Freight Class for Clothing
Clothing ships anywhere from about class 85 to 175 on the current NMFC scale, and the packing method decides it. Folded case-packs on a tight pallet measured 10.1 lb/ft³, which is class 92.5. Hanging garments in a wardrobe box measured 5.6 lb/ft³, which is class 175, because the hanger space ships as air. Vacuum-compressed cases reached 12.6 lb/ft³, class 85.
Folded or hanging: the apparel class divide
Apparel freight splits into two different commodities the moment it's packed. Folded garments in case-packs stack into dense, uniform cartons that pallet beautifully — the good end of the clothing range. Hanging garments in wardrobe boxes ship a rail's worth of clothes standing in a mostly-empty column: you're paying freight on the hanger space, and the measured density lands near the range's expensive top at class 175.
Garment-on-hanger service earns its cost when wrinkle-free arrival matters — tailored goods, delicate fabrics, retail-floor-ready stock. For everything else, the fold-and-press decision made at the warehouse is worth more than any rate negotiation afterward: the same 560 pounds of product can measure class 92.5 folded and class 175 hung, on the same lane, the same day.
Worked examples
Measured as shipped: the outside of the case or wardrobe box, or the whole loaded pallet, and the total weight.
Folded apparel case-packs, palletized — class 92.5
Uniform garment cases stacked 50" high on a 48" × 40" pallet, 560 lb.
48 × 40 × 50 = 96,000 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 55.6 ft³. Density = 560 lb ÷ 55.6 ft³.
10.1 lb/ft³ → class 92.5 on the current NMFC scale — the favorable end of the apparel range.
Hanging garments in a wardrobe box — class 175
A wardrobe carton with garments on the rail, 24" × 24" × 48", 90 lb.
24 × 24 × 48 = 27,648 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 16.0 ft³. Density = 90 lb ÷ 16.0 ft³.
5.6 lb/ft³ → class 175. The hanger space ships as air.
The folded cases, vacuum-compressed — class 85
The identical 560 lb of garments compressed and restacked to 40" on the same pallet.
48 × 40 × 40 = 76,800 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 44.4 ft³. Density = 560 lb ÷ 44.4 ft³ = 12.6 lb/ft³.
12.6 lb/ft³ → class 85 — compression pushes apparel below its typical range entirely.
Compression: apparel's unfair advantage
Clothing is the rare freight that tolerates aggressive densification with zero damage risk. Soft goods compress, vacuum-bag, and bale — and every removed inch of air is a real rate move because the apparel bands (100–175) sit where classes step steeply. Poly-bagged garments vacuum-packed into case-packs routinely raise pallet density 20–30%, and baled basics (workwear, blanks, second-hand) can measure below class 92.5 — denser than most electronics.
The operational caveats are simple: compression wrinkles, so it fits basics and knits better than structured garments; and compressed cartons must be rigid enough not to bulge, because a pillowed carton measures bigger than the flat one you quoted. Footwear and accessories play by the folded-goods rules — boxed shoes case-pack densely, and belts, bags and soft accessories fill carton voids that would otherwise ship as air.
Check your apparel shipment's class
Put in the size of the case or loaded pallet and its full weight. On a pallet of case-packs, measure to the top of the highest case.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
11.01
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
587
lb
10–12 lb/ft³ → Class 92.5
NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025)
Free PDF includes a watermark. Pro removes it & adds your brand.
Estimates only — verify freight class/NMFC and chargeable weight with your carrier.
Uses the 13-tier NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1). See the full freight class chart.
Frequently asked questions
What freight class is clothing?
Most boxed clothing ships between class 92.5 and 175. Folded case-packs on pallets sit near 92.5 to 100. Hanging garments in wardrobe boxes sit near 175. Compressed or baled soft goods can reach class 85. Your carrier can tell you if a specific apparel item has its own NMFC listing.
What freight class is a pallet of clothes?
Folded case-packed apparel on a tight pallet commonly measures 9–12 lb/ft³ → class 92.5–100 on the current NMFC scale. Loose-packed or hanging garments measure far lighter and rate 125–175. The packing method, not the clothing, decides it.
What freight class are shoes?
Boxed footwear case-packs densely — palletized shoe cases usually measure toward the lower end of the 100–125 range. Individual master cartons with air rate worse; run your actual carton math.
Can I vacuum-pack clothing for freight?
Yes, and it's the biggest lever apparel shippers have: 20–30% density gains are routine and baled soft goods can beat class 92.5. It suits basics and knits; skip it for structured or wrinkle-sensitive garments, and keep compressed cartons rigid so they measure flat.