Pallet on a floor scale being measured for freight class

Tools

LTL Freight Class Calculator

Enter your shipment dimensions and weight to instantly calculate freight class, density, and cubic footage.

Freight ClassLTL ShippingDensity CalculatorNMFCCubic FeetPer HundredweightFreight Rates

Enter Shipment Details

Package Type

Number of pallets

Dimension Unit

Weight Unit

Dimensions per pallet

Total Weight (all pallets)

Results

Enter dimensions and weight to calculate freight class

Reference

NMFC Freight Class Table

Freight classes range from 50 (most dense, lowest cost) to 500 (least dense, highest cost). Class is determined by density in pounds per cubic foot.

Class	Density (lbs/ft³)	Example Commodities
50	50+	Highest density — fits, durable freight (e.g., sand, bricks)
55	35 – 50	High density (e.g., hardwood flooring, cement)
60	30 – 35	Car accessories, bottled beverages
65	22.5 – 30	Car parts, bottled water, canned goods
70	15 – 22.5	Food items, automobile engines
77.5	13.5 – 15	Tires, bathroom fixtures
85	12 – 13.5	Crated machinery, cast iron stoves
92.5	10.5 – 12	Computers, monitors, refrigerators
100	9 – 10.5	Boat covers, wine cases, caskets
110	8 – 9	Cabinets, framed artwork, table saws
125	7 – 8	Small household appliances
150	6 – 7	Auto sheet metal, bookcases
175	5 – 6	Clothing, couches, stuffed furniture
200	4 – 5	Auto sheet metal parts, aircraft parts
250	3 – 4	Bamboo furniture, mattresses, plasma TVs
300	2 – 3	Wood cabinets, tables, chairs
400	1 – 2	Deer antlers, lightweight items
500	0 – 1	Lowest density — bags of gold dust, ping pong balls

How It Works

Understanding LTL Freight Class

What is Freight Class?

Freight class is a standardized classification system created by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). It categorizes commodities shipped via LTL (Less Than Truckload) into 18 classes ranging from Class 50 (cheapest to ship) to Class 500 (most expensive).

How is Freight Class Determined?

The primary factor is density — the weight of your freight per cubic foot. Higher density generally means a lower class number and lower shipping costs.

Formula:

Density = Total Weight (lbs) ÷ Total Volume (cubic feet)

Volume = Length × Width × Height (in inches) ÷ 1,728

Why Does Freight Class Matter?

Determines your LTL shipping rate per hundredweight (CWT)
Higher class = higher cost per pound shipped
Accurate classification prevents reclassification fees from carriers
Helps you compare quotes from different LTL carriers

Tips to Lower Your Freight Class

Stack efficiently — reduce dead space in packaging
Shrink-wrap pallets — allows denser loading
Consolidate shipments — ship fewer, heavier loads
Use proper packaging — avoid oversized boxes for small items
Work with a broker — Indray Inc can negotiate better rates

Need an LTL Quote?

Get competitive LTL rates from Indray Inc. Call +1 908 864 2064 or request a quote online.

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