Free · No sign-up · Multi-pallet support
Know your freight class before the carrier does.
Enter your dimensions and weight, get an instant NMFC class for every pallet in your shipment, and see exactly how to lower it before you book — so you never eat a reclass fee again.
FREIGHT CLASS CALCULATOR
Get your NMFC class in seconds.
Add every pallet in your shipment. We'll calculate density and class per pallet, plus your combined shipment class — and show you how to lower it.
Pallet 1 — enter dimensions to preview
NMFC REFERENCE
Freight class chart.
All 18 NMFC freight classes with density ranges, typical examples, and relative cost impact. Use it as a sanity check against the calculator above.
| Class | Density (lb/ft³) | Typical examples | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Over 50 lb/ft³ | Bricks, sand, hardwood flooring, steel rods | |
| 55 | 35–50 lb/ft³ | Concrete blocks, hardwood furniture, steel pipe | |
| 60 | 30–35 lb/ft³ | Car accessories, machinery, crated auto parts | |
| 65 | 22.5–30 lb/ft³ | Car parts, bottled beverages, books, wire | |
| 70 | 15–22.5 lb/ft³ | Food items, auto engines, unassembled furniture | |
| 77.5 | 13.5–15 lb/ft³ | Tires, bathroom fixtures, refrigerators | |
| 85 | 12–13.5 lb/ft³ | Crated machinery, cast iron stoves, transmissions | |
| 92.5 | 10.5–12 lb/ft³ | Computers, monitors, refrigerated goods | |
| 100 | 9–10.5 lb/ft³ | Boat covers, canvas, wine cases, caskets | |
| 110 | 8–9 lb/ft³ | Cabinets, framed art, table saws | |
| 125 | 7–8 lb/ft³ | Small household appliances, plasma TVs | |
| 150 | 6–7 lb/ft³ | Auto sheet metal parts, bookcases | |
| 175 | 5–6 lb/ft³ | Clothing, couches on wheels | |
| 200 | 4–5 lb/ft³ | Sheet metal parts, aircraft parts, aluminum table | |
| 250 | 3–4 lb/ft³ | Mattresses, wood cabinets, plasma TVs (large) | |
| 300 | 2–3 lb/ft³ | Wood cabinets, tables, chairs, setup | |
| 400 | 1–2 lb/ft³ | Deer antlers, rugs | |
| 500 | Under 1 lb/ft³ | Bags of gold dust, ping pong balls |
COMMODITY LOOKUP
Look up a class by commodity.
Search by what you're shipping to see the typical class range shippers use as a starting point. Actual class always depends on your specific density, packaging, and carrier rules.
No matches. Try a broader term, or use the calculator above with your actual dimensions and weight for a precise class.
PARCEL VS. LTL
Dimensional weight vs. freight class.
Small, light, bulky shipments are sometimes cheaper to send as a parcel (billed by dimensional weight) than as LTL freight (billed by density-based class). Compare both.
Parcel carriers bill the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight (L × W × H ÷ divisor). LTL freight bills by density-based class instead. As a rough guide, very light, bulky pieces under ~150 lbs are worth quoting both ways — everything above that is almost always cheaper as LTL freight.
RECLASS FEE ESTIMATOR
What does a reclass actually cost?
If a carrier re-weighs or re-measures your freight and bumps you to a higher class, here's roughly what that correction costs — on top of any flat reclass/inspection fee.
This is a rough, illustrative estimate using a typical class-to-rate relationship — it is not any specific carrier's tariff. Actual reclass costs depend on your carrier's rate table, lane, and negotiated discounts, and usually include a separate flat inspection fee. Get exact numbers from your carrier or broker before disputing a reclass.
BEHIND THE SCENES
How carriers actually verify your class.
Booking a class isn't the last word — carriers check it. Knowing how helps you book it right the first time.
Most LTL terminals run inbound freight through a dimensioner — a laser or camera rig that measures length, width, and height in seconds as the forklift passes through. Combined with the terminal scale, that gives an exact density on the spot.
