2025 NMFC density scale · Effective July 19, 2025
Free freight calculators that show their work.
Get 2025 NMFC freight class and density for US LTL, pallet weight and cube, trailer linear feet, and UPS, FedEx, or USPS dimensional weight — with the formula, boundaries, and limits shown.
Not sure where to start? Compare the freight calculators.
Planning a pallet load? Calculate trailer linear feet and floor use.
Shipping parcels instead? Calculate dimensional weight for UPS, FedEx, and USPS.
No signup No uploads Runs in your browser
Live example
2025 scaleOne GMA pallet
48 × 40 × 48 in · 425 lb gross
Estimated class
125
Density
7.97 lb/ft³
Next cheaper class
Class 100Add 1.67 lb at the same cube — or remove about 0.21 ft³— to reach 8 lb/ft³.
425 lb ÷ 53.33 ft³ = 7.97 lb/ft³ → Class 125
Density-based estimate. Not an official NMFC classification.
Try yoursCurrent scale
13 density tiers, effective July 19, 2025
Full classification
18 NMFC classes, with 5 kept commodity-specific
Transparent math
Formula, boundaries, and limits shown on every result
The toolkit
Freight calculators for class, pallets, linear feet, and DIM weight.
Each tool lives on its own page, with its own formula, examples, and limits. Start with the question in front of you, then follow the handoff to the next calculator. For the classification basis behind a commodity, start with the NMFC lookup.
Freight class & density calculator
Multi-line shipments, inches or centimeters, pounds or kilograms, box or cylinder, and pallet presets. Per-line class, combined class, boundary insight, and exportable summary.
- 2025 NMFC 13-tier scale
- Mixed-class warnings
- Target-class planning
- Copy, print, CSV, share link
2025 freight class chart
The full density table with 48 × 40 pallet weight equivalents, the legacy 18-class reference, and a printable layout for the dock.
See the 2025 freight class chartPallet weight & cube calculator
Build a pallet from cases or check a finished load. The layer plan, cube utilization, deck coverage, height and weight headroom, and pallet-size comparison all update as you type — with density and 2025 class as secondary context.
- Mixed-rotation layer plan
- Cube utilization and deck coverage
- Height and weight ceilings
- CSV, print, and share link
Example · GMA pallet
50 cases48 × 40 × 55.5 in
1,037 lb gross · 83.3% cube use
Per layer × layers10 × 5
Cargo cube55.56 ft³
Density · class16.8 · 70
Linear feet calculator
Turn pallets and skids into trailer floor space. The calculator packs rows, compares both orientations, caps stacks at the usable trailer height, and shows pounds per linear foot — with density and 2025 class as secondary context.
- Auto orientation comparison
- Mixed-line row packing
- 53, 48, and 28 ft trailers
- lb/LF, CSV, print, share link
Example · 53 ft dry van
10 pallets48 × 40 × 48 in
500 lb each · 5,000 lb total
Auto · 40 in down16.67 ft
48 in down20 ft
2-high10 ft
Dimensional weight calculator
Parcel DIM weight for UPS Daily, UPS Retail, FedEx, and USPS. The rounding receipt shows each side, the divisor, the DIM result, and the billable weight — plus the density where actual weight starts winning.
- Whole-inch rounding receipt
- USPS 1,728 in³ and 70 lb rules
- Density break-even and reverse solver
- Custom divisor and carrier comparison
Example · UPS Daily
÷ 13924 × 18 × 16 in
15 lb actual · 6,912 in³ · 4 ft³
DIM weight50 lb
Billable weight50 lb
NMFC commodity lookup & guide
Start from the commodity, not a stale code. 40 common LTL commodities with the classification basis, typical packed density, a class span derived from the 2025 scale, and the steps to confirm the item number — without publishing unverified item numbers.
- 40 commodity guides, 12 categories
- Density spans from the 13-tier scale
- Measurement and packaging notes
- Verification path and BOL template
Example · Mattresses
2025 scale2–4 lb/ft³
Density-rated · high reclass risk
Class spanClass 175–250
Categories12
Item numbersConfirm
Start here
Which freight calculator should I use?
