You often hear alot about a compound bow’s draw weight. What you might not hear as much about is the actual weight of the bow, as in, how heavy is it. I mean you have to hold the thing up to shoot it and you want to know how much weight you have to hold right?
Generally speaking compound bows weigh Between 3 and 6 pounds bare (with no extra accessories on them). Hunting bows will tend to be closer to the lighter side of this range as they are smaller, and target bows are often on the heavier side.
Average Weight of Compound Bows and Common Accessories
The actual weight of a compound bow can vary greatly depending on what you put on it for accessories. This includes things like rests, sights, stabilizers, etc.
I did a little research on common bows and accessories and came up with some average weights for you.
| Description | Average Weight |
| Bare Compound Hunting Bow | 3.94 lbs |
| Bare Compound Target Bow | 4.65 lbs |
| Hunting Sight | 8.3 oz |
| Target Sight | 10.1 oz |
| Hunting Rest | 4.82 oz |
| Target Rest | 5.94 oz |
I included rests and sights because nearly every compound bow shooter will have these on their bow. Another very common accessory that I chose to exclude in the above table is a stabilizer, and that’s because you can get them in varying weights.
Stabilizers
The reason I chose not to include stabilizers in the above table is because there’s such a wide range of weights and lengths that you can get to customize how you bow feels and balances.
Common hunting stabilizers will range from 4 to 12 ounces, while target stabilizer setups often range in the 10 ounces to 2 pounds range depending on the setup and personal preference.
Bow Quivers
Another common thing for bow hunters is a bow mounted quiver, this of course will also add more weight to your bow.
The average weight of a bow mounted quiver is 12.13 ounces
Of course in addition to the quiver you have to add the weight of how ever many arrows you want to keep in the quiver, but that may be negligible and for the sake of this article I’m not going to worry about it.
10 Real Examples of Compound Bow Weights
Are you ready to see some real world numbers? I tried to pick a variety of bows from different price ranges and styles to represent a larger range of what’s commonly available.
You’ll see that with each bow I give a few different weights so you can see how adding accessories affects the overall weight of your compound bow.
I’ll also be sure to tell you a little bit about each bow and it’s key specs so you have an idea of what you’re getting for the weight of the bow. You can also head over HERE to check out my recommended gear including compound bows.
How Much do Hunting Bows Weigh? (Numbers 1-5)
If the bow is available as an RTH or Ready to Hunt package I tried to use those weights, if not then I used average weights for the accessories to calculate an RTH weight both with and without a quiver.
1. Bear Cruzer G2
The Bear Cruzer G2 is an excellent entry level hunting bow and is one of the top sellers on Amazon. Bear archery has been around a long time and continues to provide affordable quality bows, this one is no different.
- 30″ Axle to Axle
- 6.5″ Brace Height
- 12″ – 30″ adjustable draw length
- 5 – 70 pounds adjustable draw weight
You can see this is a highly adjustable bow making it very popular amongst beginners. Bear claims the bow will fire at up to 315 feet per second which is plenty fast for most people. The 70% let off means you can hold at full draw for a long time without fatigue. Now let’s see how the weight looks!
- Bare Bow: 3.1 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) Bow Weight: 4.2 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) w/Quiver: 4.77 lbs
2. Diamond Edge SB-1
Here’s another great entry level bow that won Field & Steam’s Budget Bow Blowout award. Diamond bows by Bowtech pride themselves on using cutting edge technology and being highly adjustable bows.
- 31″ Axle to Axle
- 7″ Brace Height
- 15″ – 30″ adjustable draw length
- 7 – 70 pounds adjustable draw weight
Diamond claims a blazing fast speed of 318 feet per second and easy adjustability with this bow. It appears they’ve done a great job of delivery a quality bow at an affordable price and this is another bow you’ll find near the top of Amazon’s best sellers.
- Bare Bow: 3.6 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) Bow Weight: 4.92 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) w/Quiver: 5.68 lbs
3. PSE Bow Madness Unleashed
Pretty impressive sounding name right? It’s also a pretty impressive bow in the mid price range market. PSE or Precision Shooting Equipment prides themselves on quality bows meant to last.
I myself had a PSE Brute Force back in the mid to late 90’s. It was pretty primitive to what these guys offer now. Here’s some details on this “unleashed” bow.