Freight is re-weighed at the terminal on a certified industrial scale, independent of whatever weight was written on the bill of lading. A mismatch here is the single most common trigger for a reclass.
The measured density is looked up against the National Motor Freight Classification density table (the same table this calculator uses) to confirm the booked class is correct for that commodity.
If the scanned dimensions and scale weight don’t match what was booked, most carriers’ systems auto-generate a corrected invoice at the accurate class, often with a separate inspection or reweigh/reclass fee layered on top.
FAQ
Freight class, explained.
What is freight class?＋
Freight class is a standardized rating (50–500) set by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) that carriers use to price LTL shipments. It is based mainly on density, along with stowability, handling, and liability.
How is freight class calculated?＋
Density (weight ÷ volume, in pounds per cubic foot) is the main driver. Multiply length × width × height in inches, divide by 1728 to get cubic feet, then divide total weight by that volume. Look up the resulting density in the NMFC density table to find your class.
Why does a lower class usually cost less?＋
Lower classes (50–85) represent denser, easier-to-handle freight, so carriers charge less per hundredweight. Higher classes (150–500) are bulky, low-density, or harder to handle, so the rate per pound goes up.
What happens if I book the wrong class?＋
Carriers physically re-weigh and re-measure freight at their terminals. If your booked class does not match, they issue a reclassification and bill you the corrected — usually higher — rate, often with a fee.
Can I combine multiple pallets into one shipment class?＋
Yes — for a single commodity moving on one bill of lading, carriers typically rate the shipment using the combined density of all pieces. Mixed commodities on one BOL may need to be classed and listed separately. Our calculator shows both the per-pallet and combined shipment class.
What is a freight class calculator?＋
A freight class calculator is a free online tool that converts your shipment's dimensions and weight into its NMFC freight class. Enter length, width, height, and weight, and it computes density and returns the matching class (50–500) so you can book LTL freight at the correct rate without manually looking up the density table.
How do I use a freight class calculator for pallets?＋
Measure each pallet's length, width, and height in inches (include the pallet itself, not just the freight on top) and weigh it in pounds. Enter those numbers per pallet — the calculator finds each pallet's density and class, then combines all pallets on the shipment to give you the overall shipment class carriers will use for billing.
What does freight class 55 mean?＋
Class 55 covers dense, sturdy freight — typically bricks, hardwood flooring, cement, or heavy palletized goods with a density around 35 lb/ft³ or higher. It is one of the lowest (cheapest) freight classes because dense, easy-to-handle freight costs carriers less to move.
How do I calculate freight?＋
To calculate a freight shipment, measure length, width, and height in inches, multiply them together, and divide by 1728 to get cubic feet. Divide the total weight in pounds by that cubic feet figure to get density (lb/ft³), then match that density to the NMFC density table to find the freight class and estimate the rate.
How do you calculate freight cost per kg?＋
Divide the total freight charge by the shipment weight in kilograms. For LTL freight, the total charge itself is driven by class, weight, and distance, so first get your freight class from density (using pounds and inches), convert the final quote to your currency, then divide by the kg weight to get a per-kilogram cost for comparing shipments.
How are freight rates calculated?＋
Freight rates are calculated from freight class, weight, origin/destination distance, and accessorial charges (liftgate, residential delivery, limited access). Carriers apply a base rate per hundredweight (CWT) for the shipment's class, then adjust with discounts, fuel surcharges, and any extra fees to reach the final quote.
What is FedEx class?＋
FedEx Freight uses the same NMFC freight class system (classes 50–500) as other LTL carriers. FedEx assigns your shipment a class based on density, stowability, handling, and liability, then reweighs and remeasures freight at its terminals — if your booked class does not match, they rebill at the correct class.
How to calculate freight weight class?＋
Calculate freight weight class by finding density: multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 1728 to get cubic feet, then divide the total weight in pounds by that figure. Match the resulting pounds-per-cubic-foot density to the NMFC density table to get the freight class — denser shipments get lower, cheaper classes.
GUIDE
The free online freight class calculator for LTL shippers.
