Method for estimating a load received by a work machine and a work machine

The invention relates to a method for estimating a load received a work machine (1), in which an estimated value (142) for the mass of the load is repeatedly determined, wherein a weighing function is used, which is configured to determine a weight value from status data (102) of the work machine; wherein the status data of the work machine are continuously collected and a continuous time series of weight values (112) is determined therefrom (110) by means of the weighing function; wherein, during each repetition for a respective estimation timepoint, a current weight value is determined at the estimation timepoint of the time series of weight values, a validity measure (122) is determined (120), which indicates a reliability of the weighing function at the estimation timepoint, a weighting measure (132) for the current weight value is determined from the validity dimension (130), and, based on the current weight value (112), the weighting measure (132) for the current weight value, and a previous estimated value, a current estimated value (142) is determined.