Freight Density Calculator
Freight density is weight divided by space, in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³). LTL carriers use it to set your NMFC freight class. Real shipments are rarely one size, so this calculator lets you add pallets and crates of different sizes. You get the density of each line and of the whole load, in lb/ft³ and kg/m³.
Shipment density (all lines)
= 146.5 kg/m³
Volume
140
ft³ · 3.96 m³
Weight
1,280
lb · 581 kg
Units
3
pieces
NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025)
Your lines rate different classes on their own (92.5, 175). Ask your carrier whether they rate the shipment as a whole or each unit.
Free PDF includes a watermark. Pro removes it & adds your brand.
Density = weight ÷ volume. Estimates only — verify with your carrier.
How to calculate freight density
volume (ft³) = L × W × H (inches) ÷ 1,728
- 1. Measure each unit at its longest, widest and tallest points, pallet included.
- 2. Work out cubic feet for each unit, then add them up.
- 3. Add up the weight of every unit, packing and pallets included.
- 4. Divide total pounds by total cubic feet.
Here is the example loaded in the calculator: two 48 × 40 × 48 in pallets at 550 lb each, plus one 48 × 40 × 30 in crate at 180 lb.
| Line | Volume | Weight | Density | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 pallets, 48 × 40 × 48 in | 106.7 ft³ | 1,100 lb | 10.3 lb/ft³ | 92.5 |
| 1 crate, 48 × 40 × 30 in | 33.3 ft³ | 180 lb | 5.4 lb/ft³ | 175 |
| Whole shipment | 140.0 ft³ | 1,280 lb | 9.1 lb/ft³ | 100 |
The pallets alone rate class 92.5 and the light crate rates class 175. Together they come to 9.1 lb/ft³, which is class 100. If you only measured one pallet, you would quote the wrong class.
Measure the pallet the way the carrier will
Carriers measure the handling unit as it arrives at the dock, not the product inside it. Use the outside size of the loaded pallet, from the floor to the highest point, and include any overhang.
Overhang costs more than it looks. A 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet at 550 lb is 10.3 lb/ft³, which is class 92.5. If boxes stick out 2 inches on every side, the carrier measures 52 × 44 × 48 in. That is 63.6 ft³, so the density falls to 8.7 lb/ft³ and the class rises to 100. The weight did not change. Only the footprint did.
- • Weigh the finished unit: goods, pallet, stretch wrap, straps and corner boards.
- • Keep the top flat. One box on top makes the whole pallet measure that tall.
- • Some carriers round each dimension up to the next whole inch. Check your carrier's rules.
Freight density in kg/m³
If you ship with metric sizes, you can work in kilograms per cubic meter. 1 lb/ft³ equals 16.018 kg/m³. For example, a 120 × 80 × 150 cm pallet that weighs 300 kg is 1.44 m³. Its density is 300 ÷ 1.44 = 208.3 kg/m³, which is 13.0 lb/ft³ and class 85. The calculator converts both ways when you switch to cm and kg.
The NMFC density scale is published in lb/ft³. Here it is with the matching kg/m³ values:
| Class | lb/ft³ | kg/m³ |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 or more | 800.9 or more |
| 55 | 35 to under 50 | 560.6 to under 800.9 |
| 60 | 30 to under 35 | 480.6 to under 560.6 |
| 65 | 22.5 to under 30 | 360.4 to under 480.6 |
| 70 | 15 to under 22.5 | 240.3 to under 360.4 |
| 85 | 12 to under 15 | 192.2 to under 240.3 |
| 92.5 | 10 to under 12 | 160.2 to under 192.2 |
| 100 | 8 to under 10 | 128.1 to under 160.2 |
| 125 | 6 to under 8 | 96.1 to under 128.1 |
| 175 | 4 to under 6 | 64.1 to under 96.1 |
| 250 | 2 to under 4 | 32 to under 64.1 |
| 300 | 1 to under 2 | 16 to under 32 |
| 400 | under 1 | under 16 |
Scale from NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025. It applies to freight rated by density. Some commodities have their own class in the NMFC, whatever their density.
One pallet or the whole shipment?
When your pallets differ, each one can land in a different class on its own, as in the example above. The calculator shows both numbers: the density of each line and of the whole shipment. Which one your carrier uses depends on its tariff and on whether the pallets hold the same goods. If the lines rate different classes, ask the carrier before you book, or list both lines in a freight quote request, so the quote and the invoice match.
Density calculators by carrier
The math is the same for every LTL carrier. What differs is how each one measures and prices. These pages cover the details for each carrier:
Already know your density and just need the class? Use the freight class calculator, or look up any class in the freight class chart.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate freight density?
Divide the total weight in pounds by the total volume in cubic feet. To get cubic feet, multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 1,728. A 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet is 53.3 ft³, so at 550 lb its density is 10.3 lb/ft³.
What is LTL freight density?
It is how many pounds your less-than-truckload shipment weighs for each cubic foot of trailer space it takes. LTL carriers use it to set the NMFC freight class, and the class drives the rate. Heavier for its size means a lower class and usually a lower price.
How do I calculate the density of a pallet?
Measure the loaded pallet at its longest, widest and tallest points, with the pallet itself included. Weigh everything together: goods, pallet, wrap and straps. Then divide pounds by cubic feet. The calculator above does this for one pallet or for several pallets of different sizes.
Does freight density include the pallet?
Yes. Carriers measure and weigh the handling unit as you hand it over, so the pallet's height and weight count. A standard 48 × 40 wood pallet is about 4.5 to 4.75 inches tall and weighs about 30 to 48 lb empty, and both change the density.
How do I convert lb/ft³ to kg/m³?
Multiply by 16.018. For example, 10 lb/ft³ is about 160.2 kg/m³. To go the other way, divide kg/m³ by 16.018. If you measure in centimeters and kilograms, you can also divide kilograms by cubic meters directly.
What is a good freight density?
The higher the better for your rate. On the current NMFC scale, 15 lb/ft³ or more rates class 70 or lower, and 10 to under 12 lb/ft³ rates class 92.5. Under 6 lb/ft³ rates class 175 or higher, which is where light, bulky freight gets expensive.