Enter the dimensions and weight of each pallet or piece to get its density and LTL freight class. Uses the 13-class NMFC density scale in effect since July 19, 2025.
Your shipment
Length (in)Width (in)Height (in)Weight each (lb)Qty
Enter length, width, height and weight to see the freight class.
Estimate based on density only. Some commodities have their own NMFC item that sets a different class. Confirm with your carrier or broker before you ship. Density scale current as of October 2026.
NMFC density scale (13 classes)
Each band starts at its lower number and runs up to, but not including, the next one. A shipment at exactly 10.00 pounds per cubic foot is class 92.5, not 100.
Density (lb per cubic foot)
Freight class
How freight class is calculated
Measure each piece at its extreme dimensions: the longest, widest and tallest points, including the pallet and any overhang.
Work out cubic feet. Multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 1,728 (the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot).
Add up the shipment. Total the cubic feet and the weight of every piece.
Divide weight by cubic feet to get density in pounds per cubic foot (pcf).
Look the density up on the scale above to find the class.
Cubic feet = (L × W × H in inches) ÷ 1,728
Density = total weight (lb) ÷ total cubic feet
Worked example
One pallet measuring 48 × 40 × 48 inches and weighing 500 lb:
9.38 falls in the 8 to under 10 band, so this is class 100
Build the same 500 lb pallet only 45 inches tall and it measures 50 cubic feet: exactly 10.00 pcf, which is class 92.5. A tighter load can drop a class.
What changed in 2025
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) publishes the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), the standard LTL carriers use to class freight. Its Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025 and changed how most LTL freight is classed:
The standard density scale grew from 11 subprovisions to 13, adding classes 55 and 50 for very dense freight.
A large number of commodities that used to carry a fixed class moved to density-based classes, so most LTL freight is now classed by how dense the shipment is.
Handling, stowability and liability still matter for some items, which keep their own classes or extra rules.
Many freight class charts online still show the old scale. If a calculator gives you class 77.5, 110 or 150 for density-only freight, it is out of date: those classes are not on the 13-class density scale.
Measure the way the carrier will. LTL carriers re-weigh and re-measure freight. If their numbers give a higher class than the bill of lading shows, they reclass the shipment and bill the difference.
Booking this load? Check the carrier first.
Verify authority, insurance and safety record by DOT or MC number. Free, no account needed.
Freight class is the rating that LTL (less-than-truckload) carriers use to price a shipment. Classes run from 50 to 400 under the density scale. Dense freight that is easy to load gets a low class and a lower rate per hundred pounds; light, bulky freight gets a high class and a higher rate. The classes are published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC).
How do I calculate freight class?
Measure the length, width and height of each piece in inches at its outermost points, including the pallet. Multiply them and divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Add up the cubic feet and the weight of every piece, then divide the total weight in pounds by the total cubic feet to get density in pounds per cubic foot. Look that density up on the NMFC density scale to find the class.
What changed with NMFC freight classes in 2025?
NMFTA Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025. It expanded the standard density scale from 11 subprovisions to 13, adding classes 55 and 50 for very dense freight, and moved a large number of commodities from fixed classes to density-based classes. Most LTL freight is now classed by density, with handling, stowability and liability still considered for some items.
Do I include the pallet when measuring for freight class?
Yes. Measure the shipment at its extreme dimensions, including the pallet or skid, any overhang, and anything that stops other freight from being stacked on top. Carriers measure the same way, so leaving out the pallet understates the cubic feet and can lead to a reclass and a higher bill.
Is density the only thing that decides freight class?
Not always. Some commodities have their own NMFC item with a fixed class or extra rules, and handling, stowability and liability can still affect the class. This calculator gives the density-based class, which applies to most LTL freight. Confirm the NMFC item for your commodity with your carrier or broker before you ship.
What is the difference between an NMFC code and a freight class?
The NMFC item number identifies what the commodity is. The freight class is the rating that item carries. For density-based items, the item number points to the density scale and the class depends on how dense your particular shipment is.