How Much Does a Laptop Weigh: Which Type Should You Get?

If there’s one piece of advice I can impart to you, you should never ignore laptop weight.

I’ve seen people go crazy about specifications and features, only to buy a new laptop device months later because the old one – as great as it was – wasn’t convenient for their lifestyles.

Before you buy that laptop, you might want to (or should) give this article a read first.

How Much Does an Average Laptop Weigh?

Typically, modern and the latest laptops weigh around two to eight pounds (2 lbs.-8 lbs.). Generally, this range is practically lightweight already.

Your average laptop with a 13 to 15-inch laptop screen weighs around 2.8 to 4 lbs. While gaming laptops weigh approximately 5-8 lbs.

For a bit of perspective, there was a time when luggables were still a thing, and they were laptops weighing around 15 lbs. which was already comparable to a desktop PC.

But don’t worry, I won’t bore you with luggables anymore. I bet most of us here haven’t even seen one in real life!

How Much Does an Average Laptop Weigh: Laptop Categories and Laptop Sizes

The 2 lbs. to 8 lbs. weight range is still vague. I know. Let’s dissect the laptop size and weight according to their categories.

• Notebook (typical laptop)
• Ultraportable / Ultra thin laptop
• Desktop replacement laptops (usually gaming laptops)

Notebook Computers or Laptops

The term “notebook” is probably a little outdated. It’s a general term for laptops.

But before all of the powerful and crazy thin laptops came about, the primary purpose of a laptop was to be portable enough while fulfilling PC functions.

Most models now are still classified as notebooks.

Chromebook and Ultrabook fall under this general category. Their unique names are to specify the brand and manufacturer.

Chromebook is under Google, and Ultrabook is under Intel.

Average Weight of Notebook Laptop

So how much would this average laptop weigh?

Well, it goes for less than 5 lbs without compromising too much of the port system and standard battery. They have the ideal travel weight considering that it’s a powerful laptop.

Some examples are:

• HP Chromebook x360 (3.30 lbs.)
• Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K Slim Laptop (3.95 lbs.)
• Lenovo Ideapad (5.69 lbs.)

Who Is This Laptop Best For?

Most ordinary notebooks are reasonably priced for workers and students alike.

If you need portable laptops to bring from home to the office and vice versa, I think a 13-15 inch laptop with an average laptop weight of 3-5 lbs. will be perfect.

It has the important functions of a desktop computer but is foldable!

Ultra-Thin and Light Laptops / Ultraportable Laptops

Some of you may argue as to why I separated this from the “notebook” category.

And you’re right; lightweight laptops are technically under notebooks.

But nowadays, more manufacturers are producing thin and light laptops. They still have most of the basic functions but with lighter systems. For some, these devices even cost more.

And naturally, lighter laptops have fewer ports, a shorter battery life, smaller power adapters, and the likes.

Average Weight of Thin and Light Laptops

A lightweight laptop has an average weight of 2-2.8 lbs.

I found the need to distinguish this from your average notebook because it’s a lot lighter (1 pound makes a massive difference), with compromised features and a higher price tag.

Some examples are:

• Dell XPS 9310 OLED 4K Touchscreen Laptop (2.8 lbs.)
• Apple MacBook Air 13.3in (2.96 lbs.)
• ASUS Laptop L210 Ultra Thin Laptop (2.31 lbs.)
• Google Pixelbook Go 13.3in (2.38 lbs.)

Who Is This Laptop Best For?

People who are out and about need the lightest laptops they can get their hands on.

Even if the weight of a laptop is around 3-5 lbs. only, imagine carrying that around for the entire day – that’s almost equal to a short arm workout!

Examples are students who go from one building to another for classes, businessmen who run around restaurants for meetings, or interviewers who meet many people a day.

Its only downside is that it’s not the perfect substitute for a computer – if that’s what you need.

For its smaller size and weight, you may find the standard battery installed to be much weaker, and it may have fewer ports and features.

Desktop Replacement Laptops

The best laptop type under this category is the higher-end gaming laptop that runs on more power.

A desktop replacement laptop weighs a lot heavier than the average one because of its added features.

