LTL freight · pallet shipping
LTL freight class.
Enter pallet size and weight to get cubic feet, density in pounds per cubic foot, the density-based class from 50 to 400, and the weight needed to drop to the next cheaper class.
Shipment
Density class
Enter shipment details.
How the class is worked out
Cubic feet = units × length × width × height (inches) ÷ 1,728. Density = total weight in pounds ÷ cubic feet. The density is then matched to the 13-class NMFC density scale below, in effect since July 2025 (older 18-class charts with 77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500 are out of date). Worked example: two 48 × 40 × 48 in pallets weighing 1,000 lb in total are 106.67 cubic feet, so density is 9.375 PCF and the class is 100. At 10 PCF the class becomes 92.5, which needs 10 × 106.67 = 1,066.7 lb, or 66.7 lb more. Centimetres and kilograms are converted exactly (2.54 cm per inch, 0.45359237 kg per pound).
| Class | Density (PCF) |
|---|---|
| 50 | 50 and over |
| 55 | 35 to under 50 |
| 60 | 30 to under 35 |
| 65 | 22.5 to under 30 |
| 70 | 15 to under 22.5 |
| 85 | 12 to under 15 |
| 92.5 | 10 to under 12 |
| 100 | 8 to under 10 |
| 125 | 6 to under 8 |
| 175 | 4 to under 6 |
| 250 | 2 to under 4 |
| 300 | 1 to under 2 |
| 400 | under 1 |
What this does not decide
Class is set by density, stowability, handling and liability together, and many commodities have their own NMFC item with a fixed or tiered class. This tool applies the density table only, so treat the result as an estimate, not an NMFC ruling or a rate quote. Each band includes its lower density and stops just below the next one, so exactly 50 PCF is class 50; carriers may round differently. Carriers can inspect, re-measure and reclassify a shipment, and not every LTL carrier uses freight class. Confirm the NMFC item and class with your carrier. This is general information, not professional advice.
Sources (each opened 2026-10-15): Fulfill.com, Freight Density Calculator (13-band chart, density formula, include pallet and wrap); Inch Calculator, Freight Class Calculator (13 classes as of July 19, 2025, citing NMFTA Docket 2025-1); FreightCenter, Freight Class Calculator (not all items are classified by density; consult the NMFC). The two band tables agree on every band. The NMFTA site refused automated access, so the official NMFC tariff was not read directly.
FAQ
How do I calculate LTL freight class from density?
Multiply length x width x height in inches, then divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Divide the shipment weight in pounds by the cubic feet to get density in pounds per cubic foot (PCF), then look the density up in the class table. Example: 41,472 cubic inches is 24 cubic feet, and 600 lb over 24 cubic feet is 25 PCF, which falls in class 65.
Is the freight class this calculator shows the one my carrier will bill?
Not necessarily. It only applies the density table. Stowability, handling and liability can change the class, and many commodities have their own NMFC item number and class. Confirm the NMFC item and class for your commodity, and expect the carrier to inspect and reclassify if the declared class is wrong.
Which freight classes does this calculator use?
It uses the 13-class NMFC density scale in effect since July 2025: 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 85, 92.5, 100, 125, 175, 250, 300 and 400. Older charts that list 18 classes, including 77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500, are out of date for density-based classes.
What happens at exactly 35 or 50 PCF?
Each band includes its lower density and stops just below the next one, so exactly 50 PCF is class 50 and exactly 35 PCF is class 55. Carriers may round density differently, so check yours.
Should I include the pallet in the dimensions and weight?
Yes. Enter the total weight and dimensions including the pallet and any wrap. Measure the loaded handling unit at its widest points, including overhang, and weigh it on the pallet.