Freight Class Calculator
Enter the size and weight of each pallet. Get the density and an estimated LTL freight class on the 13-tier NMFC density scale, for one pallet or the whole shipment.
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Estimated freight class
Class 100
9.38 lb/cu ft, 53.33 cu ft, 500 lb
At 9.38 lb per cubic foot the shipment falls in the 8 to under 10 band, so the estimated class is 100. Confirm the NMFC item for your commodity with your carrier.
- Density
- 9.38 lb/cu ft
- Total volume
- 53.33 cu ft
- Total weight
- 500 lb
Measure the outside of each pallet or piece, including the pallet and any overhang. Weight includes the pallet and packaging. Estimate only: uses the 13-tier density scale in force since July 19, 2025. The NMFC item for your commodity sets the class that applies.
Show the working
- Pallet 1:
48 × 40 × 48 in ÷ 1,728 × 1 = 53.33 cu ft; 500 lb ÷ 53.33 = 9.38 lb/cu ft - Shipment density:
500 lb ÷ 53.33 cu ft = 9.38 lb/cu ft - Class:
8 to under 10 lb/cu ft on the 13-tier scale = class 100
Freight Density Formula
Density = weight (lb) / volume (cu ft). Volume in cubic feet is length x width x height (inches) / 1,728. With several pallets, add up the weights and the volumes before you divide.
Worked example: one pallet
Pallet 48 x 40 x 48 in, 500 lb including the palletVolume = 48 x 40 x 48 / 1,728 = 53.33 cu ftDensity = 500 / 53.33 = 9.38 lb/cu ft9.38 is in the 8 to under 10 band
Estimated class 100.
Worked example: a mixed shipment
2 pallets 48 x 40 x 40 in at 1,000 lb each: 88.89 cu ft, 22.5 lb/cu ft (class 65)1 pallet 48 x 40 x 48 in at 300 lb: 53.33 cu ft, 5.63 lb/cu ft (class 175)Shipment = 2,300 lb / 142.22 cu ft = 16.17 lb/cu ft
The shipment as a whole estimates at class 70, but the light pallet on its own is class 175.
13-Tier Freight Class Density Chart
The density scale used for NMFC items without handling, stowability or liability concerns since July 19, 2025 (NMFTA docket 2025-1):
| Density (lb per cu ft) | Freight class |
|---|---|
| under 1 | 400 |
| 1 to under 2 | 300 |
| 2 to under 4 | 250 |
| 4 to under 6 | 175 |
| 6 to under 8 | 125 |
| 8 to under 10 | 100 |
| 10 to under 12 | 92.5 |
| 12 to under 15 | 85 |
| 15 to under 22.5 | 70 |
| 22.5 to under 30 | 65 |
| 30 to under 35 | 60 |
| 35 to under 50 | 55 |
| 50 or more | 50 |
Sources: the 13-tier table as published by Freightquote by C.H. Robinson, and the C.H. Robinson summary of the 2025 NMFC changes. The NMFTA publishes the official classification in the NMFC and ClassIT.
This Is an Estimate
Density is only one input. The class that applies to a shipment is the class of the NMFC item that describes the commodity, and some items are still classed by handling, stowability or liability. Confirm the item number with your carrier before you tender the freight; a reclass after reweighing is billed at the higher class.
Related Shipping Calculators
Build the pallet first with the pallet calculator (Ti-Hi and cases per pallet), check ocean and air volume with the CBM calculator, and put the freight bill into your unit cost with the landed cost calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is freight class calculated from density?
Work out the volume in cubic feet (length x width x height in inches, divided by 1,728), divide the weight in pounds by it to get pounds per cubic foot, then look the density up on the scale. A 48 x 40 x 48 inch pallet weighing 500 lb is 53.33 cubic feet and 9.38 lb per cubic foot, which is class 100.
What changed in NMFC freight classification in 2025?
From July 19, 2025 (NMFTA docket 2025-1), many NMFC items that have no special handling, stowability or liability concerns are classed on a 13-tier density scale, from class 400 under 1 lb per cubic foot to class 50 at 50 lb per cubic foot or more. The density scale has no 77.5, 110, 150 or 200 band.
Is this freight class exact?
No, it is an estimate from density alone. The class that applies is the one set by the NMFC item for your commodity, and some items are classed by handling, stowability or liability rather than density. Check the item with your carrier or in ClassIT before you bill.
Do I include the pallet in the measurements?
Yes. Measure the outside of the whole handling unit, including the pallet, packaging and anything that overhangs, and use the total weight including the pallet. Carriers reweigh and remeasure, and an underdeclared size or weight leads to a reclass and a higher bill.
How do I class a shipment with several pallets?
Add the pallets as separate rows. The calculator shows each pallet's density and class and the density of the whole shipment. Some carriers class each handling unit on its own, so the per-pallet classes are worth checking when they differ.
Why does freight class matter?
LTL rates are set per class, and lower classes are cheaper per hundredweight. Denser freight takes less trailer space for its weight, so it gets a lower class. Moving a pallet from class 125 to class 100 by packing it tighter can cut the rate noticeably.
Related Free Tools
Pallet Calculator
Cases per layer (Ti), layers (Hi) and cases per pallet within height and weight limits, for 48x40, UK and Euro pallets.
CBM Calculator
Cubic metres for a shipment of cartons, how it fits in 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube containers, and volumetric weight.
Landed Cost Calculator
Landed unit cost for a whole invoice: freight by value, units or weight, duty, FX and UK import VAT.