The motherboards are more advanced, they have an oversized battery or a larger battery, and they have more fans to endure the heavier activities.

Average Laptop Weight of Desktop Replacements

These usually weigh around 5-8 lbs. – though 8 is already a bit of a stretch. 5-6 are the more common ones for a heavy laptop.

Some examples are:

• Acer Predator Helios 300 (5.07 lbs.)
• Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop (5.95 lbs.)
• MSI GS75 Stealth Gaming Laptop (5.29 lbs.)

Who Is This Laptop Best For?

Well, for one, it’s the best for gamers.

For those who play a lot of games on their desktops, you’d be ecstatic to know that you can expect the same (or more) power with these laptops.

And even for non-gamers, the specs and performance you get from these types will be at par with desktops.

But keep in mind that these laptop types are heavy and bulky. If you expect to run around, carrying this would be a pain. And accessories are not as accessible.

You may need to look for DIY cases online too.

How Much Weight Is Considered Heavy?

To provide an overview of the benchmark weight of a laptop:

• A 13-15 inch laptop is around 2-3 lbs.
• A 17-inch laptop goes for 5 lbs.

An average laptop weighs around 3 lbs, and the ultrathin ones can go as low as 2 lbs. A laptop weight of 5 lbs. is already considered heavy, especially if it’s meant for portability.

But don’t worry, most manufacturers know better than producing heavy laptops because it’s not practical anymore.

Pros and Cons of Different Laptop Weights

If you’re here and planning to get a new laptop, you’re most likely confused about how much the factor of weight matters. Are heavier laptops better in performance? Do light laptops break easily?

I’ll be honest – there are pros and cons to your choices. It won’t be the case for all models of laptops, of course, but it’s a general comparison that will be useful.

Lightweight Laptop Pros

I think that if you’re mainly using your desktop PC, and you only need an extension of your PC as you move around for work, going for lightweight laptops is the way to go.

• Easier to bring around
• Lending is convenient
• Can be used for presentations, keynote talks, note-taking
• More affordable pricing

Lightweight Laptops Cons

However, the reason why they’re lightweight is that they’re incomplete, in a sense. They provide the basic laptop features but don’t expect too much beyond that.

• Fewer features
• Weaker capacity

Heavy Laptops Pros

If you intend to keep your laptop at home in replacement of a PC, then going for high-end and heavier laptops will be the best choice. Part of the reason why they’re heavy is more ports, fans, and such.

• They’re at par with desktop features.
• Should you need to bring it elsewhere, you can still do it.
• Specifications are of high quality.

Heavy Laptops Cons

But if you’re always on the go or if you frequently commute, heavy laptops can be a burden to carry around.

• Lugging a 5 lbs. laptop around can strain your back.
• These laptops are often expensive.
• The designs are not as sleek as that of ultrathin laptops.

How Much Does a Laptop Weigh: Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs] [Q&A]

Before I wrap up, let’s address some FAQs that I’ve encountered surrounding this topic.

How Much Does a Laptop Weigh In Kilograms (KG)?

For your reference, here’s a quick conversion of pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg):

• 2 lbs = 0.9 kg
• 3 lbs = 1.36 kg
• 4 lbs = 1.81 kg
• 5 lbs = 2.27 kg
• 6 lbs = 2.72 kg
• 7 lbs = 3.18 kg
• 8 lbs = 3.63 kg

The average laptop weighs 0.9-2.27 kg. Beyond that, they’re considered heavy.

How to Determine Laptop Weight Vis-A-Vis Their Inches?

I understand that the standard dimensions for laptops are inches. Specifically, manufacturers refer to their screen sizes. Let’s put them side by side.

• 13-15 inches = 2-5 lbs.
• 17 inches and above = 5-8 lbs.

Note that this is only a general gauge. Of course, this doesn’t speak for all brands. There are now laptops that have wide inches but are made with lighter components.

Conclusion

Did the article help? I hope it did.

One common mistake I made was to ignore laptop weight, realizing that the weight already says a lot about the specs and performances that are built-in to the device.

But now, I’m sharing what I’ve learned with you! Good luck, and go find the best laptop for you.