Freight class, pallet weight, linear feet, and dimensional weight answer different questions. Using the wrong one is how a quote drifts. Built for shippers, warehouses, brokers, and ecommerce teams, the table below maps the question in front of you to the right tool and the next step in the chain.
| If you need to… | Use this calculator | What you get | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn dimensions and gross weight into an LTL class | Freight class & density calculator | Density (PCF), 2025 NMFC class, and the next-tier boundary | Check the 2025 chart or confirm the NMFC item |
| Build or audit a pallet | Pallet weight & cube calculator | Layer plan, gross weight, cube, and deck coverage | Send the gross weight and dimensions to freight class |
| Fit a load into a trailer | Linear feet calculator | Floor length, rows, lb/LF, and trailer fit | Check the class on the 2025 chart |
| Price a parcel | Dimensional weight calculator | Rounded cube, DIM weight, and billable weight | Compare the parcel result with LTL |
| Start from a commodity | NMFC lookup | Classification basis, typical density, and class span | Run the shipment through freight class |
Scroll the table sideways to see what each calculator returns and the next step.
Most LTL shipments start with the handling unit. If you are building a pallet from cases, start with the pallet calculator to get gross weight and cube, then move to the freight class calculator for density and class. If the pallet is already built, start with freight class. Once the class is set, the 2025 freight class chart shows the tier boundaries, and the linear feet calculator turns the pallet count into trailer floor space. Parcel shipments follow a different path: the dimensional weight calculator applies the carrier rule set and returns billable weight; if the parcel count grows, compare the result with LTL.
How it works
How the freight calculators work together.
A shipment can have a class, a cube, a footprint, and a billable weight at the same time. The calculators are split by question, not by shipment, so the handoffs are where most errors happen. Start with the density method, then follow the handoff that matches your load.
Read the full method- 01
Measure the handling unit
Length, width, and height at the widest points. Include the pallet deck, wrap, and any overhang.
- 02
Divide gross weight by cube
L × W × H ÷ 1,728 gives cubic feet. Gross pounds ÷ cubic feet gives density in lb/ft³.
- 03
Match the 2025 scale
Find the density band on the 13-tier table. The bottom bound is inclusive: 8.0 lb/ft³ is Class 100.
No account, no upload. Shipment values stay in your browser and in the URL you choose to share.
Limits are stated. Density is one of four classification factors; the NMFC item and tariff still control.
Sources are cited. Every guide links to the NMFTA and carrier references behind the claim.
From pallet to trailer floor: linear feet
Linear feet is the length of trailer floor a load occupies, not the sum of every pallet length. Ten 48 × 40 in GMA pallets at two across use 16.67 ft with the 40 in side down, or 20 ft with the 48 in side down; stacked two high, they use 10 ft. The linear feet calculator packs rows, compares both orientations, caps stacks at the usable trailer height, and returns pounds per linear foot. Stacking changes floor space, not density or class. A load longer than the selected trailer keeps its linear-foot result but carries an over-trailer flag.
From LTL to parcel: dimensional weight
Parcel carriers bill the greater of actual and dimensional weight. The dimensional weight calculator rounds each measured side up to the next whole inch, applies the selected carrier’s divisor, and compares the DIM result with actual weight. It also flags the USPS cube threshold, cap, and size limits, and the cases where a parcel is outside a carrier’s normal limits. The worked example above shows a 6,912 in³ parcel at 15 lb actual becoming 50 lb DIM and 50 lb billable. Compare that billable weight with the LTL result before you assume parcel is cheaper.
From commodity to NMFC item
Density is one of several classification factors. The NMFC item description, handling, stowability, liability, and the carrier tariff control the final rating. The NMFC lookup starts from the commodity and shows the classification basis, typical density, and a density-based class span; confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with your carrier. The guide to how to find an NMFC code walks through the verification path, and the 2025 changes guide explains why five classes disappeared from density lookups.
What density does and does not decide
Density drives the class on the 2025 scale, but it is not the only factor. A dense pallet can still carry a higher class if the NMFC item is commodity-specific, and a carrier can reclass after a reweigh or re-dimension. The freight class calculator returns a density-based estimate; the NMFC item and tariff control the final rating. If the class changes after pickup, the reclass guide explains the dispute file. The methodology documents the formula, sources, and known limits.
Common handoff mistakes
Three mistakes account for most bad quotes: measuring the cargo instead of the handling unit, leaving the pallet weight out of gross weight, and summing every pallet length instead of packing rows. A fourth is using a parcel divisor for an LTL shipment. The pallet calculator adds the deck, the freight class calculator uses gross weight and total cube, the linear feet calculator packs rows, and the DIM calculator applies the parcel rule set.
When to switch from parcel to LTL
A parcel quote is not always the cheaper option once a shipment grows. Compare the DIM billable weight and the parcel size limits with the LTL class and linear-foot result. The DIM page’s parcel-vs-LTL section covers the crossover; the linear feet calculator shows when a load becomes volume freight. If the shipment needs a pallet, a liftgate, or a delivery appointment, quote the LTL path.
FreightClassHub editorial team · Updated . See the methodology and sources.
