?
The 40 kg come from the "Leaflet on towing trailers behind bicycles", published by the German Federal Ministry of Transport in 1999. The leaflet was intended to give manufacturers and users guidance on the state of the art at that time.
In section 2.4 the leaflet names a permissible total mass of:
- 40 kg for unbraked bicycle trailers
- 80 kg for braked bicycle trailers
The precise classification matters: these 40 kg do not appear as a separate limit value directly in the StVZO. Nor is the leaflet a modern European product standard. In practice, however, it continues to be taken into account as national guidance for operating unbraked bicycle trailers on public roads in Germany.
Why is this confusing for customers?
The confusion arises because both values often appear side by side but are rarely clearly explained. A bicycle trailer can be technically tested to a certain total mass according to the current European standard. At the same time there may be national notes or recommendations for use on public roads that are lower.
That is why we deliberately distinguish between two levels:
- Technical product limit – it describes what the trailer was designed, engineered and tested for.
- Usage note for public road traffic – it describes which national recommendations must be taken into account when riding behind a bicycle.
So the 60 kg describe the technical testing according to the current standard. The 40 kg describe the older national guidance for unbraked trailers in German cycling use.
Why do we state both values?
Because we want to be transparent. If we only stated the 60 kg, the impression could arise that this technical standard limit automatically and without restriction applies to every use in road traffic. That would fall short. If we only stated the 40 kg, the technical testing according to the current European standard would not be fully reflected. That would not be correct either.
That is why we state both figures and explain the difference. This way you can better judge which value is relevant for which purpose.
What counts in everyday use?
For practical use there is one more important point: the approval of your towing bicycle. Even the 1999 leaflet points out that the bicycle's operating manual states which towing load or total mass the bicycle may pull. This manufacturer specification is particularly important in everyday use and can be lower than the technical approval of the trailer or the values from the standard and the leaflet.
So before your first ride:
- Check the information in your bicycle trailer's user manual.
- Check the approval of your towing bicycle.
- Observe the notes for use on public roads in your country.
- For unbraked trailers in Germany, take the 40 kg figure from the leaflet into account.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 40 kg appear directly in the StVZO?
No. The 40 kg do not appear as a single weight limit directly in the StVZO. They come from the 1999 leaflet on towing trailers behind bicycles. It names 40 kg for unbraked and 80 kg for braked bicycle trailers.
So why does Qeridoo test up to 60 kg?
Because the current European standard EN 15918 provides for a total mass of 60 kg for the technical design of bicycle trailers. This standard is the decisive technical benchmark for construction and testing.
May I always ride with 60 kg in Germany?
Not across the board. The 60 kg describe the technical product design according to the current standard. For operation on public roads in Germany, the recommendation from the leaflet should also be taken into account, which names 40 kg for unbraked trailers. The approval of the towing bicycle must also be observed.
So why are both in the manual?
Because both figures describe different things. The technical limit shows what the trailer was designed and tested for. The note on 40 kg explains the particular situation of unbraked bicycle trailers in German road traffic.
Is EN 15918 the current state of the art?
From a technical point of view, yes. EN 15918 is the current European standard for bicycle trailers and represents the decisive testing and design benchmark. The older German leaflet, by contrast, dates from 1999.
Our assessment
In our view the current technical benchmark is clearly EN 15918 with a total mass of 60 kg. We develop, design and test our bicycle trailers according to it. This classification also matches the practice of many manufacturers and testing institutes in the industry.
We regard the 40 kg from the 1999 leaflet as historical national guidance for unbraked trailers in German road traffic. We nevertheless state it transparently, because the legal significance of the leaflet has not been conclusively clarified and we want to give you a complete basis for your decision.
The topic is also being discussed at industry level. In 2026 the German bicycle industry association (ZIV) approached the Federal Ministry of Transport with an initiative. The aim is to revise or withdraw outdated leaflets on bicycle trailers and child seats and to harmonize them more closely with current European standards such as EN 15918.
Our conclusion
The 60 kg describe the technical testing and product design according to the current European standard. The 40 kg come from an older German leaflet for unbraked bicycle trailers on public roads. The two figures do not contradict each other; they refer to different levels.
- Leaflet on towing trailers behind bicycles, published in 1999 in the Verkehrsblatt: kreisverkehrswacht-altenkirchen.de
- ZIV regulatory initiative in the lobby register of the German Bundestag: lobbyregister.bundestag.de
