Freight Class for Drywall
A unit of drywall usually rates freight class 55, because stacked gypsum board is close to solid: 50 sheets of ½-inch 4 × 8 board weigh about 2,560 lb and measure about 38 lb/ft³. The length costs more than the class. A 4 × 8 sheet is 8 feet long, which adds $460 at XPO or $375 at FedEx Freight; 4 × 12 sheets add $925 or $775.
Board weights and units
National Gypsum lists its regular ½-inch board at a nominal 1.6 lb per square foot, about 51 lb for a 4 × 8 sheet; USG's lightweight UltraLight ½-inch board is 1.25 lb. Five-eighths-inch Type X fire-rated board from National Gypsum and USG is 2.2 lb per square foot, about 70 lb for a 4 × 8 sheet.
PABCO's packaging table puts ½-inch 4 × 8 board in units of 50 or 54 sheets, and 5/8-inch Type X in units of 50 or 40. The Gypsum Association notes that one 4 × 12 sheet of ½-inch board can weigh over 80 lb, so a stack of 25 is over a ton.
Worked examples
Board weights come from National Gypsum and USG product data; unit sizes from PABCO's packaging table. Dunnage under the unit is not included.
50 sheets of 1/2 in. 4 × 8 — class 55
50 sheets at 1.6 lb per sq ft (51.2 lb each), stacked 25 inches high on a 4 × 8 footprint: 2,560 lb.
48 × 96 × 25 = 115,200 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 66.7 ft³. Density = 2,560 lb ÷ 66.7 ft³.
38.4 lb/ft³ → class 55, before dunnage. Plus an 8-foot length charge: $460 at XPO or $375 at FedEx Freight.
40 sheets of 5/8 in. Type X — class 55
40 sheets at 2.2 lb per sq ft (70.4 lb each), also 25 inches high: 2,816 lb.
Same 66.7 ft³. Density = 2,816 lb ÷ 66.7 ft³.
42.2 lb/ft³ → class 55.
Length is the expensive part
A unit of 50 half-inch sheets is a solid block of board, about 38 lb/ft³, class 55. But a 4 × 8 sheet is 8 feet long, exactly where XPO and FedEx Freight start charging for long pieces: $460 at XPO and $375 at FedEx Freight. A 4 × 12 unit is 12 feet long, which costs $925 at XPO and $775 at FedEx Freight, and FedEx may refuse it.
That is why most drywall moves on flatbeds or supplier boom trucks. If it does go LTL, add the length charge to the quote before comparing carriers.
Handling rules from the Gypsum Association
The Gypsum Association's GA-801 guide says units must always be stored flat and evenly supported on a firm, dry, level floor, indoors and away from weather and temperatures over 125 °F. Boards sag or warp if they get damp, are badly supported or stand on edge. Forklift forks should stay off the panel faces, and end-strapping keeps long boards from cracking.
GA-801 also says the plastic cover used in shipping is not suitable for storage and should be removed when the load arrives, to stop condensation and mold. On open trucks, loads must be fully covered with a waterproof tarp and tied down.
Check your drywall unit
Enter the unit's length, width and height, including any bunks underneath, and the total weight. Then add the carrier's charge for 8-foot or 12-foot lengths.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
42.51
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
2,267
lb
35–50 lb/ft³ → Class 55
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 drywall?
Usually class 55. A stacked unit of ½-inch board measures about 38 lb/ft³, and 5/8-inch Type X about 42 lb/ft³.
How much does a sheet of drywall weigh?
About 51 lb for a ½-inch 4 × 8 sheet (1.6 lb per sq ft), 40 lb for lightweight ½-inch, and about 70 lb for 5/8-inch Type X. A ½-inch 4 × 12 sheet can weigh over 80 lb.
How many sheets of drywall are in a unit?
PABCO packs ½-inch 4 × 8 board in units of 50 or 54 sheets, and 5/8-inch Type X in units of 50 or 40.
Is there an extra charge to ship drywall LTL?
Usually, for length. XPO charges $460 for pieces 8 to under 11 feet and $925 for 11 to under 16 feet; FedEx Freight charges $375 for 8 to under 12 feet and $775 for 12 to under 15 feet.