Freight Class Calculator
Enter a shipment's dimensions and weight to find its density and its LTL freight class on the 13-step NMFC density scale.
- Density range
- Cubic feet
- Total weight
- Next class down
- Density
Shipment
Handling units you add are saved in this browser. The total shows the density of the whole shipment.
| Qty | Size (L × W × H) | Weight | Cubic Feet | Density | Class | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No units yet. Enter a pallet or crate above and choose Add to shipment. | ||||||
How to Find Freight Class by Density
Freight class tells LTL carriers how to price a shipment. Since July 19, 2025, the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) rates most freight by density on a 13-step scale, from class 50 for the densest freight to class 400 for the lightest. To find density, measure the shipment, turn the size into cubic feet, and divide the weight by the cubic feet.
Worked Example
A pallet 48″ long, 40″ wide and 48″ tall weighs 500 lb. It takes up 48 × 40 × 48 ÷ 1,728 = 53.33 cubic feet. Its density is 500 ÷ 53.33 = 9.38 lb/ft³, which falls in the 8 to under 10 range: class 100. Stacking the same freight to 40″ tall would make it 44.44 cubic feet and 11.25 lb/ft³, which is class 92.5.
NMFC Density Scale
The scale in effect since July 19, 2025. Your result is marked with ▶.
| Sub | Density (lb/ft³) | Class |
|---|
Tips for Getting the Class Right
Measure freight the way it ships: on the pallet, wrapped, at its widest points. Carriers measure and weigh freight at the dock, and if their numbers put it in a different class, they reclassify it and often charge an inspection fee. Round fractions of an inch up so your numbers match theirs.
Density sets the class for most freight, but some commodities still have their own NMFC item and class. Look up your product's NMFC item number, or ask your carrier, before you book. Freight that can't be stacked, is fragile, or is unusually long may carry a higher class or extra charges.