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Freight class density chart

Q: Does a lower freight class mean a cheaper rate?

Generally yes. Lower classes are denser freight, which lets a carrier put more billable weight in the same trailer space. Class is one input into the rate, not the whole rate.

LTL carriers price freight by class, and for most commodities class now comes from one number: density in pounds per cubic foot. Denser freight earns a lower class and a cheaper rate, because a carrier can fit more billable weight into the same trailer space.

Last reviewed: August 2026

Calculate your density in three steps

1. Get cubic feet. Measure the finished handling unit at its longest, widest and tallest points, including the pallet, any overhang and the packaging. Multiply the three figures in inches, then divide by 1,728.

2. Get density. Divide the total weight in pounds, including the pallet, by the cubic feet.

3. Read the class off the scale below.

Worked example

A pallet measures 48 by 40 by 48 inches and weighs 500 pounds including the pallet itself.

48 × 40 × 48 = 92,160 cubic inches. Divided by 1,728 that is 53.33 cubic feet. 500 pounds divided by 53.33 gives 9.4 pounds per cubic foot, which lands in the 8 to under 10 band. That is class 100.

Notice how close it sits to the break. Shrinking that pallet from 48 inches tall to 44 would raise the density to 10.2 and drop the class to 92.5. Cube discipline is worth real money on repeat lanes.

The current NMFC density scale

The standard 13-subprovision density scale, expanded from 11 subprovisions effective 19 July 2025. Classes 77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500 still exist but are not part of this scale; they survive in commodity-specific listings where handling, stowability or liability set the class instead.
Sub	Density (lb per cu ft)	Class	Typical freight
1	Less than 1	400	Foam, empty containers, inflatables
2	1 to under 2	300	Lampshades, ping pong balls, packaged fixtures
3	2 to under 4	250	Assembled furniture, mattresses, plastic tubs
4	4 to under 6	175	Clothing, upholstered seating, light retail goods
5	6 to under 8	125	Small appliances, packaged electronics
6	8 to under 10	100	Boxed hardware, cabinets, general palletised goods
7	10 to under 12	92.5	Assembled machinery parts, mixed cartons
8	12 to under 15	85	Crated equipment, cast components
9	15 to under 22.5	70	Auto parts, packaged food, batteries
10	22.5 to under 30	65	Bottled beverages, canned goods, books
11	30 to under 35	60	Dense automotive parts, tooling
12	35 to under 50	55	Brick, cement, hardwood flooring
13	50 or greater	50	Steel coil, castings, concrete block

Density suggests a class. The NMFC item number decides it. Classification also weighs stowability, handling and liability. Freight that is fragile, hazardous, awkward to stow or unusually valuable can carry a class the density scale would not predict. Confirm the item number for your commodity with your carrier before the bill of lading goes out.

What the 2025 reclassification changed

NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective 19 July 2025, was the largest reclassification in decades. Three things moved:

Density became the default. Roughly 2,000 commodities that previously carried a fixed class moved onto the standard density scale. A product that held the same class for years may now float with whatever it measures on the day.
The scale grew from 11 subprovisions to 13. New breaks at 35 and 50 pounds per cubic foot added classes 55 and 50, so genuinely dense freight can now reach a lower class than the old scale allowed.
Commodity listings were consolidated, with further revisions following in Docket 2026-1 released in February 2026.

The practical consequence is that a class you last confirmed before July 2025 should not be trusted. Re-check every SKU you ship regularly.

Why misclassification costs more than the rate difference

Carriers re-weigh and re-measure freight in the terminal with laser dimensioners. When the measurement disagrees with your bill of lading, they issue a weight and inspection certificate that overrides what you declared, reclassify the shipment, and back-bill you. The correction usually arrives weeks after delivery, often with a reclassification fee attached, and by then the shipment has already been invoiced to your customer at the wrong cost.

The defence is measuring the way the carrier measures: the finished handling unit, at its extremes, including the pallet and any overhang.

Get the density as you build the load

PCTS calculates the estimated NMFC density class for every cargo line as you enter dimensions and weight, so you see the class before you commit to a pallet configuration rather than after the carrier re-measures it.

Open the load planner

Frequently asked

How do I calculate freight class?

Multiply length, width and height in inches, divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet, then divide the total weight in pounds by that figure. The result is density in pounds per cubic foot, which you read off the density scale to get the class.

How many freight classes are there?

Eighteen classes exist between 50 and 500. The standard density scale uses 13 of them. The remaining five, 77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500, appear only in commodity-specific listings where handling, stowability or liability drive the class.

Does a lower freight class mean a cheaper rate?

Generally yes. Lower classes are denser freight, and dense freight lets a carrier put more billable weight in the same trailer space. The class is one input into the rate, not the whole rate.

Do I include the pallet in the measurement?

Yes. Measure the finished handling unit including the pallet, the packaging and any overhang, and include the pallet's weight in the total. That is how the carrier will measure it.

What happens if I declare the wrong class?

The carrier re-measures in the terminal, issues a weight and inspection certificate, reclassifies the shipment and back-bills the difference, frequently with a reclassification fee. The adjustment typically arrives after you have already invoiced your customer.