Freight Class for Coffee
Green coffee in full bags often ships at freight class 60 or 65, according to importer Royal Coffee, while cased roasted coffee measures about 17 to 19 lb/ft³, class 70. Green coffee comes in 60, 69 or 70 kg bags (132 to 154 lb), and Royal advises 10 to 11 bags per pallet, about 1,320 to 1,700 lb.
Green coffee in bags
Coffee importer Royal Coffee lists the standard bag sizes by origin: 60 kg (132.28 lb) for Brazil, Kenya and much of Africa and Asia, 69 kg (152.12 lb) for Mexico and most of Central America, and 70 kg (154.32 lb) for Colombia. A 20-foot container holds about 250 to 325 of these bags, close to 19 metric tons or 42,000 lb.
For domestic freight, Royal advises 10 to 11 full bags per pallet and warns that 12 can be risky, depending on the bag weight. That puts a pallet at about 1,320 to 1,700 lb of coffee. Royal also says green coffee is often listed at class 60 or 65; that is the importer's experience, so confirm the class your carrier uses.
Worked examples
Bag weights and pallet guidance come from Royal Coffee; the roasted case from Lavazza's spec sheet.
Case of roasted whole bean — class 70
Lavazza Gran Espresso, 6 × 2.2 lb bags: 12.2 × 12.2 × 9.4 in, 15 lb.
12.2 × 12.2 × 9.4 = 1,399 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 0.81 ft³. Density = 15 lb ÷ 0.81 ft³.
18.5 lb/ft³ → class 70.
Pallet of green coffee — weight check
11 bags of Colombian green coffee at 70 kg (154.32 lb) each.
11 × 154.32 lb = 1,697.5 lb of coffee, plus the pallet.
At the top of Royal Coffee's 10-to-11-bag guidance; a 12th bag would add another 154 lb.
Roasted coffee in cases
Roasted coffee packs lighter. Lavazza's case of six 2.2 lb bags of whole bean espresso is 12.2 × 12.2 × 9.4 inches and weighs 15 lb, about 18.5 lb/ft³, class 70. Nestlé Professional lists its case of six 1 kg Nescafé whole bean bags at 6.5 kg, about 17 lb/ft³, also class 70, and 44 cases to a pallet.
The difference comes from roasting, which drives out water and makes the beans larger and lighter, and from the valve bags and cartons around them.
Protect coffee from moisture and odor
Coffee takes on moisture and smells. Royal's receiving guide tells buyers to note any holes or loose coffee, stains, missing or broken straps or wrap, and any moisture, odor or other contamination on the delivery receipt.
Keep coffee off pallets with chemicals or strong-smelling goods, wrap the pallet fully, and record any damage on the delivery receipt before you sign. A clean receipt makes a later claim hard to win.
Check your coffee shipment
Enter the pallet's size from the floor and its total weight. For green coffee, measure the bags as stacked on the pallet.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
32.49
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
1,733
lb
30–35 lb/ft³ → Class 60
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 coffee?
Green coffee is often listed at class 60 or 65, according to importer Royal Coffee. Cased roasted coffee measures about 17 to 19 lb/ft³, class 70.
How much does a bag of green coffee weigh?
60 kg (132.28 lb) for Brazil and much of Africa and Asia, 69 kg (152.12 lb) for Mexico and Central America, and 70 kg (154.32 lb) for Colombia.
How many bags of coffee go on a pallet?
Royal Coffee advises 10 to 11 full bags per pallet and says 12 can be risky, depending on the bag weight.
How many bags of coffee fit in a container?
About 250 to 325 bags of 60 to 70 kg in a 20-foot container, close to 19 metric tons, according to Royal Coffee.