Freight Class for Mattresses
A mattress shipped flat usually rates about class 250, because it is large and light. A Saatva Classic queen, 11.5 inches thick and 91 lb, measures 2.8 lb/ft³. Compression changes everything: a Cocoon by Sealy queen in its 15 × 15 × 44 inch box weighs 73.2 lb and measures 12.8 lb/ft³, class 85. Every mattress must also meet the federal open-flame standard before it ships.
Flat or compressed: the biggest choice
A Saatva Classic queen innerspring mattress, 11.5 inches thick, weighs 91 lb and ships flat. Measured as a block of 60 × 80 × 11.5 inches, that is 32 cubic feet and 2.8 lb/ft³, class 250, before any packaging.
A compressed foam mattress is a different kind of freight. Cocoon by Sealy ships every size in a 15 × 15 × 44 inch box, and its queen weighs 73.2 lb with the box: 12.8 lb/ft³, class 85. That is four class steps cheaper than the flat mattress, for a mattress of the same size.
Worked examples
Mattress sizes and weights come from each maker's published specs. The flat mattress is measured as a block, before packaging.
Queen innerspring shipped flat — class 250
Saatva Classic queen, 60 × 80 inches and 11.5 inches thick, 91 lb.
60 × 80 × 11.5 = 55,200 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 31.9 ft³. Density = 91 lb ÷ 31.9 ft³.
2.8 lb/ft³ → class 250, before any packaging is added.
Queen in a box — class 85
Cocoon by Sealy queen in its 15 × 15 × 44 inch box, 73.2 lb with the box.
15 × 15 × 44 = 9,900 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 5.7 ft³. Density = 73.2 lb ÷ 5.7 ft³.
12.8 lb/ft³ → class 85. Compression cuts the class by four steps.
How long a mattress can stay compressed
Rolled mattresses are not meant to stay rolled for long. Purple ships its queen mattress rolled to 60 inches long and 16 inches across, and recommends unrolling it within two weeks of delivery.
Plan the transit and storage time with that in mind. A pallet of boxed mattresses that sits in a warehouse for weeks before delivery may not recover its shape, so check the maker's limit before holding stock.
The federal flammability rule
Under 16 CFR part 1633, every mattress set must meet the open-flame flammability standard before it is sold or introduced into commerce. Each set must carry a permanent, legible English label with the manufacturer, the month and year it was made and its model and prototype identification.
For a shipper, that means mattresses should leave the factory already labeled and certified. A carrier will not check the label, but a buyer or importer will.
Check your mattress shipment
Enter the size of the mattress, box or pallet and the total weight. Flat and compressed mattresses of the same size can be several classes apart.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
13.5
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
720
lb
12–15 lb/ft³ → Class 85
NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025)
Pre-July-2025 table: class 77.5. Use it only if your carrier contract still prices on the old table.
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 a mattress?
About class 250 for a mattress shipped flat, such as a queen innerspring at 2.8 lb/ft³. A compressed bed-in-a-box queen can measure 12.8 lb/ft³, which is class 85.
How big is a bed-in-a-box mattress box?
Cocoon by Sealy uses a 15 × 15 × 44 inch box for every size; the queen weighs 73.2 lb with the box. Purple ships its queen rolled to 60 inches long and 16 inches across.
How long can a mattress stay rolled up?
It depends on the maker. Purple recommends unrolling its mattress within two weeks of delivery, so long storage in compressed form is not advised.
What is the mattress flammability label?
16 CFR part 1633 requires every mattress set to meet an open-flame standard before sale and to carry a permanent English label with the maker, the date of manufacture and the model and prototype ID.