Reference · Effective July 19, 2025
The 2025 freight class chart
The full 13-tier density scale, the gross weight a standard 48 × 40 pallet needs to reach each class, and the legacy 18-class reference with the five commodity-only classes marked.
Enter pounds per cubic foot. The lookup uses the 13-tier density scale and never returns a commodity-only class.
Density scale
13 tiers, Class 50 to Class 400
The lower bound is inclusive. Exactly 8.0 lb/ft³ is Class 100; 7.99 is Class 125.
| Freight class | Density (lb/ft³) | Gross weight at 48 × 40 × 48 in | Gross weight at 48 × 40 × 60 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 or greater | 2,667+ lb | 3,333+ lb |
| 55 | 35 to under 50 | 1,867+ lb | 2,333+ lb |
| 60 | 30 to under 35 | 1,600+ lb | 2,000+ lb |
| 65 | 22.5 to under 30 | 1,200+ lb | 1,500+ lb |
| 70 | 15 to under 22.5 | 800+ lb | 1,000+ lb |
| 85 | 12 to under 15 | 640+ lb | 800+ lb |
| 92.5 | 10 to under 12 | 533+ lb | 667+ lb |
| 100 | 8 to under 10 | 427+ lb | 533+ lb |
| 125 | 6 to under 8 | 320+ lb | 400+ lb |
| 175 | 4 to under 6 | 213+ lb | 267+ lb |
| 250 | 2 to under 4 | 107+ lb | 133+ lb |
| 300 | 1 to under 2 | 53+ lb | 67+ lb |
| 400 | Less than 1 | under 53 lb | under 67 lb |
Pallet weights use the full handling-unit height, including the pallet deck. If you measured 48 in of cartons and then add a 5.5 in GMA deck, the handling unit is 53.5 in tall, not 48 in.
At 48 in
53.33 ft³ of cube
The classic 48 × 40 pallet, loaded to 4 feet.
At 60 in
66.67 ft³ of cube
A taller stack needs more weight for the same density.
At 96 in
106.67 ft³ of cube
Double-stacked height. Confirm the carrier’s handling rules.
How to read it
From a pallet to a class in three steps
The chart is a lookup, but the input is not the pallet — it is the density of the handling unit as tendered. Get the measurement right first.
Skip the math — use the calculator- 01
Measure the full handling unit
Widest length and width, including overhang. Height from floor to highest point, including the pallet deck and wrap.
- 02
Divide gross pounds by cubic feet
L × W × H ÷ 1,728 = ft³. Gross weight includes freight, cartons, packaging, and pallet.
- 03
Find the density band
Use the lower bound as inclusive. If the result is near a boundary, recheck the height and weight before booking.
Legacy reference
All 18 NMFC classes — and which 5 are not density outputs
The NMFC still lists 18 classes. The 2025 update standardized the density scale to 13 tiers, but it did not delete the other five. They remain available for commodity-specific items, subprovisions, and special handling. A density lookup should never return them.
| Class | Density band / status | Density output? |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 or greater | Yes |
| 55 | 35 to under 50 | Yes |
| 60 | 30 to under 35 | Yes |
| 65 | 22.5 to under 30 | Yes |
| 70 | 15 to under 22.5 | Yes |
| 77.5 | Commodity-specific | Commodity only |
| 85 | 12 to under 15 | Yes |
| 92.5 | 10 to under 12 | Yes |
| 100 | 8 to under 10 | Yes |
| 110 | Commodity-specific | Commodity only |
| 125 | 6 to under 8 | Yes |
| 150 | Commodity-specific | Commodity only |
| 175 | 4 to under 6 | Yes |
| 200 | Commodity-specific | Commodity only |
| 250 | 2 to under 4 | Yes |
| 300 | 1 to under 2 | Yes |
| 400 | Less than 1 | Yes |
| 500 | Commodity-specific | Commodity only |
Why the missing classes matter
Plenty of charts still show 18 density bands. If a tool maps 7.97 lb/ft³ to Class 110, it is using an old table. On the 2025 scale, 7.97 lb/ft³ is Class 125.
Commodity-specific
Classes 77.5, 110, 150, 200, and 500 still apply when an NMFC item specifies them. Check the NMFC item number before assuming the density result is final.
A quick test
A 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet at 425 lb is 7.97 lb/ft³. The 2025 scale returns Class 125. If your chart returns Class 110, it is out of date.
Boundary rules
Small measurements, large consequences
7.97 → 8.00
Class 125 to Class 100 at the same cube. On a 53.33 ft³ pallet, that is about 1.7 lb.
14.99 → 15.00
Class 85 to Class 70. A fraction of an inch in height can be enough to cross it.
49.99 → 50.00
Class 55 to Class 50, the densest tier. At 53.33 ft³, that is about 0.5 lb.
This is why the calculator shows the weight or cube needed for the next tier instead of only the current class. A shipment that is “basically Class 100” is still rated as Class 125 until it crosses the boundary.
Have a shipment, not just a density?
The calculator handles multiple lines, pallets, cylinders, metric units, and the next-tier math. Starting from the commodity instead? Use the NMFC lookup for the classification basis and a density-based class span.
Sources & notes
- NMFTA, new effective date for the 2025 NMFC changes — July 19, 2025.
- NMFTA, NMFC classification and ClassIT+ — the official classification system.
- Carrier freight-class references from Estes and FedEx Freight for measurement conventions.
FreightClassHub is independent and not affiliated with the NMFTA or any carrier. This chart is a density reference, not an official NMFC classification. The NMFC item, handling, stowability, liability, and the carrier tariff control the final rating.