Measure the outside of each pallet or crate, including the pallet itself, and enter its weight. The calculator works out the density and the matching freight class.
Freight class
Density
lb/ft³
Total volume
ft³
Total weight
lb
Density for next lower class
lb/ft³
How freight class is worked out
LTL carriers in the US price shipments by freight class. For most goods the class now follows from density, the weight per cubic foot of each handling unit:
Volume (ft³) = L · W · H (in) ÷ 1,728
Density (lb/ft³) = weight (lb) ÷ volume (ft³)
Measure the outermost points, including the pallet and any overhang, and round fractions of an inch up.
NMFC density scale since July 19, 2025
Density (lb/ft³)
Class
50 or more
50
35 to under 50
55
30 to under 35
60
22.5 to under 30
65
15 to under 22.5
70
12 to under 15
85
10 to under 12
92.5
8 to under 10
100
6 to under 8
125
4 to under 6
175
2 to under 4
250
1 to under 2
300
under 1
400
13-step scale introduced with NMFC Docket 2025-1. Classes 77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500 are no longer part of the density scale but still exist for some commodity-specific items. Sources: Echo Global Logistics, Logistics Plus.
Worked example
A standard 48 × 40 in pallet is loaded to 48 in high and weighs 500 lb. Its volume is 48 × 40 × 48 ÷ 1,728 = 53.3 ft³, so the density is 500 ÷ 53.3 = 9.4 lb/ft³. That is class 100. At 534 lb or more, or with the stack cut to 45 in, it would reach 10 lb/ft³ and class 92.5.
Divide the weight of a handling unit in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. Volume is length × width × height in inches divided by 1,728. Then look up the density on the NMFC density scale: for example 8 to under 10 lb/ft³ is class 100, 15 to under 22.5 lb/ft³ is class 70.
What changed in 2025?
With NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, the NMFTA moved about 2,000 commodity listings to density-based classification and introduced a 13-step density scale. It adds classes 50 and 55 for very dense freight; the old 11-step scale is no longer used for those items.
Is the density class always the class I have to use?
Not always. Some commodities still have their own NMFC item and class, for example hazardous goods or items with special handling needs. The density result is the right class for density-rated items and a good estimate for the rest. Check the NMFC item with your carrier or through NMFTA's ClassIT.
Should I include the pallet in the dimensions?
Yes. Carriers measure the outermost points of the handling unit, including the pallet, overhang and any protrusions, and they weigh the whole unit. Many carriers now re-measure freight with dimensioners, and a wrong class leads to a reclassification fee.
How can I get a lower freight class?
Raise the density: use smaller cartons, avoid empty space on the pallet, stack to a sensible height and do not leave large overhangs. Each step down the scale, for example from class 100 to 92.5, lowers the rate.