Arrow Weight Chart: GPI by Spine and Diameter
Most hunting shafts fall between 6.5 and 11 grains per inch, with 340 spine standard diameter carbon typically at 8.5 to 9.7 GPI. Finished arrows usually land between 400 and 500 grains, and must never fall below 5 grains per pound of draw weight.
Arrow weight is built, not bought. The shaft supplies a base weight expressed in grains per inch, and everything you screw, glue or slide onto it adds the rest. This page gives typical GPI by spine and diameter class, the weight of every component, and ten complete builds worked through to a finished grain figure and a grains per pound safety check.
Grains per inch by spine and shaft diameter
GPI varies by model within any spine, because wall thickness, carbon modulus and layup all differ between makers. The ranges below cover the great majority of shafts on the market. Always confirm against the GPI printed on the shaft or in the manufacturer's spec table before you calculate a build, because a 1 GPI error over 29 inches is 29 grains.
| Spine | Standard 0.244 to 0.250 in | Micro 0.204 in | Ultra micro 0.165 to 0.170 in | Shaft only at 29 in (standard) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 14.0-16.0 | n/a | n/a | 406-464 gr |
| 200 | 12.5-14.0 | 13.5-15.0 | n/a | 363-406 gr |
| 250 | 11.0-12.5 | 12.0-13.5 | 11.0-12.5 | 319-363 gr |
| 300 | 9.0-10.5 | 10.0-11.5 | 9.3-10.5 | 261-305 gr |
| 340 | 8.5-9.7 | 9.3-10.5 | 8.5-9.6 | 247-281 gr |
| 350 | 8.3-9.5 | 9.2-10.3 | 8.4-9.4 | 241-276 gr |
| 400 | 7.5-8.7 | 8.3-9.5 | 7.6-8.7 | 218-252 gr |
| 450 | 7.0-8.0 | 7.8-8.8 | 7.0-8.0 | 203-232 gr |
| 500 | 6.5-7.6 | 7.2-8.4 | 6.6-7.6 | 189-220 gr |
| 600 | 5.6-6.8 | 6.5-7.5 | 6.0-7.0 | 162-197 gr |
| 700 | 5.2-6.2 | 6.0-7.0 | n/a | 151-180 gr |
| 800 | 5.0-5.8 | n/a | n/a | 145-168 gr |
| 900 | 4.8-5.5 | n/a | n/a | 139-160 gr |
| 1000 | 4.5-5.3 | n/a | n/a | 131-154 gr |
| 1300 | 4.0-4.8 | n/a | n/a | 116-139 gr |
| 1600 | 3.5-4.4 | n/a | n/a | 102-128 gr |
Aluminium and aluminium-carbon shafts sit outside this pattern because they are sized by wall and diameter code rather than spine alone. Most fall between 9 and 15 GPI, and a full metal jacket style shaft is usually 1.5 to 3 GPI heavier than the carbon shaft it is built around. Use the maker's own table for those.
Component weights
Everything that is not shaft is roughly 130 to 300 grains of a finished arrow, and it is where almost all of your tuning latitude lives. Point weight in particular moves finished weight, front of centre and dynamic spine at the same time.
| Component | Typical weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard nock | 6-12 gr | Press-fit or pin, varies by brand |
| Pin nock plus bushing | 18-25 gr | Common on target shafts |
| Lighted nock | 18-25 gr | Adds weight at the rear, lowers FOC slightly |
| Aluminium insert | 8-16 gr | The default on most hunting shafts |
| Stainless insert | 20-35 gr | Durability without a large FOC change |
| Brass insert | 50-75 gr | The cheapest way to raise FOC |
| Half-out or outsert | 25-50 gr | Common on micro diameter shafts |
| Impact collar | 8-20 gr | Protects the shaft mouth on hard impacts |
| Three 2 in vanes | 12-18 gr | Low profile, mechanical rest friendly |
| Three 3 in vanes | 18-25 gr | More steering for fixed broadheads |
| Three 4 in feathers | 8-12 gr | Lightest steering option, favoured by traditional shooters |
| Arrow wrap | 3-6 gr | Adds a little rear weight |
| Field point or broadhead | 75-300 gr | The single largest lever in the build |
Ten finished arrow weight examples
These builds are worked all the way through so you can see how the pieces accumulate. The last column is grains per pound, finished weight divided by draw weight, which is the number that decides whether a build is safe.
