Skip to content
RescueLoad

    Freight class and density calculator: exact density and a class estimate you can check

    Enter each piece's dimensions, weight and count. The calculator works out the total cube, the density in pounds per cubic foot, and the class band that density falls in on the public density scale.

    Units
    PiecesLengthWidthHeightWeight eachRemove

    Measure each piece at its longest, widest and tallest points, including the pallet and any overhang. Units: inches and pounds.

    Total cube
    140.0 ft³
    Total weight
    1,380 lb
    Density
    9.86
    lb per ft³
    Class estimate
    100
    from the density scale

    Estimate only. The carrier's tariff and your item's NMFC listing decide the class; some items aren't classed by density at all.

    Density scale (lb/ft³ to class)
    1. 0 to <1class 400
    2. 1 to <2class 300
    3. 2 to <4class 250
    4. 4 to <6class 175
    5. 6 to <8class 125
    6. 8 to <10class 100 ◂
    7. 10 to <12class 92.5
    8. 12 to <15class 85
    9. 15 to <22.5class 70
    10. 22.5 to <30class 65
    11. 30 to <35class 60
    12. 35 to <50class 55
    13. 50+class 50

    From the NMFTA Docket 2025-1 (Disposition Bulletin 1371), as summarized publicly by carriers and brokers, checked 2026-10-10.

    Density 9.9 lb/ft³, estimated class 100. If you haul partials or LTL-sized freight in a 26 ft box or a van, our dispatchers match loads to your floor and your payload before you see them.

    Find loads that fit

    This freight class and density calculator does two things, and it's careful to keep them apart. Density is pure math: weight divided by space, in pounds per cubic foot. The class is an estimate: the band that density falls in on the public density scale. The math is exact. The class is a starting point that the carrier's tariff and your item's listing in the National Motor Freight Classification confirm or change.

    How to calculate freight class by density

    1. Measure each piece. Longest, widest and tallest points, including the pallet and anything that sticks out. Round up to the next inch; carriers measure that way.
    2. Get cubic feet. Length × width × height in inches, divided by 1,728. Multiply by the number of identical pieces.
    3. Add the weight. The total weight of all pieces, including pallets and packaging.
    4. Divide. Total weight ÷ total cubic feet = density in pounds per cubic foot.
    5. Find the band. Look up that density on the scale to get an estimated class.

    The calculator does all five steps and handles metric units. Formula: density = total weight (lb) ÷ total volume (ft³).

    The density scale it uses

    The estimate comes from the 13-band density scale as publicly described for NMFC Docket 2025-1, which took effect on July 19, 2025. Under it, the densest freight, 50 pounds per cubic foot and up, falls in class 50, and the lightest, under 1 pound per cubic foot, in class 400. The full ranges are shown next to the calculator, with the band your shipment falls in highlighted.

    Source: NMFTA Docket 2025-1 (Disposition Bulletin 1371), as summarized publicly by carriers and brokers, checked October 2026 Not all items use this scale; check your item's listing.

    A worked example

    Two pallet sizes, one shipmentExample

    1. 2 pieces48 × 40 × 48 in at 500 lb each: 53.3 ft³ each, 106.7 ft³ and 1,000 lb together
    2. 1 piece48 × 40 × 30 in at 380 lb: 33.3 ft³
    3. TOTAL140.0 ft³ and 1,380 lb
    4. DENSITY1,380 ÷ 140.0 = 9.86 lb/ft³
    5. ESTIMATEClass 100 on the density scale (8 to under 10 lb/ft³)

    Those are the calculator's example defaults. Put in your own pieces to see yours.

    What the result means, and what it doesn't

    A density estimate helps you quote, plan and catch obvious mistakes before a carrier does. It does not set your class. Items with their own NMFC listings can be classed on handling, stowability or liability as well as density, and the carrier applies its own tariff when it bills. If your declared class and the carrier's inspection disagree, you may see a reclass and a fee.

    The guide to freight class explains the system in full, including why some items aren't density-based. For the bigger picture on how freight moves by mode, see our US freight shipping statistics (coming soon).

    Common measuring mistakes that cause a reclass

    • Leaving out the pallet. The pallet is part of the piece. Measure from the floor to the highest point.
    • Measuring the cartons, not the load. If cartons overhang the pallet, the overhang counts.
    • Rounding down. Carriers usually round each dimension up to the next inch. Do the same.
    • Ignoring irregular shapes. For odd shapes, measure the smallest box the piece would fit in.
    • Guessing the weight. Weigh it on a certified scale when you can; an estimate that's light can push density, and the class, the wrong way.

    A careful measurement takes a few minutes and avoids a reclass fee and an argument afterward.

    Freight density for carriers, not just shippers

    Density isn't only an LTL pricing question. If you run a 26 ft box truck or a van on partial loads, density tells you whether a load will fill your floor before it reaches your weight limit, or hit your weight limit with floor space to spare. Light, bulky freight cubes out; dense freight weighs out. Knowing which kind a load is helps you price it and plan what else can ride with it.

    Related calculators

    Running a 26 ft box or a van on partial and LTL-sized freight? Our dispatchers match loads to your floor space and payload before you see them. See box truck dispatch or send an application.

    Questions about this calculator

    How do you calculate freight class?
    For items classed by density, measure each piece at its longest, widest and tallest points, multiply to get cubic inches, divide by 1,728 for cubic feet, and divide the total weight by the total cubic feet. That gives pounds per cubic foot. Find that density on the scale to get an estimated class. Your item's NMFC listing and the carrier's tariff confirm it.
    How do I determine freight class if my item isn't density-based?
    Some items are classed by their NMFC listing on factors beyond density, such as how easily they're damaged, how they stow, or their value and liability. For those, the density estimate is only a starting point. Look up the item number through the NMFC or ask the carrier, who will apply its tariff. Our NMFC lookup guide explains how.
    What is freight density?
    Freight density is the shipment's weight divided by the space it takes up, in pounds per cubic foot. Dense freight, like machinery parts, packs a lot of weight into a small space and usually gets a lower class. Light, bulky freight, like furniture or foam, takes up space for little weight and usually gets a higher class.
    Is there a freight density chart?
    Yes. The scale beside the calculator shows the density ranges and the class each maps to, as publicly described for the standard density scale that took effect in July 2025. It's the chart this calculator uses for its estimate. It doesn't replace the NMFC itself, and items with their own listings can differ.
    Why did my carrier reclass my shipment?
    Usually because the measured dimensions or weight differed from what was declared, or the item's NMFC listing puts it in a different class than the density suggested. Carriers inspect and dimension freight, and a reclass often comes with a fee. Measuring carefully, including the pallet and overhang, avoids most surprises.