Freight Class for Roofing Shingles
A pallet of asphalt shingles usually rates freight class 50 or 55, because shingles are heavy for their size: CertainTeed's Landmark weighs 217 to 229 lb per square, and a pallet holds 16 squares or more. Makers also limit stacking. Owens Corning allows two pallets high at most and Malarkey none, and a pallet billed as no-stack can rate class 60.
How much shingles weigh
Asphalt shingles are sold by the square, which covers 100 square feet and is three bundles. CertainTeed's data sheet gives its Landmark shingle at 217 to 229 lb per square, so a bundle weighs over 70 lb. GAF's environmental product declaration for Timberline HDZ works out to about 201 lb per square.
Pallet counts come from the makers too. IKO packs 56 bundles of Cambridge shingles on a pallet 40 × 53½ inches, and Malarkey lists 16 squares (48 bundles) of its Vista shingle per pallet. GAF says a Timberline HDZ pallet holds 52 or 36 bundles, depending on the type of shipment.
Worked examples
Weights per square and pallet sizes come from CertainTeed, IKO and Malarkey data sheets; the pallet combines those figures and is an example.
16-square pallet, 40 inches tall — class 50
Say 16 squares at 217 lb (3,472 lb) on a 40 × 53½ inch pallet, 40 inches high.
40 × 53.5 × 40 = 85,600 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 49.5 ft³. Density = 3,472 lb ÷ 49.5 ft³.
70.1 lb/ft³ → class 50.
The same pallet, billed as no-stack — class 60
The same pallet measured at the 84-inch no-stack height Estes and FedEx Freight use.
40 × 53.5 × 84 = 179,760 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 104.0 ft³. Density = 3,472 lb ÷ 104.0 ft³.
33.4 lb/ft³ → class 60. Marking it no-stack protects the shingles but costs two class steps.
A shingle pallet is dense
Say a pallet holds 16 squares at 217 lb, 3,472 lb of shingles, on a 40 × 53½ inch footprint. Even if it stood 60 inches tall, that would be 46.7 lb/ft³, class 55; at 40 inches it would be 70 lb/ft³, class 50. Shingle pallets are usually class 50 or 55 by density.
The weight is the harder part. A pallet that heavy needs a forklift or a strong liftgate at both ends, and many residential deliveries cannot take it. Check the delivery address before booking.
Do not stack shingle pallets
Owens Corning says not to stack shingle pallets more than two high, with separator boards between them, and to keep shingles below 110 °F and out of direct sun. Malarkey goes further and says not to double-stack its pallets at all. The asphalt roofing trade group ARMA warns that stacking bundles too high or double-stacking pallets can dent or deform shingles, especially in warm weather.
Mark shingle pallets "do not stack" or "do not double stack" on the bill of lading. Carriers count freight that cannot be stacked as taller than it is: 84 inches at Estes and FedEx Freight, 96 inches at ODFL. On the example pallet above, an 84-inch count lowers the density to 33.4 lb/ft³, class 60.
Check your shingle pallet
Enter the pallet's footprint, its height from the floor and the total weight. If the pallet must not be stacked, try the carrier's no-stack height as well.
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 roofing shingles?
Usually class 50 or 55. A pallet of 16 squares at about 217 lb per square measures 46 to 70 lb/ft³ at normal pallet heights.
How much does a pallet of shingles weigh?
It depends on the pallet count. 16 squares of CertainTeed Landmark at 217 to 229 lb per square is about 3,470 to 3,660 lb of shingles.
How many bundles of shingles are on a pallet?
IKO packs 56 bundles of Cambridge per pallet, Malarkey 16 squares (48 bundles) of Vista, and GAF 52 or 36 bundles of Timberline HDZ depending on the shipment.
Can shingle pallets be stacked?
Owens Corning allows two pallets high with separator boards; Malarkey says not to double-stack. Mark shingle pallets "do not stack" for LTL.