| Build | Shaft | Length | Shaft wt | Insert | Point | Nock and fletch | Finished | gr/lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth practice | 600 at 6.0 GPI | 27 in | 162 gr | 10 gr | 75 gr | 25 gr | 272 gr | 6.8 at 40 lb |
| Indoor target | 500 at 7.0 GPI | 28 in | 196 gr | 12 gr | 100 gr | 30 gr | 338 gr | 6.8 at 50 lb |
| 3D competition | 500 at 6.8 GPI | 28 in | 190 gr | 12 gr | 100 gr | 25 gr | 327 gr | 6.5 at 50 lb |
| Speed build (near the floor) | 400 at 7.6 GPI | 27.5 in | 209 gr | 10 gr | 75 gr | 20 gr | 314 gr | 5.2 at 60 lb |
| Standard deer setup | 400 at 8.2 GPI | 28.5 in | 234 gr | 12 gr | 100 gr | 28 gr | 374 gr | 6.2 at 60 lb |
| Common 70 lb hunting | 340 at 8.9 GPI | 29 in | 258 gr | 12 gr | 100 gr | 28 gr | 398 gr | 5.7 at 70 lb |
| Brass insert hunting | 340 at 9.5 GPI | 29 in | 276 gr | 50 gr | 125 gr | 28 gr | 479 gr | 6.8 at 70 lb |
| Traditional recurve | 500 at 7.5 GPI | 30 in | 225 gr | 16 gr | 145 gr | 25 gr | 411 gr | 9.1 at 45 lb |
| Elk build | 300 at 10.7 GPI | 29 in | 310 gr | 62 gr | 150 gr | 28 gr | 550 gr | 7.9 at 70 lb |
| Heavy high-FOC | 250 at 12.0 GPI | 29 in | 348 gr | 75 gr | 200 gr | 19 gr | 642 gr | 9.2 at 70 lb |
Shaft weights are GPI multiplied by cut length and rounded to the nearest grain. The elk build includes an impact collar in the insert column. The speed build is shown deliberately: at 5.2 grains per pound it is legal but has almost no margin, and a lighter nock or shorter cut would push it under the limit.
Reading the grains per pound column
Grains per pound is the only figure in the table with a hard rule attached. Five grains per pound of draw weight is the manufacturer minimum, and it exists because a bow that cannot transfer its stored energy into the arrow transfers it into its own limbs instead. That is the same failure mode as a dry fire, just slower, and it voids essentially every warranty in the industry.
Above that floor, grains per pound is a preference dial rather than a rule. Roughly 5 to 6 is a speed build with a flat trajectory and a noisy, harsh shot. Six to 7 is where most factory hunting arrows land, and it is a reasonable default. Seven to 9 trades a little speed for a quieter bow and better retained energy. Above 9 you are in the deliberate heavy arrow camp, common among traditional shooters and hunters of larger animals. Run your own numbers through the total arrow weight calculator and the kinetic energy calculator before committing to a dozen shafts.
What arrow weight costs you in speed
The working approximation is about 1 fps for every 3 grains added above the 350 grain reference weight used in IBO and ATA speed ratings. A 450 grain arrow out of a bow rated at 330 fps is therefore giving up roughly 33 fps before you account for your draw length and draw weight, which is why real chronograph numbers sit so far below the sticker. The IBO speed chart works that conversion through in detail, and the arrow speed calculator does it for your setup.