What is a freight class calculator?
A freight class calculator is a tool that turns your shipment's dimensions and weight into an NMFC freight class — the number every LTL (less-than-truckload) carrier uses to price your freight. Instead of digging through the National Motor Freight Classification density table by hand, you plug in length, width, height, and weight, and the calculator does the lookup for you. This freight class calculator was built for shippers, freight brokers, and warehouse staff who need an accurate class in seconds, not a spreadsheet and a printed density chart.
Why use a free freight class calculator?
Booking the wrong class is one of the most common — and most expensive — mistakes in LTL shipping. Carriers re-weigh and re-measure every pallet at the terminal, and if your booked class doesn't match what they find, they issue a reclassification and bill you the corrected rate, usually along with a reclass fee. Using a free freight class calculator before you book removes the guesswork: you know your real class up front, you can catch errors before the carrier does, and you avoid surprise invoices weeks after the shipment has already delivered. Because it's free and requires no sign-up, you can check a class in the middle of quoting a load without breaking your workflow.
How this LTL freight class calculator works
This LTL freight class calculator follows the same logic carriers use. Density — pounds per cubic foot — is the primary driver of freight class for most commodities. The calculator multiplies your length, width, and height in inches, divides by 1,728 to convert cubic inches to cubic feet, then divides your total weight by that volume to get density in pounds per cubic foot. That density is matched against the official NMFC density table to return your class, from a dense, inexpensive class 50 up through a bulky, expensive class 500. The result updates instantly as you adjust dimensions or weight, so you can test different packaging or palletizing before you commit to a booking.
Freight class calculator for multiple pallets
Most LTL shipments don't move on a single pallet, so this tool is built as afreight class calculator for multiple pallets from the ground up. Add a row for each pallet in your shipment, enter its dimensions and weight, and the calculator returns a class for every individual pallet as well as the combined class for the shipment as a whole. That distinction matters: carriers typically rate a single-commodity shipment using its combined density across all pieces on the bill of lading, while shipments with mixed commodities may need each pallet classed and listed separately. Seeing both numbers side by side means you can book the shipment the same way the carrier will actually rate it, instead of estimating from just one pallet and hoping the rest match.
Reading the freight class chart
Alongside the calculator, this page includes a full freight class chart mapping density ranges directly to their NMFC class, from class 50 (over 50 lbs/ft³) down to class 500 (under 1 lb/ft³). The chart is useful even after you've calculated a class, because it shows how close your shipment is to a class boundary. If a small change in packaging — a smaller box, a lower pallet, tighter stacking — would push your density into the next bracket down, that can mean a meaningfully lower shipping cost. The chart also doubles as a quick reference for anyone who wants to sanity-check a class a carrier or broker has quoted them, without re-running the full calculation.
Class by commodity vs. class by density
Not every freight class comes purely from a density calculation. The NMFC also assigns a fixed class by commodity for certain items — furniture, auto parts, machinery, and other goods with an established NMFC item number carry a class (or class range) set by the commodity itself, regardless of how it's packaged. Density still matters for many of these items within their assigned range, but stowability, handling difficulty, and liability risk also factor in. This calculator's common-items reference lists typical classes for frequently shipped commodities, so you can cross-check a density-based result against how that type of freight is usually classed in practice, and catch cases where commodity-based classification should take priority over a straight density lookup.
Why shippers use an NMFC freight class calculator
Whether you ship a few pallets a month or manage freight for a busy warehouse, an accurateNMFC freight class calculator pays for itself the first time it prevents a reclass fee. Freight brokers use it to quote loads more confidently, warehouse teams use it to double-check outbound shipments before they leave the dock, and small businesses shipping LTL for the first time use it to understand why a quote came in higher — or lower — than expected. Because everything runs instantly in your browser with no account required, it fits into however you already work: as a final check before booking, a teaching tool for new staff, or a quick reference when a carrier's classification doesn't match what you expected.
Use the calculator above to get your class now, browse the density chart and common-items table for context, and check the FAQ below for more on how reclassification, density, and commodity-based classes work together.