Freight class chart

Most LTL freight gets its class from density: pounds per cubic foot. Since July 19, 2025, the NMFC chart has 13 rows. Freight at 50 lb/ft³ or more is class 50, the cheapest. Freight under 1 lb/ft³ is class 400. Find your density in the left column and read the class on the right.

NMFC density chart (2025 scale)

Freight class chart: density in pounds per cubic foot and the freight class it rates
Density (lb/ft³)	Freight class
50 and over	Class 50
35 – under 50	Class 55
30 – under 35	Class 60
22.5 – under 30	Class 65
15 – under 22.5	Class 70
12 – under 15	Class 85
10 – under 12	Class 92.5
8 – under 10	Class 100
6 – under 8	Class 125
4 – under 6	Class 175
2 – under 4	Class 250
1 – under 2	Class 300
0 – under 1	Class 400

Source: NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025. It applies to goods rated by density. Goods with their own NMFC listing follow that listing.

How to read the chart

Take a pallet that is 48 by 40 inches and stands 60 inches tall, pallet included. Multiply the three sides and you get 115,200 cubic inches. Divide by 1,728 and that is 66.7 cubic feet.

Now say it weighs 900 lb. Divide 900 by 66.7 and you get 13.5 lb/ft³. That lands in the 12 to 15 row, so the pallet rates class 85. Add 100 lb of goods to the same pallet and it weighs 1,000 lb. Its density is now 15.0, which moves it up a row to class 70. A lower class means a lower rate on every pound, so the heavier pallet can cost less per pound to ship.

The freight class calculator does this math for you, in inches or centimeters, for one pallet or a mixed load.

All 18 freight classes

Five classes are not on the density chart any more. Freight gets 77.5, 110, 150, 200 or 500 only when its NMFC listing names that class. The goods listed are typical examples, not a ruling for your item.

All 18 NMFC freight classes with density band and typical goods
Class	Density (lb/ft³)	Typical goods
50	50 and over	Bricks and pavers, bagged sand or cement, nuts, bolts and fasteners
55	35 – under 50	Hardwood flooring, bricks and mortar, cement and concrete
60	30 – under 35	Car parts and accessories, steel cable and wire, used auto tires
65	22.5 – under 30	Car parts and accessories, bottled drinks, books and printed matter
70	15 – under 22.5	Automobile engines, food items (non-perishable), machinery parts
77.5	By NMFC listing only (the old 13.5–15 band now rates 85)	Tires and tubes, bathroom fixtures, packaged hardware
85	12 – under 15	Crated machinery, cast-iron stoves, transmissions and clutches
92.5	10 – under 12	Computers and monitors, refrigerators, major appliances
100	8 – under 10	Boat and car covers, canvas goods, wine cases
110	By NMFC listing only (the old 8–9 band now rates 100)	Cabinets, framed artwork, table saws and power tools
125	6 – under 8	Small household appliances, vacuum cleaners, portable heaters
150	By NMFC listing only (the old 6–7 band now rates 125)	Auto sheet metal parts, bookcases, assembled wood furniture
175	4 – under 6	Clothing and apparel, couches and sofas, stuffed furniture
200	By NMFC listing only (the old 4–5 band now rates 175)	Auto sheet metal, aircraft parts, aluminum tables
250	2 – under 4	Mattresses and box springs, plasma and LCD TVs, bamboo furniture
300	1 – under 2	Assembled tables and chairs, model boats and aircraft, light furniture frames
400	0 – under 1	Deer antlers, loosely boxed lampshades, uncompressed foam packaging
500	By NMFC listing only (the old 0–1 band now rates 400)	Ping pong balls, bags of gold dust, foam packaging

When density is not the whole answer

The NMFC rates goods on four things. Density is the one you can measure. The other three explain why some goods carry a fixed class that ignores the chart:

Density — pounds per cubic foot. Dense freight fills a trailer well, so it rates low. Packing tighter is how you change it.
Stowability — how well it loads next to other freight. Odd shapes, overhang, goods that can't be stacked and hazmat that can't share a trailer all push the class up.
Handling — the work to move it through a terminal. A clean pallet takes one forklift trip. Fragile or awkward pieces take more care and time.
Liability — the carrier's risk. Goods worth a lot per pound, easy to steal, quick to spoil or easy to break rate higher than their density alone.

So start with the chart. If your goods are plain freight on a pallet, the chart gives your class. If they are fragile, oddly shaped or costly, check the commodity guides below or ask your carrier for the NMFC item. New to this? Read what freight class is.

Skip the math

Enter size and weight, and get the class from this chart in one step.

Open the Freight Class Calculator

Freight class by commodity

Each guide gives the typical class range for that kind of freight, real pallet examples and the carrier rules that apply:

Freight class chart FAQ

What is a freight class chart?

A table that turns your shipment's density into an LTL freight class. You weigh the shipment, work out its cubic feet, and divide. Then you find the row that holds your number. The chart on this page is the NMFC density scale in use since July 19, 2025.

How many freight classes are there?

Eighteen, from class 50 to class 500. Thirteen of them sit on the density chart. The other five (77.5, 110, 150, 200 and 500) are only given to goods whose NMFC listing names them.

Did the freight class chart change in 2025?

Yes. NMFC Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025. It replaced the old 11-row chart with 13 rows and added classes 50 and 55 for very dense freight. Some bands moved too: 6 to 8 lb/ft³ is now class 125, and 12 to 15 lb/ft³ is class 85.

Is freight class the same as an NMFC code?

No. The NMFC code, or item number, names the goods. The class is the price rating tied to that item. The bill of lading needs both: the code says what you ship, the class says how it prices.

What happens if I use the wrong freight class?

The carrier can inspect the freight, change the class and bill you again, often with an inspection fee. The new bill comes after delivery. Measuring and weighing before you book costs far less than a reclass.