The trade is not one-sided. A heavier arrow leaves the bow slower but sheds velocity more slowly, absorbs more of the bow's stored energy so less is left to rattle the riser, and is substantially more forgiving of a fixed broadhead that is not perfectly aligned. Past about 40 yards the flatter trajectory of a light arrow starts to matter, which is the real argument for keeping weight moderate rather than maximal.
How weight interacts with spine and balance
Adding weight at the point weakens dynamic spine and raises front of centre at the same time. Adding weight at the nock end does the opposite on both counts. This is why arrow building is iterative: choose a target finished weight, choose the point weight that gets you the balance you want, then pick the spine that tolerates that point weight at your draw length. Doing it in the other order usually means buying shafts twice.
A worked example. A 70 lb bow with a 29 inch arrow and a 100 grain point points to 340 spine and lands near 400 grains finished, about 11 to 12 percent FOC. Swap to a 50 grain brass insert and a 150 grain head and the same shaft is now near 500 grains and roughly 17 percent FOC, but it is also acting a full spine group weaker and will likely want a 300. The arrow spine chart and the FOC reference chart show both sides of that trade.
Related tools and charts
- Total arrow weight calculator: add up your own components
- Arrow FOC calculator: where the weight sits, not just how much there is
- Kinetic energy calculator: KE and momentum from weight and speed
- Arrow diameter chart: why micro shafts weigh more at the same spine
- Broadhead weight chart: the biggest single component in the build
Frequently asked questions
What does GPI mean on an arrow shaft?
GPI stands for grains per inch, and it is the weight of the bare shaft for every inch of its length. Multiply GPI by your cut length to get shaft weight, then add the insert, point, nock and fletching to get finished arrow weight. A 340 spine shaft at 9.0 GPI cut to 29 inches weighs 261 grains bare, and typically finishes near 390 to 400 grains with a 100 grain point.
How much should a hunting arrow weigh?
Most modern hunting arrows finish between 400 and 500 grains, which lands at 6 to 7 grains per pound on a 70 lb bow. Lighter builds near 380 grains shoot flatter and are still adequate for deer sized game. Heavier builds from 550 grains up favour penetration and quiet shooting on larger animals. The floor is 5 grains per pound of draw weight, and that is a safety limit rather than a preference.
Why do micro diameter shafts weigh more at the same spine?
A narrower tube is inherently less stiff for a given wall thickness, so to hit the same spine number the manufacturer has to use thicker walls or denser layup. That extra material is why a 0.204 inch shaft at 340 spine usually runs about 1 GPI heavier than a 0.245 inch shaft at the same spine. You pay for reduced wind drift and better penetration with a slightly heavier, slightly slower arrow.
Does a heavier arrow lose speed?
Yes, but less than most people expect and it retains energy better downrange. The usual approximation is about 1 fps lost for every 3 grains added above the 350 grain IBO reference weight. Adding 50 grains therefore costs roughly 15 to 17 fps. In exchange the arrow carries more momentum, is quieter out of the bow, and is far less sensitive to small errors in broadhead alignment.
What is the minimum safe arrow weight?
Five grains of finished arrow weight per pound of draw weight is the near-universal manufacturer floor. A 60 lb bow needs at least 300 grains and a 70 lb bow needs at least 350 grains. Going under it behaves like a partial dry fire, dumping energy into the limbs rather than the arrow, and it voids most bow warranties. Check the finished weight, not the shaft weight.
How much do arrow components weigh?
A standard nock is 6 to 12 grains and a lighted nock is 18 to 25. Aluminium inserts run 8 to 16 grains, stainless 20 to 35, and brass 50 to 75. A set of three 2 inch vanes is around 12 to 18 grains, three 4 inch feathers around 8 to 12, and a wrap adds 3 to 6. Points are the biggest lever, from 75 grains up to 300 or more.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, verified owner reviews, and pro shop guidance. We do not test gear in person. Draw weight and arrow spine affect safety, so follow your bow manufacturer's specifications and have setup work checked by a qualified pro shop.