Free, no signup. Updated October 2026. NMFC 2025-1 scale
Free freight class calculator for LTL freight
Enter each pallet or crate to get its density and freight class.
NMFC Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025. It replaced the old 11-sub density scale with 13 density classes, from class 50 to class 400, and moved over 2,000 items to density-based classes. This calculator uses the new scale. Add each handling unit to see its density, cube and estimated class, and how close it is to the next class.
How freight class works
Freight class is one of the inputs LTL carriers use to rate a shipment. For most freight, the class comes from density: how many pounds the shipment packs into each cubic foot of trailer space.
Density sets most classes
Many NMFC items are classed by density ranges. Under Docket 2025-1, NMFTA moved over 2,000 more items to density-based classification.
13 classes, 50 to 400
Class 50 is the densest freight, at 50 lb per cubic foot or more. Class 400 is the lightest, at under 1 lb per cubic foot. Each step in between covers a density range.
Lower class, usually lower cost
A lower class number means denser freight, and in most cases denser shipments cost less to ship. Your rate still comes from your carrier’s tariff or contract.
Your NMFC item decides
Density gives you an estimate. The class that counts is the one your commodity’s NMFC item and your carrier’s tariff assign.
How to measure a pallet for freight class
NMFTA warns that density errors can lead to reclassifications, back charges or delays. Measure the whole handling unit as it will ship, with the pallet, and weigh it the same way.
Step 1
Measure the outside
Measure length, width and height at the longest, widest and tallest points, including the pallet and anything that overhangs it. Height runs from the floor to the top of the load.
Step 2
Round the way your carrier does
FedEx Freight rounds every fraction up to the next whole inch. If your carrier does the same, round up before you do the math, or tick the rounding box above.
Step 3
Weigh everything
Use the shipping weight: the freight, the pallet, the stretch wrap and the packaging. For several identical pallets, use the weight of each one or the total for the line.
Step 4
Find the density and class
Multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 1,728 for cubic feet. Divide the weight by the cubic feet for density in lb per cubic foot, then find that density on the 13-class scale.
The 2025 NMFC density scale: all 13 classes
This is the full-density scale from NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025. Each lower bound counts toward its class. A shipment at exactly 10 lb per cubic foot is class 92.5, not class 100.
| Density (lb per cubic foot) | Sub | Freight class |
|---|---|---|
| 50 or more | 13 | 50 |
| 35 to less than 50 | 12 | 55 |
| 30 to less than 35 | 11 | 60 |
| 22.5 to less than 30 | 10 | 65 |
| 15 to less than 22.5 | 9 | 70 |
| 12 to less than 15 | 8 | 85 |
| 10 to less than 12 | 7 | 92.5 |
| 8 to less than 10 | 6 | 100 |
| 6 to less than 8 | 5 | 125 |
| 4 to less than 6 | 4 | 175 |
| 2 to less than 4 | 3 | 250 |
| 1 to less than 2 | 2 | 300 |
| Less than 1 | 1 | 400 |
- Scale: NMFTA, Decoding Density, cross-checked against the Estes density calculator.
- Effective date and the change from 11 subs to 13: NMFTA, How shippers can prepare for the 2025 NMFC changes. Checked October 2026.
Why density isn’t always your class
Freight class weighs four characteristics: density, handling, stowability and liability. Estes says to use density to estimate a class when you have no handling, stowability or liability information. Hazardous, fragile, perishable, oddly shaped or theft-prone freight can rate a higher class than its density suggests.
NMFC items still differ. Some items have their own density ranges, and NMFTA marks items with unique handling needs. Some classifications also ask you to declare the value or the density on the bill of lading.
- Look up your commodity’s NMFC item in NMFTA’s ClassIT+ (a paid subscription), or ask your carrier.
- Check your carrier’s tariff or your contract. Some carrier contracts allow pricing by dimensions alone.
- Treat the number above as an estimate until both agree.
How to lower your freight class
Density is weight over cube. You can rarely change the weight, so the lever is usually the cube.
