Freight Class 300
Class 300 is for low-density assembled goods (2–3 lb/ft³) such as wood furniture and model boats.
What is freight class 300?
Freight class 300 is one of the 18 classes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). It applies to LTL shipments whose density falls between 2 to under 3 lb/ft³. Density is weight ÷ volume, so a shipment lands in class 300 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 300: the assembled-goods penalty
Class 300 covers the 2 to just-under-3 lb/ft³ band, and most of what lands here shares one trait: it ships in its finished shape. An assembled dining chair is a few pounds of wood arranged around a sitting-sized pocket of air; a kayak is a hull built to displace water, which means it's built to enclose space. When the product's geometry is the product, the freight bill inherits all of that enclosed nothing — the NMFC calls it class 300, and it prices near the top of the scale.
The first question at this class is therefore not "how do I get a better rate?" but "does this really have to ship assembled?" For furniture the answer is often no — knock-down packing exists precisely to escape this band, and the drop is dramatic (a whole worked example below). For hulls, shells and molded shapes the answer is genuinely yes, and then the goal shifts: measure precisely, load smart, and defend the 2 lb/ft³ floor that separates 300 from the even costlier class 400.
Class 300 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 300:
Recreational kayak, boxed — class 300
A 10.5-foot kayak in a protective carton, 126" × 30" × 14", 75 lb.
126 × 30 × 14 = 52,920 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 30.6 ft³. Density = 75 lb ÷ 30.6 ft³.
2.4 lb/ft³ → inside 2–3 → class 300.
Assembled dining chairs on a pallet — class 300
Six assembled chairs stacked and wrapped on a 48" × 40" pallet, 65" high, 180 lb.
48 × 40 × 65 = 124,800 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 72.2 ft³. Density = 180 lb ÷ 72.2 ft³.
2.5 lb/ft³ → class 300.
The same chairs, knocked down flat — class 175
The identical 180 lb of chairs, disassembled and flat-packed to 30" high on the same pallet.
48 × 40 × 30 = 57,600 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 33.3 ft³. Density = 180 lb ÷ 33.3 ft³ = 5.4 lb/ft³.
5.4 lb/ft³ → class 175 — three bands cheaper for an hour of disassembly.
When the freight really is mostly air
Nest whatever nests. Chairs stack seat-over-seat, bins sit inside bins, and a column of nested shells measures little more than one — cutting measured cube by half or more without touching the product. Kayaks and small hulls can often ship in pairs, hull-to-deck, sharing one cradle and one footprint. Every shared inch is an inch you don't buy twice.
Then protect the floor. At 2–3 lb/ft³ the margin for measurement drift is thin: an inch of extra cradle height, a rounded-up length on a 10-foot hull, or a puffed-up wrap can push measured density under 2 and rebill the shipment at class 400. Weigh the packaging decisions the other way too — on freight this light, a slightly heavier cradle or doubled carton floor adds density rather than cost. Run the finished, wrapped unit through the calculator below and you'll know which side of the line you're on before the carrier's scanner does.
Typical class 300 commodities
Goods that are commonly rated freight class 300 include:
- Wood cabinets
- Assembled tables and chairs
- Model boats and aircraft
- Kayaks
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 300:
Check if your shipment is class 300
Enter your dimensions and weight — if the density lands in 2 to under 3 lb/ft³, you’re in class 300.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
2.49
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
133
lb
2–3 lb/ft³ → Class 300
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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 300?
Freight class 300 is the NMFC class for shipments with a density of 2 to under 3 lb/ft³. Typical examples include wood cabinets, assembled tables and chairs, model boats and aircraft.
What products are freight class 300?
Goods commonly rated class 300 include wood cabinets, assembled tables and chairs, model boats and aircraft, kayaks. The actual class depends on the item's density and NMFC item number, so verify with your carrier.
How is freight class 300 determined?
Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. A density of 2 to under 3 lb/ft³ maps to class 300 on the NMFC density scale. Use the calculator above to check your shipment.
What freight class is a kayak?
Boxed recreational kayaks typically measure 2–3 lb/ft³ and rate class 300 by density. Exact class depends on the finished carton's dimensions and the item's NMFC listing, so measure the real package and confirm with your carrier.
What density is freight class 300?
2 to just under 3 pounds per cubic foot, measured on the complete shipped unit at its extreme points — cradle, carton and pallet included. Under 2 lb/ft³ the shipment moves up to class 400.
How can I avoid shipping at class 300?
Ship it in pieces if the product allows: knock-down furniture routinely measures into class 125–175. If it must ship assembled, nest or pair units to share footprint, keep packaging snug, and verify the density math so you're not drifting into class 400 territory.