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Freight class calculator

Find your LTL freight class from shipment density using the current 13-tier NMFC scale introduced in 2025, with cubic feet, density and the class break shown.

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Handling unit as loaded

Measure the pallet or crate as it will be tendered, including overhang and the pallet itself. Carriers remeasure, and a reclassification is the most common reason an LTL invoice does not match the quote.

lb
in
in
in
Freight class
100

9.38 lb per cubic foot

Cubic feet
53.33
Density
9.38 lb/ft³

At 10.5 lb per cubic foot this drops to class 92.5, which is a cheaper rate. Packing tighter or using a shorter pallet can be worth more than negotiating.

Typical goods in this class: Car covers, canvas, boat covers

Density is only one of four NMFC factors. A carrier can still reclassify on stowability, handling difficulty or liability, and a reclass is the most common cause of an LTL invoice not matching the quote.
Step-by-step breakdown of the calculation
StepWorkingResult
Cubic feetMeasure the pallet as loaded, including overhang and the pallet itself.53.33 ft³
Density9.38 lb/ft³
Freight classTypical goods in this class: Car covers, canvas, boat covers. Carriers may reclassify based on NMFC item number, stowability, handling and liability.Source: C.H. Robinson (reporting NMFTA Docket 2025-1) (effective 2025-07-19)100

Questions people ask about this

How is freight class calculated?

Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet to get density, then look the density up on the NMFC scale. Higher density means a lower class number and a lower rate. Measure the pallet as loaded, including overhang and the pallet itself.

Did freight classes change recently?

Yes. NMFTA Docket 2025-1 replaced the older tier structure with a 13-tier density scale from 19 July 2025 and reclassified more than 2,000 commodity codes. A calculator still running the old chart will give you the wrong class on some shipments.

Why did my carrier reclassify my shipment?

Density is only one of four factors. Stowability, handling difficulty and liability can all move a class, and carriers reweigh and remeasure routinely. A reclassification is the most common reason an LTL invoice does not match the quote.

Related calculators

Pallet loadingCartons per layer and per pallet, packed the way a warehouse would.CBMCubic metres, cubic feet, and CBM converted to chargeable weight by mode.Container loadCartons or pallets per container, and what limits the load.Chargeable weightThe greater of actual and volumetric, with the carrier's rounding applied.

Where these numbers come from

Rates and rules change, and a calculator running on stale data is worse than no calculator. Every figure below carries the date we last checked it and a confidence level, so you can judge how much weight to put on it.

Source Publisher Effective Confidence
NMFC density-based classification, 2025 overhaul NMFTA replaced the legacy density tiers with a 13-tier scale and reclassified over 2,000 commodity codes. Density alone does not settle a class: stowability, handling and liability can all trigger a reclassification. C.H. Robinson (reporting NMFTA Docket 2025-1) 2025-07-19 Corroborated

Page last reviewed . Spotted something out of date? Tell us — corrections are published with the date they were made.