Cut the height
On a light pallet, height is the easiest cube to lose. The calculator shows how many inches would reach the next class at the same footprint.
Stack tight and square
Gaps, crowns and cartons that hang over the edge all count toward the size you are billed on. A square, tight stack is denser.
Match the pallet to the load
Freight that only covers part of a 48 × 48 deck still ships at the deck’s full footprint. A smaller pallet can lower the cube.
Don’t pad the weight
The “add this many pounds” figure shows how close you are to a line. It isn’t advice to add ballast. You pay to ship that weight too.
Reclass risk, explained
Class lines are sharp. A pallet at 9.9 lb per cubic foot is class 100, and at 10 it is class 92.5. If your freight sits close to a line, a small difference between your tape and the carrier’s can move it.
The calculator checks each line with half an inch more and half an inch less on every side, at the same weight. If either result lands in another class, it flags the line as within measuring error. The bar shows where your density sits inside its class, with the measuring range shaded.
When a carrier finds a different class at inspection, it can reclassify the shipment, change the charge and add a reclassification fee. A flagged line is worth measuring again, rounded the way your carrier rounds.
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Freight class FAQs
- How do I calculate freight class?
- Measure the length, width and height in inches, including the pallet. Multiply them and divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Divide the total weight in pounds by the cubic feet to get density. Then find that density on the NMFC density scale. A 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet that weighs 500 lb is 53.33 cubic feet, so its density is about 9.4 lb per cubic foot. That falls between 8 and 10, which is class 100.
- What are the different freight classes for shipping?
- The NMFC density scale in effect since July 19, 2025 has 13 classes: 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 85, 92.5, 100, 125, 175, 250, 300 and 400. Class 50 is the densest freight, at 50 lb per cubic foot or more. Class 400 is the lightest, at under 1 lb per cubic foot. The full table is above.
- What changed in freight classes on July 19, 2025?
- NMFC Docket 2025-1 took effect. It replaced the 11-sub density scale with a 13-sub scale, adding classes 55 and 50 for freight denser than 35 lb per cubic foot. NMFTA says over 2,000 items moved to density-based classification and many generic headings were consolidated.
- Do I include the pallet when I measure freight?
- Yes. NMFTA tells shippers to measure down to the inch and always include pallets and packaging. Measure height from the floor to the top of the load, with the pallet. Measure length and width at the widest points, including anything that hangs over the pallet edge. Weigh the pallet and wrap too.
- Do carriers round freight dimensions up?
- Some do. FedEx Freight tells shippers to round all fractions up to the next inch. Other carriers' tariffs and contracts can differ, so check yours. Tick the rounding box in the calculator to see whether rounding up changes your class.
- Is density the only thing that sets freight class?
- No. Freight class weighs four characteristics: density, handling, stowability and liability. Hazardous, fragile, perishable, oddly shaped or theft-prone freight can rate a higher class than its density suggests. Check your commodity's NMFC item in NMFTA's ClassIT+ and your carrier's tariff before you ship.
- What happens if my freight class is wrong?
- If the class on your bill of lading doesn't match what the carrier finds at inspection, the carrier can reclassify the shipment, adjust the charge and add a reclassification fee. NMFTA warns that density errors can lead to reclassifications, back charges or shipping delays.
- How do I find the freight class of a mixed shipment?
- Give each line its own class. Each handling unit or group of identical units is a line on the bill of lading, with its own weight and class. The calculator also shows the whole shipment's density, which is total weight divided by total cube, for comparison.
- How do I calculate density for a drum or other cylinder?
- Estes measures a cylinder as a square of its widest diameter. Multiply the diameter by itself, then by the height, and divide by 1,728 for cubic feet. Divide the weight by that number. Pick Drum in the calculator and enter the diameter as both length and width.
- Does a lower freight class cost less?
- Usually. A lower class number means denser freight, and in most cases denser shipments cost less to ship. Your actual rate also depends on your carrier's tariff or contract, the weight and the lane.