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Know your freight class before the carrier does.

Enter your dimensions and weight, get an instant NMFC class for every pallet in your shipment, double-check it against the official density chart, and see exactly how to lower it before you book — so you never eat a reclass fee again.

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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

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.

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.

ClassDensity (lb/ft³)Typical examplesRelative cost
50Over 50 lb/ft³Bricks, sand, hardwood flooring, steel rods
5535–50 lb/ft³Concrete blocks, hardwood furniture, steel pipe
6030–35 lb/ft³Car accessories, machinery, crated auto parts
6522.5–30 lb/ft³Car parts, bottled beverages, books, wire
7015–22.5 lb/ft³Food items, auto engines, unassembled furniture
77.513.5–15 lb/ft³Tires, bathroom fixtures, refrigerators
8512–13.5 lb/ft³Crated machinery, cast iron stoves, transmissions
92.510.5–12 lb/ft³Computers, monitors, refrigerated goods
1009–10.5 lb/ft³Boat covers, canvas, wine cases, caskets
1108–9 lb/ft³Cabinets, framed art, table saws
1257–8 lb/ft³Small household appliances, plasma TVs
1506–7 lb/ft³Auto sheet metal parts, bookcases
1755–6 lb/ft³Clothing, couches on wheels
2004–5 lb/ft³Sheet metal parts, aircraft parts, aluminum table
2503–4 lb/ft³Mattresses, wood cabinets, plasma TVs (large)
3002–3 lb/ft³Wood cabinets, tables, chairs, setup
4001–2 lb/ft³Deer antlers, rugs
500Under 1 lb/ft³Bags of gold dust, ping pong balls

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.

1

Dim-scanners at the terminal

DIMENSIONERPALLET

A dimensioner is an automated system carriers use to capture a shipment’s length, width, and height in seconds, instead of a worker measuring with a tape and a clipboard. Most LTL terminals run one of two setups: a fixed rig mounted over a conveyor or dock door that a forklift drives a pallet through, or a handheld/mobile unit with built-in sensors that a dockworker points at freight sitting on the floor.

Inside the fixed units, a grid of lasers or a depth camera scans the pallet from above and the sides, builds a 3D outline of the load — including any irregular or overhanging edges — and rounds up to the nearest inch. That measurement is paired with the reading from a certified scale under the same footprint, so the terminal gets both exact dimensions and exact weight in one pass, with no manual entry to get wrong.

The result — cubic footage and weight — is what gets checked against the NMFC density table in the next step. If it doesn’t match what was booked on the bill of lading, the shipment gets flagged for reclass before it ever leaves the terminal.

Source: Wikipedia — Dimensional weight
2

Weight verified on a certified scale

1,842 LBLOAD CELLLOAD CELLCERTIFIED PLATFORM SCALE

The scale under a dock dimensioner isn’t a bathroom-scale-grade device — it’s a platform scale built on load cells (transducers that convert the force pressing down on them into an electrical signal), feeding a digital readout that the terminal’s system logs automatically. Because it’s tied straight into the dock workflow, the reading gets attached to the shipment the moment the pallet crosses it, with no manual weigh ticket to transcribe or fudge.

What makes that reading enforceable is certification. In the US, scales used to bill a shipper or consignee have to be "Legal for Trade" — tested and sealed under the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) so the reading can’t drift out of tolerance without it being caught. Regulators require periodic re-inspection with calibrated reference weights, because even gravity itself varies slightly by location — enough to matter at commercial accuracy.

That’s why a certified terminal scale outranks whatever weight is written on the bill of lading: it’s the legally defensible number. If it comes in heavier than what was booked, the shipment gets flagged the same way a dimension mismatch does — and it’s usually weight, not dimensions, that triggers the reclass.

Source: Wikipedia — Weighing scale
3

Density checked against the NMFC table

7.4 LB/FT³NMFC DENSITY TABLE12+ lb/ft³ — Class 858–12 lb/ft³ — Class 1256–8 lb/ft³ — Class 1754–6 lb/ft³ — Class 250

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is the standard every LTL carrier in North America prices against. It’s published and maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), and carriers who want a Standard Carrier Alpha Code — effectively a license to operate — have to be members and use it. That’s what makes it the de facto system rather than one carrier’s in-house rulebook.

The NMFC sorts freight into 18 classes, from 50 (dense, easy to handle, low risk — like steel) up to 500 (light and bulky, or fragile and high-liability — like ping pong balls). Class is set by four factors: density, stowability, handling, and liability. For most general commodities, density does the heaviest lifting — once the terminal has the exact cubic footage from the dimensioner and the exact weight from the scale, it computes pounds per cubic foot and looks that figure up directly against the density-to-class table for that commodity’s NMFC item.

This is the same table this calculator runs against — so the class you get here is the class a terminal’s own lookup should land on too, provided the dimensions and weight you enter match what actually ships.

Source: Wikipedia — National Motor Freight Classification
4

Corrections get billed automatically

BOOKEDClass: 125Weight: 1,700 lbTotal: $312.00CORRECTEDClass: 175Weight: 1,842 lbTotal: $398.50+ reweigh/reclass fee

Once a shipment crosses the dimensioner and scale, the terminal has three numbers to compare against what was booked: length/width/height, weight, and the resulting class. Carriers call the process of catching a mismatch a "reweigh and reclass" (or just "reclass") inspection — Wikipedia’s entry on LTL shipping describes the underlying step plainly: freight is "unloaded and the individual shipments are then weighed and inspected to verify their conformity to the description contained in the accompanying paperwork."

If the measured numbers land on a different NMFC class than what was quoted, the carrier’s system doesn’t wait for a human to intervene — it recalculates the freight charges at the correct class and reissues the invoice automatically, usually within a day or two of the shipment being scanned. Because the terminal captured everything digitally in steps 1–3, the correction is generated straight from that data rather than a clerk re-keying it.

On top of the rate difference, many carriers layer on a flat inspection or reweigh/reclass fee — separate from the freight charge itself — to cover the cost of catching the discrepancy. That combination is why an inaccurate booking almost always costs more after the fact than getting the class right up front.

Source: Wikipedia — Less than truckload shipping

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.