Free tool
Freight class calculator
Enter the dimensions and weight of your freight to get its density and the NMFC class that density suggests.
Shipment
Dimensions of one piece in inches, including the pallet. Weight is the total for all pieces.
Suggested freight class
Enter the dimensions and weight to see the density and the class it suggests.
Density to freight class
The lower bound of each band is inclusive: exactly 22.5 lb/ft³ rates as class 65, not 70.
| Class | From (lb/ft³) | Up to (lb/ft³) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | No limit |
| 55 | 35 | Under 50 |
| 60 | 30 | Under 35 |
| 65 | 22.5 | Under 30 |
| 70 | 15 | Under 22.5 |
| 77.5 | 13.5 | Under 15 |
| 85 | 12 | Under 13.5 |
| 92.5 | 10.5 | Under 12 |
| 100 | 9 | Under 10.5 |
| 110 | 8 | Under 9 |
| 125 | 7 | Under 8 |
| 150 | 6 | Under 7 |
| 175 | 5 | Under 6 |
| 200 | 4 | Under 5 |
| 250 | 3 | Under 4 |
| 300 | 2 | Under 3 |
| 400 | 1 | Under 2 |
| 500 | 0 | Under 1 |
Only need pounds per cubic foot? Use the density calculator.
About freight class
What freight class is
Freight class is the rating category the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) assigns to LTL freight. The NMFC, published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, sorts freight into 18 classes from 50 to 500. Class 50 is the cheapest to move per hundred pounds and class 500 the most expensive. Carriers look up your rate from the class, the weight, and the lane, so the class on the bill of lading directly sets what you pay.
Why density drives it
The NMFC rates freight on four characteristics: density, stowability, handling, and liability. For most general commodities density dominates, because trailer space is what a carrier is really selling. A pallet of bricks weighs a lot but takes up little room; a pallet of foam takes the same floor space for a fraction of the revenue per foot. Pounds per cubic foot captures that trade-off in one number, which is why the density scale above can suggest a class before you look anything else up.
How to measure
Measure each piece at its longest, widest, and tallest points, including the pallet and anything that overhangs it. Weigh the whole unit with the pallet and packaging. For several identical pieces, enter the dimensions of one piece and the total weight of all of them. If the pieces differ, run each one separately.
Where the estimate can be wrong
Density is a guideline, not the rulebook. The NMFC assigns classes item by item, and some commodities carry a fixed class regardless of density, or a higher one because they are fragile, hazardous, awkward to stow, or expensive to insure. The NMFC also revises its density scale from time to time. Confirm the item number in the current NMFC before you ship, and expect the carrier to inspect, reweigh, and reclassify freight that does not match the bill of lading, usually with a fee on top of the rate difference.
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Enter the same shipment on the quote form and compare every carrier you have connected at your negotiated rates.
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