GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) Payload Capacity (2023–2026)
The GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) payload ranges from 1,250 lbs to 1,670 lbs depending on cab, engine, drivetrain, and trim. A typical 4WD Crew Cab is around 1,450 lbs. The door-jamb sticker on your specific truck is the authoritative number.
GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) Payload by Configuration
| Configuration | Approx. Payload |
|---|---|
| Elevation 2WD (max) | 1,670 lbs |
| Typical 4WD Crew Cab | 1,450 lbs |
| AT4X | 1,250 lbs |
Representative configurations — approximate figures that vary by model year and options. Standard 5.2-ft bed volume is 41.9 cu ft (1.55 cu yd). Always confirm against your door-jamb sticker.
Specifications
- Make / Model
- GMC Canyon (3rd Gen)
- Years
- 2023–2026
- Class
- Mid-size
- Payload capacity
- 1,250–1,670 lbs
- Bed length
- 5.2 ft (nominal)
- Bed volume (level-full)
- 41.9 cu ft (1.55 cu yd)
Same platform as 3rd Gen Colorado. AT4X drops to ~1,280 lbs. Check door-jamb sticker.
GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) Bed Dimensions
- Bed length (floor)
- 61.7" (5.1 ft)
- Width at floor (max)
- 58.1"
- Width between wheel wells
- 45.5"
- Cargo volume
- 41.9 cu ft
Interior cargo-box measurements for the standard 5.2-ft bed. Other bed lengths differ.
What Can the Canyon (3rd Gen) Realistically Haul?
With a 1,450 lb payload and a 41.9 cu ft (1.55cu yd) bed, here's what that means for common materials:
- Gravel / crushed stone: 0.60 cubic yards per trip (roughly 1,450 lbs). A level-full bed of gravel would exceed this truck's payload — don't fill the bed completely with stone.
- Topsoil: 0.66 cubic yards per trip. For a 4-inch deep garden bed covering 200 sq ft (about 2.5 cu yds of soil needed), the Canyon (3rd Gen) can handle it in 4 trips.
- Wood chip mulch: Mulch is light enough that the bed fills up (1.55 yards) before you reach the payload limit. A full bed covers roughly 168 sq ft of landscaping beds at 3-inch depth.
- 80-lb concrete bags: 18 bags per trip (1,440 lbs), yielding approximately 10.8 cubic feet of mixed concrete.
All figures are based on the 1,450lb payload rating for a typical 4WD Crew Cab. Your specific truck's door-jamb sticker is the authoritative number. In practice, subtract the weight of passengers, tools, a full fuel tank, and any bed accessories — these eat into your available payload before you load a single pound of material.
Calculate Your Load
“Fill Truck” sets quantity to whichever comes first: payload weight limit or bed volume.
⚠ Overloaded — 1,050 lbs over capacity
This load exceeds the published payload rating and may damage the truck's suspension, frame, tires, and brakes. Reduce quantity or use a higher-rated truck.
Same platform as 3rd Gen Colorado. AT4X drops to ~1,280 lbs. Check door-jamb sticker.
2 trips needed with your GMC Canyon (3rd Gen)
How Much Can the Canyon (3rd Gen) Carry?
| Material | lbs / unit | Safe max | Full bed wt. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, pea (washed) | 2,500 lbs/cubic yard | 0.58 cubic yards | 3,880 lbs ⚠ |
| Gravel, crushed stone (#57) | 2,410 lbs/cubic yard | 0.60 cubic yards | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| Gravel, river rock | 2,600 lbs/cubic yard | 0.56 cubic yards | 4,035 lbs ⚠ |
| Gravel, limestone | 2,610 lbs/cubic yard | 0.56 cubic yards | 4,050 lbs ⚠ |
| Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) | 2,410 lbs/cubic yard | 0.60 cubic yards | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| Gravel, crusher run (DGA) | 2,700 lbs/cubic yard | 0.54 cubic yards | 4,190 lbs ⚠ |
| Decomposed granite (DG) | 2,500 lbs/cubic yard | 0.58 cubic yards | 3,880 lbs ⚠ |
| Lava rock / scoria | 1,650 lbs/cubic yard | 0.88 cubic yards | 2,561 lbs ⚠ |
| Riprap (2"–6") | 2,650 lbs/cubic yard | 0.55 cubic yards | 4,112 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand, dry (washed) | 2,700 lbs/cubic yard | 0.54 cubic yards | 4,190 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand, wet | 3,375 lbs/cubic yard | 0.43 cubic yards | 5,238 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand, mason | 2,410 lbs/cubic yard | 0.60 cubic yards | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand, concrete (ASTM C33) | 2,700 lbs/cubic yard | 0.54 cubic yards | 4,190 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand, fill | 2,410 lbs/cubic yard | 0.60 cubic yards | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand, play | 2,600 lbs/cubic yard | 0.56 cubic yards | 4,035 lbs ⚠ |
