Freight Class for Hardware and Fasteners
Boxed nails and fasteners are among the densest freight and usually rate class 50 or 55. Bulk nails come in 50 lb cartons, and Maze Nails ships 48 of them to a skid, about 2,400 lb. Even stacked 48 inches high on a 48 × 40 skid, that is about 46 lb/ft³. Nails are not hazmat, but galvanized fasteners must be kept dry.
Carton and skid counts
Fastener makers sell by weight. Tree Island packs its bright common nails in 50 lb cartons, about 66 nails per pound for 10d nails and 47 for 16d. Its collated framing nails come 5,000 to a 34 lb carton, 48 cartons to a pallet, or 2,000 to a 16 lb carton, 64 to a pallet.
Maze Nails ships its 50 lb bulk boxes 48 to a skid and its 25 lb boxes 80 to a skid, so either skid carries about 2,000 to 2,400 lb. Grip-Rite counts about 5,550 nails in a 50 lb box of 10d coated sinkers.
Worked examples
Carton weights and skid counts come from Tree Island, Maze Nails and Grip-Rite; the skid height in the first example is an assumption.
Skid of 50 lb nail boxes — class 55 or lower
Say 48 boxes at 50 lb on a 37 lb, 48 × 40 skid, stacked to 48 inches: 2,437 lb.
48 × 40 × 48 = 92,160 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 53.3 ft³. Density = 2,437 lb ÷ 53.3 ft³.
45.7 lb/ft³ → class 55 even at that height; a shorter stack rates class 50.
Pallet of collated nails — weight check
48 Tree Island cartons of 5,000 collated nails at 34 lb each.
48 × 34 lb = 1,632 lb of nails, plus the pallet.
Lighter than bulk boxes, because the plastic collation and carton add bulk.
Why fasteners rate so low
Steel nails are small and pack tightly in their cartons. Say 48 boxes of 50 lb nails sit on a skid 48 × 40 inches, even as tall as 48 inches: that is 2,437 lb in 53.3 cubic feet with the skid, about 46 lb/ft³, class 55. A real stack of 50 lb boxes is shorter, so most fastener skids rate class 50.
With loads this heavy, the skid's rating and the receiver's equipment matter. A 2,400 lb skid needs a forklift or a heavy-duty liftgate, and it should not be double-stacked.
Not hazmat, but keep it dry
Nails are not dangerous goods. Tree Island's safety data sheet for zinc-coated wire nails lists them as not regulated under 49 CFR, TDG or IATA, so no hazmat paperwork is needed.
Moisture is the real risk. Tree Island says galvanized products must be kept dry and stored in dry, ventilated areas to avoid white rust, which forms when condensation sits on zinc. Wrap skids fully and do not leave them on an open dock in the rain.
Check your fastener skid
Enter the skid's footprint, height from the floor and total weight. Fastener skids usually show class 50 or 55.
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
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 are nails and fasteners?
Usually class 50 or 55. A skid of 50 lb nail boxes measures 45 lb/ft³ or more, even when stacked tall.
How many boxes of nails fit on a skid?
Maze Nails ships 48 bulk boxes of 50 lb, or 80 boxes of 25 lb, per skid. Tree Island ships 48 or 64 cartons of collated nails per pallet, depending on the carton.
How many nails are in a 50 lb box?
It depends on the nail. Tree Island lists about 66 nails per pound for 10d common nails, about 3,300 per 50 lb; Grip-Rite counts about 5,550 in a 50 lb box of 10d sinkers.
Are nails hazardous for shipping?
No. Tree Island's safety data sheet lists zinc-coated nails as not regulated under 49 CFR, TDG or IATA.