Freight Class 50
Class 50 is the lowest, cheapest freight class — reserved for the densest, most durable “clean freight” that loads tightly and resists damage. At 50+ lb/ft³, it costs the least per pound to ship.
What is freight class 50?
Freight class 50 is one of the 18 classes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). It applies to LTL shipments whose density falls between 50 lb/ft³ and over. Density is weight ÷ volume, so a shipment lands in class 50 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 50 freight description
Class 50 is the floor of the NMFC scale, and the bar is genuinely high: 50 pounds per cubic foot or more, sustained across the whole handling unit. For scale, solid water is 62.4 lb/ft³ — class-50 freight is material that ships nearly as dense as it is solid. Fasteners in kegs, steel bar stock, brick, bagged cement stacked low and tight. Carriers sometimes call it “clean freight”: it fits on a standard pallet, stacks, resists damage, and needs no special handling. The lowest rate on the tariff is the reward.
The catch is that most freight that *feels* class-50 dense doesn't measure there once packaged. On a standard 48" × 40" pallet loaded 48" high, you need about 2,667 pounds to hit 50 lb/ft³ — beyond many pallet ratings and forklift comfort zones. That's why dense material so often books at class 55 or 60 instead: the material qualifies, but the air the packaging adds does not. If you're between classes, the math below settles it in seconds.
Class 50 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 50:
Steel fasteners in a keg — class 50
A keg of bolts on a small 24" × 20" footprint, 20" high, 300 lb.
24 × 20 × 20 = 9,600 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 5.6 ft³. Density = 300 lb ÷ 5.6 ft³.
54.0 lb/ft³ → at or above 50 → class 50.
Bagged cement, stacked low — class 50
Cement bags on a 48" × 40" pallet kept to 28" high, 1,800 lb.
48 × 40 × 28 = 53,760 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 31.1 ft³. Density = 1,800 lb ÷ 31.1 ft³.
57.9 lb/ft³ → class 50 with margin.
The same cement, stacked 8 inches taller — class 55
The identical 1,800 lb of bags restacked looser to 36" high on the same pallet.
48 × 40 × 36 = 69,120 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 40.0 ft³. Density = 1,800 lb ÷ 40.0 ft³ = 45.0 lb/ft³ — under the 50 line.
45.0 lb/ft³ → class 55. Same freight, taller stack, higher class.
Getting — and keeping — class 50
The shipments that reliably hold class 50 are low and heavy: half-height pallets, kegs, and drums where the weight concentrates in a small cube. Stack the same material tall and the inevitable gaps, dunnage and pallet overhang dilute the measured density below the line. When you have a choice, two short dense units usually beat one tall one — each holds the class, and both together often cost less than the taller unit rebilled at class 55.
One more nuance: some very dense commodities have fixed NMFC item numbers whose class doesn't move with density at all. Density gets you the right *estimate*; the NMFC item and your carrier's inspection settle the final class. Quote with the density result, then confirm the item number before booking repeated volume.
Typical class 50 commodities
Goods that are commonly rated freight class 50 include:
- Bricks and pavers
- Bagged sand or cement
- Nuts, bolts and fasteners
- Steel bar stock
- Flooring tile
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 50:
Check if your shipment is class 50
Enter your dimensions and weight — if the density lands in 50 lb/ft³ and over, you’re in class 50.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
54.99
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
2,933
lb
50+ lb/ft³ → Class 50
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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 50?
Freight class 50 is the NMFC class for shipments with a density of 50 lb/ft³ and over. Typical examples include bricks and pavers, bagged sand or cement, nuts, bolts and fasteners.
What products are freight class 50?
Goods commonly rated class 50 include bricks and pavers, bagged sand or cement, nuts, bolts and fasteners, steel bar stock, flooring tile. The actual class depends on the item's density and NMFC item number, so verify with your carrier.
How is freight class 50 determined?
Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. A density of 50 lb/ft³ and over maps to class 50 on the NMFC density scale. Use the calculator above to check your shipment.
Why is class 50 the cheapest freight class?
Because it maximizes what a carrier can sell: at 50+ lb/ft³ the trailer reaches its legal weight limit with most of its space still free, the freight stacks and survives handling, and claims are rare. The tariff passes those economics back as the lowest rate.
How heavy does a pallet need to be for class 50?
On a standard 48" × 40" pallet loaded 48" high (53.3 ft³), about 2,667 lb. Lower stacks need proportionally less — the same density on a 28"-high stack is roughly 1,556 lb — which is why low, dense pallets hold class 50 more easily than tall ones.
My product is very dense — why didn't it rate class 50?
Usually packaging: pallet height, carton gaps and overhang dilute the measured density of the handling unit below 50 lb/ft³, or the item's NMFC listing assigns a fixed class regardless of density. Check the unit's real math first, then the item number with your carrier.