Freight Class 85
Class 85 covers crated machinery and heavier appliances (12–13.5 lb/ft³) — moderately dense goods that need some handling care.
What is freight class 85?
Freight class 85 is one of the 18 classes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). It applies to LTL shipments whose density falls between 12 to under 13.5 lb/ft³. Density is weight ÷ volume, so a shipment lands in class 85 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 85 freight description
Class 85 is the machinery-in-a-crate class. At 12 to just under 13.5 lb/ft³, the freight itself is genuinely heavy — transmissions, engine assemblies, cast-iron stoves, industrial equipment — but it ships inside crates, on skids, with blocking and bracing that add volume faster than they add weight. A bare transmission might rate class 70 by its own density; the same unit boxed in a protective crate with clearance on every side frequently measures out at 85.
That crating trade-off is the defining decision at this class. Protection is usually worth it — machinery damage claims dwarf the rate difference — but oversized crates are pure cost. A crate with three inches of unused clearance on each face can add 20–30% to the measured volume of a mid-sized machine, and every added cubic foot pulls density down toward the next, more expensive class.
Class 85 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 85:
Crated industrial machine — class 85
A machine in a 48" × 40" × 40" crate on its skid, 560 lb all-in.
48 × 40 × 40 = 76,800 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 44.4 ft³. Density = 560 lb ÷ 44.4 ft³.
12.6 lb/ft³ → inside 12–13.5 → class 85.
Transmission on a skid — class 85
A rebuilt transmission boxed on a 36" × 36" skid, 24" high, 230 lb.
36 × 36 × 24 = 31,104 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 18.0 ft³. Density = 230 lb ÷ 18.0 ft³.
12.8 lb/ft³ → class 85.
The same crate, 40 lb heavier — class 77.5
The identical 44.4 ft³ crate with spare components packed into the void space, 600 lb total.
Density = 600 lb ÷ 44.4 ft³ = 13.5 lb/ft³ — exactly at the class-77.5 threshold.
13.5 lb/ft³ → class 77.5. Filling the crate's dead space bought a cheaper class.
Crate smart, rate lower
Build or order crates to the machine, not to stock dimensions. Skids sized to the base (rather than a full pallet under a narrow machine), internal blocking instead of oversized voids, and laying compact heavy components beside the machine inside the same crate all raise the unit's density. The goal isn't to cheat the scale — it's to stop paying freight on empty crate.
Two boundaries matter here. Just above sits class 77.5 (13.5 to under 15 lb/ft³): a modest weight increase or a tighter crate drops the shipment down and saves real money on machinery lanes. Just below, at under 12 lb/ft³, the shipment climbs to class 92.5. Since crated machinery routinely measures near these lines, run the actual crate dimensions — outside edge to outside edge, skid included — through the calculator below before booking, and re-run it whenever the crate design changes.
Typical class 85 commodities
Goods that are commonly rated freight class 85 include:
- Crated machinery
- Cast-iron stoves
- Transmissions and clutches
- Engine assemblies
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 85:
Check if your shipment is class 85
Enter your dimensions and weight — if the density lands in 12 to under 13.5 lb/ft³, you’re in class 85.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
12.75
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
680
lb
12–13.5 lb/ft³ → Class 85
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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 85?
Freight class 85 is the NMFC class for shipments with a density of 12 to under 13.5 lb/ft³. Typical examples include crated machinery, cast-iron stoves, transmissions and clutches.
What products are freight class 85?
Goods commonly rated class 85 include crated machinery, cast-iron stoves, transmissions and clutches, engine assemblies. The actual class depends on the item's density and NMFC item number, so verify with your carrier.
How is freight class 85 determined?
Divide the shipment weight in pounds by its volume in cubic feet. A density of 12 to under 13.5 lb/ft³ maps to class 85 on the NMFC density scale. Use the calculator above to check your shipment.
Why does my machinery rate class 85 when it's so heavy?
Because class follows the density of the whole handling unit — crate, skid and void space included. Heavy machinery in a roomy crate measures far less dense than the machine itself, and the class is set on what the carrier measures at the dock.
What density is freight class 85?
12 to just under 13.5 pounds per cubic foot. Measure the crate's outside dimensions (skid included), convert to cubic feet (÷ 1,728 from cubic inches), and divide the total weight by that volume.
Is class 85 cheaper than class 92.5?
Yes — rates step up with every class, so 85 prices below 92.5 and 100 on the same lane. If your crated freight is measuring just under 12 lb/ft³, a tighter crate or added packed weight that lifts it over the line pays for itself.