Freight class calculator
Enter each pallet or piece. You get density, cubic feet and the class under the 13-step scale that took effect on July 19, 2025.
Shipment
Freight class density chart (2025)
The standard NMFC density scale since July 19, 2025. Each step, called a subprovision, maps a density range to one class.
| Sub | Density | Class |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Under 1 pcf | 400 |
| 2 | 1 to under 2 pcf | 300 |
| 3 | 2 to under 4 pcf | 250 |
| 4 | 4 to under 6 pcf | 175 |
| 5 | 6 to under 8 pcf | 125 |
| 6 | 8 to under 10 pcf | 100 |
| 7 | 10 to under 12 pcf | 92.5 |
| 8 | 12 to under 15 pcf | 85 |
| 9 | 15 to under 22.5 pcf | 70 |
| 10 | 22.5 to under 30 pcf | 65 |
| 11 | 30 to under 35 pcf | 60 |
| 12 | 35 to under 50 pcf | 55 |
| 13 | 50 pcf and up | 50 |
Source: NMFTA, Docket 2025-1, 13-subprovision density scale (help.nmfta.org). Checked September 19, 2026.
How the calculation works
- Cubic feet L × W × H (in) ÷ 1,728, for every piece.
- Density weight (lb) ÷ cubic feet, for every line.
- Class is the step on the density scale that contains your density.
Example: one 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet at 500 lb is 53.33 ft³. That gives 9.38 pcf, which falls in the 8 to under 10 pcf step, so the class is 100.
Questions
How is freight class calculated?
Multiply length, width and height in inches, then divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Divide the total weight in pounds by the total cubic feet. The result is density in pounds per cubic foot (pcf). Find that density on the NMFC density scale to get the class.
What changed in the NMFC in 2025?
Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025. Many commodities moved to density-based classes, and the standard density scale grew from 11 to 13 subprovisions. The two new steps give class 55 to freight from 35 to under 50 pcf and class 50 to freight at 50 pcf and up.
Why are classes 77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500 missing?
They are not on the density scale. They appear only in commodity-specific NMFC items, where handling, stowability or liability sets the class instead of density.
Is this the official class for my shipment?
No. The NMFC item for your commodity sets the class. Many density-based items use this standard scale, some have density breaks of their own, and others are not density-based at all. Check the item or ask your carrier before you book, because carriers can reweigh and reinspect a shipment and bill it at a different class.
Do all pallets in a shipment get one class?
Not necessarily. Carriers usually figure density for each handling unit, so pallets with different densities can fall into different classes. The calculator shows density and class for every line and marks a shipment where the lines differ.
Do I include the pallet?
Yes. Measure and weigh each handling unit as it will ship, with the pallet or skid and any overhang.