The 2025 chart
2025 freight class chart: 13 density tiers with pallet weights.
A density table is abstract until you attach a pallet to it. The right column shows the gross weight a 48 × 40 × 48-inch pallet needs to reach each tier — 53.33 ft³ of cube.
Open the 2025 freight class chartDensity → class
48 × 40 × 48 in
| Density (lb/ft³) | Class | Gross weight |
|---|---|---|
| 50 or more | 50 | 2,667+ lb |
| 35 to under 50 | 55 | 1,867+ lb |
| 30 to under 35 | 60 | 1,600+ lb |
| 22.5 to under 30 | 65 | 1,200+ lb |
| 15 to under 22.5 | 70 | 800+ lb |
| 12 to under 15 | 85 | 640+ lb |
| 10 to under 12 | 92.5 | 533+ lb |
| 8 to under 10 | 100 | 427+ lb |
| 6 to under 8 | 125 | 320+ lb |
| 4 to under 6 | 175 | 213+ lb |
| 2 to under 4 | 250 | 107+ lb |
| 1 to under 2 | 300 | 53+ lb |
| 0 to under 1 | 400 | under 53 lb |
Weight thresholds use a 48-inch handling-unit height, including the pallet deck. If you measured the cartons only, add the deck height before comparing.
Guides
Freight guides: class, density, linear feet, and reclass.
How to calculate freight class
The density formula, a worked 48 × 40 example, and the measuring mistakes that change the answer.
Read guideHow to calculate linear feet
Row packing, orientation, stacking, and the pounds-per-linear-foot check for LTL loads.
Read guideThe 2025 NMFC 13-tier scale
What changed on July 19, 2025, and why five classes are missing from density lookups.
Read guideWhy class changes after pickup
Reweighs, re-dimensions, and the dispute file that gives you the best chance of a correction.
Read guideHow to find an NMFC code
Where the current item actually comes from, how to describe freight for a lookup, and what belongs on the BOL.
Read guideFAQ
Freight calculator FAQ.
Still unsure? The methodology page documents the formula, sources, and known limits.
Which freight calculator should I use first?
For a palletized LTL shipment, start with the pallet weight calculator if you are building the pallet from cases; otherwise start with the freight class calculator. Once you have the class, use the 2025 chart for a quick lookup and the linear feet calculator for trailer space. For parcels, start with the dimensional weight calculator. The comparison table above maps each question to a tool.
Are these freight calculators updated for 2025?
Yes. The freight class calculator and chart use the 13-tier NMFC density scale that took effect on July 19, 2025. The scale runs from Class 50 to Class 400, and the calculator never returns the commodity-only classes 77.5, 110, 150, 200, or 500 from a density lookup.
See the 2025 freight class chartRead the 2025 NMFC changes guide
Why does the calculator skip Class 110, 150, or 200?
Those classes still exist in the NMFC, but they are reserved for commodity-specific items. They are not outputs of the generic density scale. If a density calculator returns Class 110 for a density lookup, it is using an old 18-class chart.
Should I use net weight or gross weight?
Use gross weight: the freight, cartons, packaging, banding, and pallet. Carriers weigh the handling unit as tendered. Leaving out the pallet lowers your density and can push the shipment into a more expensive class.
What if my pallets have different densities?
Enter each size and weight as its own line. The calculator shows a per-line class and a combined class. If the units ship as separate handling units, a carrier may rate at the highest line class instead of the combined density.
What is linear feet in freight?
Linear feet is the length of trailer floor a load occupies. It is not the sum of every pallet length: ten 48 × 40 in GMA pallets at two across use 16.67 ft with the 40 in side down, or 20 ft with the 48 in side down. Stacked two high, they use 10 ft. Use the linear feet calculator for the row plan and pounds per linear foot.
Is this an official NMFC classification?
No. It is a density-based estimate. The NMFC item description, handling, stowability, liability, and the carrier tariff control the final rating. Use the result to quote and sanity-check, then confirm the NMFC item when accuracy matters.
Where can I find the NMFC code for a commodity?
Start with the NMFC commodity lookup for the classification basis and a density-based class span, then confirm the current item number in ClassIT+ or with your carrier. This site deliberately does not publish unverified item numbers: the NMFC is licensed, and the 2025 update consolidated about 2,000 listings. The guide on finding an NMFC code walks through the verification path and the BOL details.
Do I need an account or an email address?
No. The calculator runs in your browser, requires no signup, and does not upload your shipment details. Share links encode the shipment in the URL so you can send a result without a database.
Start with the shipment in front of you
Calculate freight class, cube, and linear feet in under a minute.
No signup, no email, no sales call. Enter the handling unit and see the math.