Freight Class for Plumbing Supplies
Boxed plumbing fixtures and water heaters usually rate freight class 70 to 100. A TOTO one-piece toilet carton measures about 9.3 lb/ft³, class 100; a two-piece toilet ships as a bowl carton at class 85 and a tank carton at class 70. A 50-gallon Rheem electric water heater weighs 121 lb and rates about class 100. Copper tube comes in 20-foot lengths, which can add a large length charge.
Fixtures and water heaters
TOTO lists shipping sizes for its toilets. The two-piece Drake ships as a 57 lb bowl carton of 29¾ × 15 × 16¼ inches, about 13.6 lb/ft³ (class 85), and a 32 lb tank carton, about 20 lb/ft³ (class 70). The one-piece UltraMax II ships in a single 99 lb carton up to 32 × 20 × 28¾ inches, about 9.3 lb/ft³, class 100.
Rheem lists a 50-gallon tall electric water heater at 121 lb shipping weight and 20¼ inches across by 58⅝ inches tall. Measured as a box around the tank alone, that is about 8.7 lb/ft³, class 100; its carton is a little larger. A.O. Smith's 50-gallon gas model ships at about 165 lb.
Worked examples
Carton sizes and shipping weights come from TOTO's and Rheem's spec sheets; copper weights from the Copper Development Association's handbook.
One-piece toilet — class 100
TOTO UltraMax II carton: 32 × 20 × 28¾ in (at its tallest), 99 lb.
32 × 20 × 28.75 = 18,400 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 10.6 ft³. Density = 99 lb ÷ 10.6 ft³.
9.3 lb/ft³ → class 100.
Two-piece toilet bowl carton — class 85
TOTO Drake bowl carton: 29¾ × 15 × 16¼ in, 57 lb.
29.75 × 15 × 16.25 = 7,252 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 4.2 ft³. Density = 57 lb ÷ 4.2 ft³.
13.6 lb/ft³ → class 85. The tank carton (18¾ × 8⅞ × 16¼ in, 32 lb) is 20.4 lb/ft³, class 70.
50-gallon electric water heater — about class 100
Rheem PROE50, 20¼ in across and 58⅝ in tall, 121 lb shipping weight.
20.25 × 20.25 × 58.625 = 24,040 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 13.9 ft³. Density = 121 lb ÷ 13.9 ft³.
8.7 lb/ft³ → class 100, measured around the tank; the carton is a little larger.
Copper tube and length
The Copper Development Association's handbook gives Type L copper at 0.455 lb per foot in ¾-inch size and 0.655 lb in 1-inch, and Type M ¾-inch at 0.328 lb. Type L comes in 20-foot straight lengths, or in 60- and 100-foot coils up to 1 inch; Type M comes only in 20-foot lengths.
Twenty-foot lengths are where LTL length charges peak. XPO charges $5,240 for a handling unit 20 feet or longer, and FedEx Freight $1,514, on top of the rate. Coils, or tube cut to shorter lengths, avoid most of that.
Two cartons, one fixture
A two-piece toilet ships as two cartons, and both must arrive for the fixture to be usable. Label both cartons with the same order number and "1 of 2" and "2 of 2", and count pieces at delivery.
Vitreous china breaks under point loads. Keep toilet cartons upright as marked, do not stack heavy freight on them, and note any rattling or carton damage on the delivery receipt before signing.
Check your plumbing shipment
Enter each carton's size and weight, or the pallet's size and total weight. For tube, check the length against the carrier's length rules too.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
18.75
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
1,000
lb
15–22.5 lb/ft³ → Class 70
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 plumbing supplies?
Usually class 70 to 100. Toilet cartons measure about 9 to 20 lb/ft³ (class 70 to 100), and a boxed tank water heater about 9 lb/ft³ (class 100).
How much does a water heater weigh to ship?
Rheem lists 121 lb for a 50-gallon tall electric model and 109 lb for a 40-gallon one; A.O. Smith lists about 165 lb for a 50-gallon gas model.
How much does copper pipe weigh?
Type L copper weighs 0.455 lb per foot in ¾-inch and 0.655 lb in 1-inch; Type M ¾-inch weighs 0.328 lb, according to the Copper Development Association.
Is there an extra charge to ship 20-foot pipe?
Usually. XPO charges $5,240 per shipment for a handling unit 20 feet or longer, and FedEx Freight $1,514. Coils or shorter lengths avoid most of it.