- 32 3/8″ Axle to Axle
- 6″ Brace Height
- 25″ – 30 1/2″ Draw length range
- 60 or 70 pound draw weights available
With a short brace height and their new 3-track binary cam PSE is saying you can reach 340 feet per second. Maybe this really is madness! The bow also offers a smooth pull and an astonishing 85% let off so you can hold at full draw all day long.
- Bare Bow: 3.9 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) Bow Weight: 5.22 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) w/Quiver: 5.98 lbs
4. Hoyt Powermax
I’m personally a big fan of Hoyt bows, I’ve owned a few over the years and always felt they were of the best quality for the money. The Powermax like the PSE above, is a mid range bow with plenty to offer.
Hoyt says this is more bow for the buck, offering a quiet, smooth, powerful bow great for archers shopping in this price range.
- 31″ Axle to Axle
- 6 3/4″ Brace Height
- Available in 24″ – 25″ or 25.5″ – 30″ draw lengths
- Draw weights available in 10 pound increments 30-70 pounds
You sacrifice some of the adjustability with this bow but gain quality, speed, and accuracy. The weight falls nicely where it should as well.
- Bare Bow: 3.8 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) Bow Weight: 5.12 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) w/Quiver: 5.88 lbs
5. Mathews TX-5
For the last bow in the hunting portion of my comparisons I chose this Mathews bow. This one breaks into the high end of the bow market starting at a little over $1000.
This thing is ridiculous though, super short brace high, blazing fast speeds, and the Mathews quality everyone loves.
- 28″ Axle to Axle
- 5″ Brace Height
- 23.5″ – 29.5″ Draw lengths
- Draw weights in 50, 60,or 70 pounds
This bow has consistent 5 star reviews and is no slouch boasting 345 feet per second. Of course the price tag is higher than the previous 4 models we looked at, and also note that even though this bow is smaller it actually weighs more than the others.
- Bare Bow: 4.58 lbs
- RH (Ready to Hunt) Bow Weight: 5.9 lbs
- RTH (Ready to Hunt) w/Quiver: 6.66 lbs
How Much do Target Bows Weigh? (Numbers 6-10)
Target bows tend to start out a little bit more expensive than hunting bows and usually come in a rainbow of different colors. These bows are designed with accuracy as the most important factor.
I’ve heard people say things like “light bows are for carrying, heavy bows are for shooting” and I guess there might be some truth to that as target bows are usually heavier than their cousins in the bowhunting category.
Just like with the hunting bows above I’ll provide a bare bow weight and an RTS (Ready to Shoot) weight to give you an idea of a typical basic setup.
6. Diamond Archery Medalist 38
Diamond Archery bows by Bowtech are a great value as they offer bows at the crossroad of inexpensive and quality.
The Medalist 38 is an excellent entry into the target/competition archery arena. It has a long axle to axle which is favored by finger shooters if that’s your style. It’s not super fancy like bows 3 times it’s cost, but then again it doesn’t need to be.
- 38″ Axle to Axle
- 7 1/8″ Brace Height
- 23″ – 32.5″ Draw Length
- 40, 50, 60, or 70 pound Draw Weights
The length of this bow helps with stability and still shoots up to 322 feet per second. While this bow is heavier than most hunting bows, not by a large factor so if you’re switching styles it won’t feel like a boat anchor.
- Bare Bow: 4.5 lbs
- RTS (Ready To Shoot) Bow Weight: 6.3 lbs
7. PSE Phenom XT-DC
PSE offers up a reasonably priced target bow that is fast, accurate, and forgiving. They claim that high level competition doesn’t mean a high price tag.
- 35 1/2″ Axle to Axle
- 7 5/8″ Brace Height
- 27 1/2″ – 33″ Draw Length Range
- 50, 60, or 70 pound Draw Weights
Not only does this bow offer a great price tag but it’s also pretty zippy too. PSE says you can expect to see up to 345 feet per second which this beauty. They’ve also kept the weight pretty reasonable as well.
- Bare Bow: 4.0 lbs
- RTS (Ready to Shoot) Bow Weight: 5.8 lbs
8. Mathews Halon X
Mathews does a really nice job on their target bows, but at this point we’re up over $1000. The quality is worth it and shooters rave about these bows.
