Freight Class 400
Class 400 covers very light, bulky items (1–2 lb/ft³) that occupy a lot of space for little weight.
What is freight class 400?
Freight class 400 is one of the 18 classes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). It applies to LTL shipments whose density falls between 1 to under 2 lb/ft³. Density is weight ÷ volume, so a shipment lands in class 400 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.
What ships at class 400 — freight that's barely there
At 1 to just under 2 pounds per cubic foot, class-400 freight is closer to packaging than cargo: lampshades, foam forms, light frames, antlers — awkward shapes whose cartons protect a silhouette rather than contain a mass. A trailer packed full of this freight can gross less than three pallets of class-50 fasteners. The carrier is selling you volume almost pure, and the rate near the top of the scale reflects it.
The honest question at this class is whether the shipment should exist in this form at all. Most freight measuring 1–2 lb/ft³ got there through a packing choice — shapes shipped assembled, shells shipped un-nested, cartons sized for the largest variant and filled with void. The gap between class 400 and the bands below is wide enough that re-packing usually beats every other cost lever available, including rate negotiation.
Class 400 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 400:
Unassembled furniture frames — class 400
Light frame kits stacked 70" high on a 48" × 40" pallet, 120 lb.
48 × 40 × 70 = 134,400 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 77.8 ft³. Density = 120 lb ÷ 77.8 ft³.
1.5 lb/ft³ → inside 1–2 → class 400.
Large lampshades, loosely boxed — class 400
A carton of boxed lampshades, 36" × 36" × 48", 55 lb.
36 × 36 × 48 = 62,208 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 36.0 ft³. Density = 55 lb ÷ 36.0 ft³.
1.5 lb/ft³ → class 400.
The same shades, nested — class 300
The identical 55 lb of shades nested into a 36" × 36" × 36" carton.
36 × 36 × 36 = 46,656 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 27.0 ft³. Density = 55 lb ÷ 27.0 ft³ = 2.0 lb/ft³ — at the class-300 threshold.
2.0 lb/ft³ → class 300. One-third less carton, one class saved — and deeper nesting keeps going.
Escaping the top of the scale
Nest aggressively. Tapered and hollow shapes — shades, buckets, cones, shells — are made for it: a nested column of ten shades measures a third of ten boxed singles. Even a modest improvement matters here, because the bands below are close: crossing 2 lb/ft³ reaches class 300, and every further point of density keeps stepping the rate down.
Where nesting can't help, question the assembled state (frames ship as sticks, not rectangles) and the carton spec (one right-sized carton per variant beats one huge carton for all). And remember the floor below matters too: at exactly this end of the scale sits class 500 for freight under 1 lb/ft³ — ping-pong balls and foam territory. If your measured density reads 1.1 on a tall unit, an inch of settling or a bowed carton wall can tip the reading under 1 at the dock. Rigid cartons and honest, tight dimensions protect you in both directions.
Typical class 400 commodities
Goods that are commonly rated freight class 400 include:
- Deer antlers
- Unassembled furniture frames
- Large lampshades
- Inflatable goods
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.
Check if your shipment is class 400
Enter your dimensions and weight — if the density lands in 1 to under 2 lb/ft³, you’re in class 400.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
1.5
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
80
lb
1–2 lb/ft³ → Class 400
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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 400?
Freight class 400 is the NMFC class for shipments with a density of 1 to under 2 lb/ft³. Typical examples include deer antlers, unassembled furniture frames, large lampshades.
What products are freight class 400?
Goods commonly rated class 400 include deer antlers, unassembled furniture frames, large lampshades, inflatable goods. The actual class depends on the item's density and NMFC item number, so verify with your carrier.
How is freight class 400 determined?
Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. A density of 1 to under 2 lb/ft³ maps to class 400 on the NMFC density scale. Use the calculator above to check your shipment.
What density is freight class 400?
1 to just under 2 pounds per cubic foot, measured on the shipped unit at its extreme points. Below 1 lb/ft³ the shipment rates class 500, the top of the scale; at 2 or above it drops to class 300.
Why is class 400 freight so expensive?
Because the shipment is nearly all space: at 1–2 lb/ft³ a trailer cubes out while carrying barely a tenth of the weight it's rated for. The rate recovers the floor space your freight occupies, not the pounds it adds.
How do I avoid class 400?
Change the shipment's shape, not the carrier: nest hollow items, ship frames and shapes knocked down, right-size cartons per variant. Crossing 2 lb/ft³ reaches class 300, and each further density gain keeps stepping the class — and the rate — down.