Freight Class & NMFC Density Guide

All 18 US LTL freight classes, their density bands, and the practical checks to make before you accept a carrier quote.

For density-rated freight, divide total shipment weight in pounds by total volume in cubic feet, then match the result to the class table. Higher density means a lower class number— but official NMFC classification can also depend on the commodity, handling, stowability, and liability.

Calculate your density first

Enter the packed dimensions and weight, then jump to the matching class.

Open the freight class calculator

Browse classes 50–500

Class 5050 lb/ft³ and over Class 5535 to under 50 lb/ft³ Class 6030 to under 35 lb/ft³ Class 6522.5 to under 30 lb/ft³ Class 7015 to under 22.5 lb/ft³ Class 77.513.5 to under 15 lb/ft³ Class 8512 to under 13.5 lb/ft³ Class 92.510.5 to under 12 lb/ft³ Class 1009 to under 10.5 lb/ft³ Class 1108 to under 9 lb/ft³ Class 1257 to under 8 lb/ft³ Class 1506 to under 7 lb/ft³ Class 1755 to under 6 lb/ft³ Class 2004 to under 5 lb/ft³ Class 2503 to under 4 lb/ft³ Class 3002 to under 3 lb/ft³ Class 4001 to under 2 lb/ft³ Class 500under 1 lb/ft³

The full freight class density chart

Density (lb/ft³)	Freight class
50 and over	50
35 – 50	55
30 – 35	60
22.5 – 30	65
15 – 22.5	70
13.5 – 15	77.5
12 – 13.5	85
10.5 – 12	92.5
9 – 10.5	100
8 – 9	110
7 – 8	125
6 – 7	150
5 – 6	175
4 – 5	200
3 – 4	250
2 – 3	300
1 – 2	400
under 1	500

How to use the guide

Start with the dimensions and total weight of the packed handling unit — not the loose product. Use the calculator to get density, then open the matching class page below for the exact band and the adjacent boundaries most likely to change your rate.

Density is a strong sanity check, not an official NMFC item lookup. If a commodity has a fixed class or special handling rules, the carrier's tariff and current NMFC item control.

Before tendering, review the common measurement and classification errors in the freight class mistakes guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many freight classes are there?

There are 18 standard US LTL freight classes, from class 50 for the densest freight to class 500 for the lightest and bulkiest freight.

Does density always determine freight class?

No. Density is the primary factor for many general commodities, but official NMFC classification can also depend on commodity, handling, stowability and liability.