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NMFC Freight Class Calculator

Enter dimensions and weight, get cubic feet, density in pounds per cubic foot, and the suggested LTL freight class off the current NMFC density scale. Below the calculator you get a class chart with real examples, the tips that keep you off a reclassification invoice, and how classification fits the rest of your quoting workflow.

Freight class calculator

Enter each handling unit as tendered, pallet and overhang included. You get cubic feet, density in pounds per cubic foot, and the density suggested class.

Pieces

Length (in)

Width (in)

Height (in)

Weight (lbs)

Volume: 53.33 cu ftDensity: 11.25 PCFSuggested class: 92.5

Round each dimension up to the next inch, as most carriers do

Total weight

600 lbs

Total volume

53.33 cu ft

Shipment density

11.25 PCF

Suggested class

92.5

Density suggests the class, it does not decide it on its own. Items with a fixed NMFC listing, or classes driven by stowability, handling, or liability, can differ. Confirm the NMFC item and sub before you tender.

What freight class actually does for you

Freight class is the shared language carriers use to price less than truckload shipments. The National Motor Freight Classification puts every commodity into one of 18 classes, from 50 for dense, durable, easy to stow freight up to 500 for light, bulky, or fragile freight. The class you tender feeds the rate, so it drives your margin on every LTL quote you send.

Density

Weight divided by volume in pounds per cubic foot. The main driver for most general commodities and the one you control with better packaging.

Stowability

Can it be loaded next to other freight and stacked. Oversized, hazardous, or unstackable freight takes space it cannot share and classes higher.

Handling

Special equipment, fragility, and awkward shapes that slow a dock down. Anything a forklift cannot pick up cleanly costs more to move.

Liability

Value per pound, theft appeal, perishability, and damage risk to nearby freight. High value freight classes up even when it is dense.

The NMFC density scale

Since NMFTA Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025, most general commodities take their class from this 13 sub density scale. Ranges include the lower bound and exclude the upper bound, so exactly 30.0 PCF is class 60 and exactly 50.0 PCF is class 50.

Sub	Density (lbs per cubic foot)	Class
1	Less than 1	400
2	1 but less than 2	300
3	2 but less than 4	250
4	4 but less than 6	175
5	6 but less than 8	125
6	8 but less than 10	100
7	10 but less than 12	92.5
8	12 but less than 15	85
9	15 but less than 22.5	70
10	22.5 but less than 30	65
11	30 but less than 35	60
12	35 but less than 50	55
13	50 or greater	50

Source: NMFTA, Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025.

Freight class chart with examples

Use this to sanity check a calculated class against the kind of freight you are looking at. The full 18 class chart is still what carriers quote from, and the example commodities are typical, not a substitute for the NMFC item listing.

Class	Cost	Notes and examples	Weight per cubic foot
Class 50	Lowest cost	Clean freight on a shrink wrapped 48x40 pallet, very durable, fits standard footprint	Over 50 lbs
Class 55		Bricks, cement, mortar, hardwood flooring	35 to 50 lbs
Class 60		Car accessories and car parts, bottled beverages	30 to 35 lbs
Class 65		Car parts, bottled beverages, books in boxes, canned goods	22.5 to 30 lbs
Class 70		Car parts, food items, automobile engines	15 to 22.5 lbs
Class 77.5		Tires, bathroom fixtures	13.5 to 15 lbs
Class 85		Crated machinery, cast iron stoves	12 to 13.5 lbs
Class 92.5		Computers, monitors, refrigerators	10.5 to 12 lbs
Class 100		Boat covers, car covers, canvas, wine cases, caskets	9 to 10.5 lbs
Class 110		Cabinets, framed artwork, table saw	8 to 9 lbs
Class 125		Small household appliances	7 to 8 lbs
Class 150		Auto sheet metal parts, bookcases	6 to 7 lbs
Class 175		Clothing, couches, stuffed furniture	5 to 6 lbs
Class 200		Auto sheet metal parts, aircraft parts, aluminum table, packaged mattresses	4 to 5 lbs
Class 250		Bamboo furniture, mattress and box spring, plasma TV	3 to 4 lbs
Class 300		Wood cabinets, tables, chair setups, model boats	2 to 3 lbs
Class 400		Deer antlers, light and bulky assemblies	1 to 2 lbs
Class 500	Highest cost	Low density or high value freight, bags of gold dust, ping pong balls	Less than 1 lb

Tips that keep you off a reclassification invoice

Measure at the greatest point

Include the pallet, shrink wrap, skids, and every inch of overhang. Carriers dimension the footprint the freight actually occupies, not the carton spec.

