Freight Class 250
Class 250 covers mattresses, box springs and flat-screen TVs (3–4 lb/ft³) — bulky, lower-density goods.
What is freight class 250?
Freight class 250 is one of the 18 classes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). It applies to LTL shipments whose density falls between 3 to under 4 lb/ft³. Density is weight ÷ volume, so a shipment lands in class 250 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.
Class 250 freight description
Class 250 covers freight measuring 3 to just under 4 pounds per cubic foot — shipments that fill a trailer's space at a small fraction of its weight capacity. The classic residents are the mattress-and-box-spring set and the big flat-screen TV: wide, flat, fragile cartons that ride upright, can't be double-stacked safely, and claim floor positions all out of proportion to their weight. At this density, the carrier's cost is almost entirely the space and the handling care, and the class prices exactly that.
This band is also where packaging engineering has changed an industry. The traditional flat-boxed mattress ships at class 250; the same mattress roll-packed into a compact carton measures several times denser and books whole classes lower. The 'bed-in-a-box' category exists in large part because compression turned class-250 freight into freight that ships like dense general cargo — the clearest real-world proof that class follows packaging, not product.
Class 250 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 250:
Mattress and box spring set, flat-boxed — class 250
A queen set in one flat carton, 80" × 60" × 14", 130 lb.
80 × 60 × 14 = 67,200 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 38.9 ft³. Density = 130 lb ÷ 38.9 ft³.
3.3 lb/ft³ → inside 3–4 → class 250.
75-inch TV in its retail carton — class 250
A boxed 75" television, 70" × 10" × 45", 65 lb.
70 × 10 × 45 = 31,500 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 18.2 ft³. Density = 65 lb ÷ 18.2 ft³.
3.6 lb/ft³ → class 250.
The same mattress, roll-packed — class 70
The identical 130 lb queen mattress compressed and rolled into a 44" × 16" × 16" carton.
44 × 16 × 16 = 11,264 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 6.5 ft³. Density = 130 lb ÷ 6.5 ft³ = 19.9 lb/ft³.
19.9 lb/ft³ → class 70 — ten classes down the scale. This is the entire bed-in-a-box logistics story in one calculation.
Shipping class 250 without overpaying
First, question the configuration. Anything that compresses, folds, nests or knocks down should — a roll-packed mattress, a folded cover, a knocked-down crate each measure dramatically denser than their assembled forms. When the product truly can't compress (a finished TV in its retail carton), accuracy becomes the money lever: these cartons are tall and thin, so a small measurement error swings density across a whole band. Measure the exact carton, not the product spec sheet.
Second, load for the measurement. Upright cartons strapped to a narrow skid measure better than the same cartons leaned against a full pallet's empty deck; two flat cartons cased together share one footprint instead of billing two. And watch the 3 lb/ft³ floor — dip under it and the shipment rates class 300. On freight this light, even the pallet's own 40-odd pounds is meaningful ballast: it raises density, and it's weight you were shipping anyway.
Typical class 250 commodities
Goods that are commonly rated freight class 250 include:
- Mattresses and box springs
- Plasma and LCD TVs
- Bamboo furniture
- Wood crates (assembled)
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 250:
Check if your shipment is class 250
Enter your dimensions and weight — if the density lands in 3 to under 4 lb/ft³, you’re in class 250.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
3.51
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
187
lb
3–4 lb/ft³ → Class 250
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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 250?
Freight class 250 is the NMFC class for shipments with a density of 3 to under 4 lb/ft³. Typical examples include mattresses and box springs, plasma and lcd tvs, bamboo furniture.
What products are freight class 250?
Goods commonly rated class 250 include mattresses and box springs, plasma and lcd tvs, bamboo furniture, wood crates (assembled). The actual class depends on the item's density and NMFC item number, so verify with your carrier.
How is freight class 250 determined?
Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. A density of 3 to under 4 lb/ft³ maps to class 250 on the NMFC density scale. Use the calculator above to check your shipment.
Why is class 250 so expensive?
At 3–4 lb/ft³ your shipment fills trailer space at a tenth of the density of general cargo, and often needs upright, no-stack handling on top. The carrier sells that space once — the class 250 rate is what recovers it.
What density is freight class 250?
3 to just under 4 pounds per cubic foot, measured on the shipped unit at its extreme points. Divide total weight by cubic feet (L × W × H in inches ÷ 1,728) — the calculator on this page does it instantly.
How do mattress companies ship so cheaply?
Compression. A roll-packed mattress occupies about a sixth of its flat-boxed volume, which moves it from class 250 into the dense bands around class 70–85. If your product tolerates compression or knock-down packing, the same physics works for you.