This is actually considered a crossover bow and Mathews offers this one in target or hunting colors. The Halon X offers excellent performance whether on the range or in the field.
- 35″ Axle to Axle
- 7″ Brace Height
- 26″ – 30.5″ Draw Lengths
- 50, 60, or 70 pound Draw Weights
This bow is speedy at up to 330 feet per second and offers 75% or 85% let off. No worries about getting fatigued waiting to line up your perfect shot. Note that the weight of this compound target bow is a bit more than most hunting bows.
- Bare Bow: 4.94 lbs
- RTS (Ready to Shoot) Bow Weight: 6.74 lbs
9. Bowtech Fanatic 3.0 SD
Bowtech pulled out all the stops on this one and collaborated with top archers to create a bow that performs incredibly well. They took a bow that was already considered one of the best on the market and made it better.
Of course a bow of this caliber doesn’t come cheap and you’ll be looking at well over $1000, but this beauty is worth it.
- 37 3/4″ Axle to Axle
- 7″ Brace Height
- 24″ – 29″ Draw Lengths
- 40, 50, 60, or 70 pound Draw Weights
Speed isn’t an issue with this bow and you can expect speeds of up to 320 feet per second. Two optional let off models let you choose between 65% or 80% let off.
- Bare Bow: 4.7 lbs
- RTS (Ready to Shoot) Bow Weight: 6.45 lbs
10. Hoyt Pro Force
This bow tops the price chart of all the bows I’ve listed here, but comes loaded with the newest tech and Hoyt’s exceptional quality. It also comes in quite an array of target colors so you’re sure to find one that suits you.
The Pro Force uses Hoyt’s shoot through technology along with other top of the line tech to bring you a bow built for success.
- 35 3/4″ Axle to Axle
- 7″ Brace Height
- 26.5″ – 33″ Draw Length options
- 40, 50, 60, or 70 pound Draw Weights
I’ve always been a big fan of Hoyt’s bows and this one is no exception. It’s got a hefty price tag but I suspect you would not be disappointed.
- Bare Bow: 4.7 lbs
- RTS (Ready to Shoot) Bow Weight: 6.45 lbs
User Reported Compound Bow Weights
Manufacturer’s data is nice and it gives you a good place to start along with some averages so you know what to expect. But, you could buy one of the bows I’ve listed above, slap on some accessories and still have a different weight than I’ve calculated.
So what are most people seeing for a weight on bows they actually shoot and use in the field?
For that I scoured a few internet forums looking for feedback and examples from people. The results fall pretty much in line with my research and are a little less “precise” but about what I expected.
Hunting Bows
The weights most people were reporting for hunting bows fell between 5 and 8 pounds fully setup, with the most common in the 6-7 pound range.
Keep in mind that hunting bows are typically carried to and from a stand and smaller lighter bows are better in the woods.
Target Bows
Target bows are another story and it seems people just have different preferences. Some archers prefer their hunting and target setup to be the same while others like a nice heavy target bow.
There was a wide range of weights reported, some as light as 5 pounds and some as heavy as 12 lbs. I will say people seem to prefer a bit more weight on their target bow.
Determining Your Compound Bow’s Weight
If you have a bow already and you’re curious about the weight there’s a few ways you can accomplish this depending on what you have available to you for a scale.
Using a Bathroom Scale
If all you have a bathroom scale you won’t be able to get an accurate weight but you can get in the ballpark.
First, step on the scale and record your weight. Then pick up your bow and step on the scale again and calculate the difference. That’s it! This method should get you within a half pound depending on the accuracy of your scale.
Using Manufacturer’s Data
Another option would be to do some research. Based on the effort it took to get information for this article, this will be the most time consuming way to find your bow’s weight.
You’ll need to locate the weights for your bare bow and then each accessory you have mounted and add them all up. The tricky part is that I’ve found not all manufacturer’s of bow accessories list the weights.
Using a Kitchen or Postal Scale
A postal scale will be by far the easiest most accurate method, but not everyone has one at their disposal. If you do, simply balance your bow safely on the scale and record the weight. Done!
If you don’t have a postal scale but you have a kitchen scale, you could try balancing your bow on it if the scale goes high enough.
More likely though you’ll have to remove your accessories and weigh each one separate and then add your bare bow weight. This will get you a pretty darn accurate weight.