Round dimensions up

Most carriers round each dimension up to the next inch. Do the same so your density estimate is conservative instead of optimistic.

Never reuse stale dimensions

Old records, changed packaging, and a taller pallet all shift density. Reverify anything you have not physically measured this year.

Classify per handling unit

Mixed shipments need a class per commodity and per pallet. Averaging everything into one class is the most common reason an invoice gets corrected.

Consolidate to lower the class

Two half filled pallets often class higher than one tight pallet. Densifying, stacking, or crating tighter is a legitimate way to earn a lower rate.

Put the NMFC item and sub on the BOL

A class with no NMFC item number invites the carrier to pick one for you. Describe the commodity plainly and list the item and sub you calculated.

A quick worked example

One pallet, 48 by 40 by 48 inches, 600 pounds including the pallet. Volume is 48 x 40 x 48 = 92,160 cubic inches, divided by 1,728 gives 53.33 cubic feet. Density is 600 / 53.33 = 11.25 pounds per cubic foot, which falls in the 10 to 12 band and suggests class 92.5. Stack the same 600 pounds only 60 inches tall instead and density drops to 9 PCF, which suggests class 100 and a higher rate for identical freight.

How classification fits the FreightCanvas workflow

This calculator is the standalone version of the classification step inside FreightCanvas. In the app you are already entering the dimensions and weight of every freight item to plan the load, so class comes from the same numbers instead of a separate spreadsheet.

Load Visualizer feeds it

Every freight item already carries length, width, height, and weight. Class and density are derived per item and per load group, so you never retype dimensions to classify.

See the Load Visualizer

Routing and fuel add the trip cost

Truck aware multi stop routing, hazmat profiles, and per state fuel estimates give you real trip cost next to the classified freight before you price it.

See routing

Quotes and BOLs inherit the class

The quote builder and Bill of Lading pull the class, NMFC item, description, and piece counts straight from the load, so the paperwork matches what you tendered.

See documents

The end to end path inside the app

Build the load. Add each freight item with dimensions and weight, group it by customer, and place it on the trailer in 2D or 3D.
Classify in place. Density and the suggested NMFC class are calculated per handling unit, with an override field for items that carry a fixed NMFC listing.
Plan the trip. Build the multi stop route with truck aware directions, hazmat restrictions where they apply, and a fuel plan by state.
Price it. The quote builder combines classified freight, route mileage, fuel, and accessorials so the number you send is built from real inputs.
Document it. The Bill of Lading and quote PDFs carry the class, NMFC item, and descriptions forward automatically.

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Freight class questions

How do you calculate freight class?

Multiply length by width by height in inches, including the pallet and any overhang, then divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Divide the weight in pounds by cubic feet to get density in pounds per cubic foot. Most general commodities then take their class from the NMFC density scale, so about 9 PCF suggests class 100 and 50 PCF or more suggests class 50.

Is density the only thing that sets freight class?

No. The NMFC weighs four factors: density, stowability, handling, and liability. Density drives most general commodity classes, but a fixed NMFC item listing, an unstackable or hazardous shipment, or high value per pound can land you in a different class than density alone suggests.

What changed with the 2025 NMFC update?

NMFTA Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, moved thousands of commodity listings onto a standard 13 sub density scale. If you kept classes in a spreadsheet from before that date, recheck the items you ship most often.

What happens if I use the wrong class?

The carrier inspects, reweighs or redimensions the freight and reclassifies it. You get a corrected invoice, often well above the original quote, and sometimes an inspection fee and a delay. Accurate dimensions at quote time is the cheapest insurance available.

Do I calculate class per pallet or for the whole shipment?

Class is assigned per handling unit and commodity, not per invoice. Calculate each pallet or crate separately when the contents differ. The shipment total is still useful as a sanity check against what the carrier will dimension on the dock.

NMFC and National Motor Freight Classification are trademarks of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. FreightCanvas is not affiliated with NMFTA. This tool gives density based guidance and does not replace the official NMFC item listings or your carrier tariff.