| Topsoil | 2,200 lbs/cubic yard | 0.66 cubic yards | 3,414 lbs ⚠ |
| Fill dirt | 2,200 lbs/cubic yard | 0.66 cubic yards | 3,414 lbs ⚠ |
| Clay | 2,800 lbs/cubic yard | 0.52 cubic yards | 4,345 lbs ⚠ |
| Sandy loam | 2,250 lbs/cubic yard | 0.64 cubic yards | 3,492 lbs ⚠ |
| Mulch, wood chips (shredded) | 500 lbs/cubic yard | 2.90 cubic yards | 776 lbs |
| Mulch, bark nuggets | 700 lbs/cubic yard | 2.07 cubic yards | 1,086 lbs |
| Compost | 1,080 lbs/cubic yard | 1.34 cubic yards | 1,676 lbs ⚠ |
| Playground chips (engineered wood) | 300 lbs/cubic yard | 4.83 cubic yards | 466 lbs |
| Peat moss | 500 lbs/cubic yard | 2.90 cubic yards | 776 lbs |
| Rubber mulch (shredded) | 1,000 lbs/cubic yard | 1.45 cubic yards | 1,552 lbs ⚠ |
| Sod (fresh-cut) | 5 lbs/sq ft | 290 sq ft | — |
| Concrete mix (80-lb bag) | 80 lbs/80-lb bag | 18 80-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Concrete mix, Maximizer (80-lb bag) | 80 lbs/80-lb bag | 18 80-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Concrete mix (90-lb bag) | 90 lbs/90-lb bag | 16 90-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Concrete mix (60-lb bag) | 60 lbs/60-lb bag | 24 60-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Concrete mix, fast-setting (50-lb bag) | 50 lbs/50-lb bag | 29 50-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Concrete mix (40-lb bag) | 40 lbs/40-lb bag | 36 40-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Mortar mix (60-lb bag) | 60 lbs/60-lb bag | 24 60-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Portland cement (94-lb bag) | 94 lbs/94-lb bag | 15 94-lb bags | 3,939 lbs ⚠ |
| Sand mix (60-lb bag) | 60 lbs/60-lb bag | 24 60-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Common brick | 4.5 lbs/piece | 322 pieces | — |
| Face brick | 3.8 lbs/piece | 382 pieces | — |
| Concrete block / CMU | 38 lbs/piece | 38 pieces | — |
| Retaining wall block | 50 lbs/piece | 29 pieces | — |
| Concrete pavers (4×8) | 7 lbs/piece | 207 pieces | — |
| Flagstone, bluestone (1" thick) | 14 lbs/sq ft | 104 sq ft | — |
| Flagstone, limestone (1" thick) | 12.5 lbs/sq ft | 116 sq ft | — |
| Firewood, green (unseasoned) | 4,800 lbs/cord | 0.30 cords | 1,571 lbs ⚠ |
| Firewood, seasoned (6–12 mo.) | 3,200 lbs/cord | 0.45 cords | 1,048 lbs |
| Firewood, dry hardwood (1+ yr) | 3,500 lbs/cord | 0.41 cords | 1,146 lbs |
| Firewood, dry softwood (pine/fir) | 2,400 lbs/cord | 0.60 cords | 786 lbs |
| Wood pellets (40-lb bags) | 40 lbs/40-lb bag | 36 40-lb bags | 5,587 lbs ⚠ |
| Water (tank) | 8.34 lbs/gallon | 174 gallons | 2,614 lbs ⚠ |
| Diesel fuel (#2) | 7.1 lbs/gallon | 204 gallons | 2,225 lbs ⚠ |
| Gasoline | 6.2 lbs/gallon | 234 gallons | 1,943 lbs ⚠ |
| Propane, 20-lb cylinder (BBQ) | 37 lbs/piece | 39 pieces | — |
| Propane, 100-lb tank | 170 lbs/piece | 9 pieces | — |
⚠ = filling the bed to volume capacity would exceed payload. Safe max is by payload rating.
Compare Similar Trucks
- Ford Maverick1,140–1,500 lbs
- Honda Ridgeline1,509–1,583 lbs
- Chevrolet Colorado (2nd Gen)1,250–1,550 lbs
- Chevrolet Colorado (3rd Gen)1,280–1,710 lbs
- GMC Canyon (2nd Gen)1,250–1,550 lbs
- Ford Ranger1,410–1,860 lbs
- Nissan Frontier1,160–1,620 lbs
- Toyota Tacoma1,100–1,710 lbs
Payload & Hauling Guides
- Payload vs. Towing Capacity: What's the Difference?
Payload and towing capacity are not the same number. Here is what each one means, how GVWR and GCWR set the limits, and how to avoid overloading your pickup.
- How to Read Your Truck's Door-Jamb Payload Sticker
Your truck's yellow door-jamb sticker lists the exact payload it can carry. Learn where to find it, how to read the numbers, and how to calculate your real available payload.
- What Happens If You Overload Your Truck?
Overloading a pickup risks tickets, tire blowouts, brake failure, frame damage, and a voided warranty. Here is what actually happens and how to stay legal and safe.