Freight Class 175
Class 175 covers clothing and upholstered furniture (5–6 lb/ft³) — light, bulky goods that take up real truck space.
What is freight class 175?
Freight class 175 is one of the 18 classes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). It applies to LTL shipments whose density falls between 5 to under 6 lb/ft³. Density is weight ÷ volume, so a shipment lands in class 175 when it weighs that much for the space it occupies. Lower classes (denser freight) cost less to ship; higher classes (lighter, bulkier freight) cost more, because they use more trailer space per pound.
Why freight lands in class 175
Class 175 is where soft, bulky freight lives. At 5 to just under 6 pounds per cubic foot, these shipments are mostly air by volume: an upholstered sofa is a wooden frame wrapped in foam and fabric, and a carton of hanging garments weighs a fraction of the space it claims in the trailer. The carrier still has to move that space — a sofa occupies room that could otherwise hold half a ton of canned goods — so the tariff charges class 175 accordingly.
The band is narrow: one pound per cubic foot separates its floor from class 200 below it and its ceiling from class 150 above it. That makes class 175 unusually sensitive to packaging decisions. The identical goods, boxed tighter or stacked one carton higher, routinely move a class in either direction — which is exactly why measuring before booking matters more here than in the dense classes.
Class 175 worked examples
Density is weight ÷ volume (cubic feet = L × W × H in inches ÷ 1,728). Here is how real shipments land in — and fall out of — class 175:
Crated sofa — class 175
A sofa in a protective carton, 88" × 38" × 36", 380 lb with packaging.
88 × 38 × 36 = 120,384 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 69.7 ft³. Density = 380 lb ÷ 69.7 ft³.
5.5 lb/ft³ → inside 5–6 → class 175.
Pallet of loose-packed apparel — class 175
Garment cartons on a 48" × 40" pallet stacked 70" high, 425 lb total.
48 × 40 × 70 = 134,400 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 77.8 ft³. Density = 425 lb ÷ 77.8 ft³.
5.5 lb/ft³ → class 175.
The same apparel, compressed 10 inches — class 150
The identical 425 lb of garments, compressed and restacked to 60" high on the same pallet.
48 × 40 × 60 = 115,200 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 66.7 ft³. Density = 425 lb ÷ 66.7 ft³ = 6.4 lb/ft³ — over the 6 lb/ft³ line.
6.4 lb/ft³ → class 150. Ten inches of height was worth a full class.
Getting below class 175
Because rates climb steeply in the light classes, small density gains pay off. The three levers that actually work: compress (vacuum-bag apparel and soft goods rather than shipping loose-packed cartons), knock down (a flat-packed sofa or disassembled frame ships far denser than an assembled one — assembled upholstered furniture often rates class 200–250), and cube out the pallet (a short, fully-filled stack beats a tall stack with air under the top cartons; carriers measure to the highest point, including the pallet).
The reverse also bites. Carriers dimension freight with laser scanners, and an inch of overhang or a tilted carton is measured at its widest point. A shipment quoted at 6.1 lb/ft³ (class 150) that scans at 5.8 lb/ft³ is rebilled at class 175 — on a light, bulky load that difference is real money. Run your true crated dimensions through the calculator below before you book, not the catalog dimensions of the product inside.
Typical class 175 commodities
Goods that are commonly rated freight class 175 include:
- Clothing and apparel
- Couches and sofas
- Stuffed furniture
- Mounted machinery
These are typical examples. The exact class of any item depends on its NMFC item number and measured density — always confirm with your carrier or broker.
Commodity guides that overlap class 175:
Check if your shipment is class 175
Enter your dimensions and weight — if the density lands in 5 to under 6 lb/ft³, you’re in class 175.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
5.49
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
293
lb
5–6 lb/ft³ → Class 175
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Estimates only — verify freight class/NMFC and chargeable weight with your carrier.
How freight class is calculated (density scale)
Freight class is set by density = weight (lb) ÷ volume (ft³). Higher density → lower class → typically lower cost. Volume here is L × W × H × quantity.
| Density (lb/ft³) | Class |
|---|---|
| 50+ | 50 |
| 35 – 50 | 55 |
| 30 – 35 | 60 |
| 22.5 – 30 | 65 |
| 15 – 22.5 | 70 |
| 13.5 – 15 | 77.5 |
| 12 – 13.5 | 85 |
| 10.5 – 12 | 92.5 |
| 9 – 10.5 | 100 |
| 8 – 9 | 110 |
| 7 – 8 | 125 |
| 6 – 7 | 150 |
| 5 – 6 | 175 |
| 4 – 5 | 200 |
| 3 – 4 | 250 |
| 2 – 3 | 300 |
| 1 – 2 | 400 |
| 0 – 1 | 500 |
Frequently asked questions
What is freight class 175?
Freight class 175 is the NMFC class for shipments with a density of 5 to under 6 lb/ft³. Typical examples include clothing and apparel, couches and sofas, stuffed furniture.
What products are freight class 175?
Goods commonly rated class 175 include clothing and apparel, couches and sofas, stuffed furniture, mounted machinery. The actual class depends on the item's density and NMFC item number, so verify with your carrier.
How is freight class 175 determined?
Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. A density of 5 to under 6 lb/ft³ maps to class 175 on the NMFC density scale. Use the calculator above to check your shipment.
Why is class 175 freight so expensive to ship?
Because the carrier sells trailer space, not just weight capacity. At 5–6 lb/ft³ your freight fills the trailer long before it reaches the axle limits, so the per-hundredweight rate is set high to compensate. Denser packing is the only structural way to bring the cost down.
What's the difference between class 150 and class 175?
One pound per cubic foot: class 150 covers 6 to under 7 lb/ft³, class 175 covers 5 to under 6. On a bulky load that's often a single stacking or compression decision — and class 150 rates noticeably cheaper on the same lane.
Does assembled furniture always ship at class 175?
No — it depends on density and the item's NMFC listing. Flat-packed furniture is commonly class 100–125, upholstered assembled pieces run 175–250. Measure the actual crate and check with your carrier, since some furniture NMFC items carry a fixed class regardless of density.