2025 NMFC Freight Class Changes: The 13-Tier Density Scale

The 2025 NMFC changes went live on July 19, 2025. The headline for shippers is simple: most density-rated commodities now use a single 13-tier density scale from Class 50 to Class 400.

The confusion is also simple. The NMFC still has 18 classes. Five of them — 77.5, 110, 150, 200, and 500 — still exist for commodity-specific items. They are not outputs of the density scale. A calculator that maps 7.97 lb/ft³ to Class 110 is using an old chart.

Here is what changed, what did not, and how to check a class now.

The short version

• The effective date is July 19, 2025.
• The density scale has 13 tiers, from Class 50 to Class 400.
• The NMFC still has 18 classes overall.
• Classes 77.5, 110, 150, 200, and 500 are commodity-specific. They are not density results.
• Density is still one of four classification factors, alongside handling, stowability, and liability.
• The NMFC item and the carrier’s tariff still control the final rating.

What actually changed

Before the update, density-based freight class was often presented as an 18-class chart. A shipment at a given density could be mapped to Class 110 or Class 150, even though those classes were intended for specific commodities. The result was inconsistent: two calculators could return different classes for the same pallet.

The 2025 update standardizes the density scale into 13 tiers. Each tier has a clear lower bound:

The boundaries are inclusive at the bottom. A density of exactly 8.0 lb/ft³ is Class 100, not Class 125. A density of exactly 15.0 is Class 70, not Class 85. A density of exactly 50.0 is Class 50.

Why five classes are missing from density lookups

The five missing classes did not disappear from the NMFC. They moved out of the generic density table and back to the commodities they were designed for.

• Class 77.5 can appear in commodity-specific provisions.
• Class 110 is still used for certain items, but it is not a generic density band.
• Class 150 is still used for certain items, but it is not a generic density band.
• Class 200 is still used for certain items, but it is not a generic density band.
• Class 500 is the highest class and is reserved for specific commodities or handling situations.

If you are shipping a commodity with an NMFC item number that specifies one of these classes, use the item number. If you are estimating from density alone, use the 13-tier scale.

This is the single biggest accuracy problem in online freight calculators right now. Some sites claim to be updated for 2025 but still show an 18-class density table. Others return Class 150 for a density that the 2025 scale maps to Class 125. The math looks precise, but the table is wrong.

What stayed the same

The update did not remove the four transportation characteristics. Density, handling, stowability, and liability still drive classification. It did not remove the NMFC item system. It did not remove carrier tariffs, reweighs, or reclass rules.

That means a density calculator is still an estimate. It is a very useful estimate — density is often the dominant factor for palletized freight — but it is not a substitute for the NMFC item.

The other constants are practical:

• Carriers can reweigh and re-dimension freight after pickup.
• A BOL that lists the wrong dimensions or weight can lead to a reclass.
• A mixed shipment can rate at the highest class if the handling units are not rated together.
• A commodity-specific item can override a density result.

How to check a class now

A reliable check has three layers.

1. Calculate density from the handling unit. Measure length, width, and height at the widest points, including the pallet deck. Use gross weight, including the pallet and packaging. Divide pounds by cubic feet. Match the result to the 13-tier table.

2. Check the NMFC item. If the commodity has an item number with a fixed class or a density subprovision, use that. The item number is the authority, not the generic table.

3. Confirm with the carrier when it matters. For a new commodity, a high-value shipment, or a load near a class boundary, ask the carrier to confirm the class before pickup. Keep the confirmation with the BOL.

The Freight Class & Density Calculator handles the first layer and shows the boundary math. The freight class chart gives you the full table and the legacy classes for reference.

What to update in your own process

If you have freight templates, quote sheets, or a TMS with hard-coded density bands, check them for the five commodity-only classes.

• Replace density lookups that return 77.5, 110, 150, 200, or 500 with the 13-tier scale.
• Keep commodity-specific item classes where they are required.
• Update any customer-facing chart that still shows 18 density bands.
• Add a note that the result is a density estimate, not an official NMFC classification.
• Recheck open quotes that were built on an old chart, especially near a boundary.

A simple test: enter a 48 × 40 × 48 pallet at 425 pounds. The density is 7.97 lb/ft³. The 2025 scale returns Class 125. If your tool returns Class 110, it is not using the current density scale.

The bottom line

The 2025 NMFC update did not make freight class simpler. It made the density table more consistent. The 13-tier scale is the current reference for density-rated commodities, and the five commodity-only classes should not be returned by a density lookup.

Use density as the first check, the NMFC item as the authority, and the carrier’s confirmation as the final word. That three-layer approach is slower than a single calculator result, but it is the one that survives a reweigh.