Metals & hardware/Density-rated
Aluminum extrusion freight class and NMFC guide
Aluminum extrusions are lighter than steel but still dense enough to rate well. Long lengths, protective wrap, and the difference between mill finish and finished profiles drive the handling.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
DensityClassification basis
Density-rated
Typical packed density
20–40 lb/ft³
Tight estimate
Density-rated span
Class 55–70
Reclass risk
Low
Density and packaging are stable, and the handling unit is easy to measure the same way twice.
Handling flags
Density-based estimate. Confirm the NMFC item, the packaging form, and any density subprovision before booking.
What drives the class
The density story behind aluminum extrusions.
Aluminum is about a third as dense as steel, so extrusions land in a less favorable class even though they are still heavy for their size. The bundle matters: long profiles with air gaps are less dense than a tightly packed bundle of thick shapes. Protective wrap, paper interleaving, and end caps add cube. If the extrusions are anodized or painted, the packaging is usually heavier and the damage risk is higher.
Density-rated. Aluminum extrusions are generally density-rated. Finished or anodized profiles may carry extra packaging provisions.
Density thresholds
Where the estimate sits on the 2025 scale.
The highlighted rows are the classes touched by the endpoints of the typical density estimate. A single measured density returns one class; the span is a planning range. The scale is effective July 19, 2025.
| Density band | Class | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 50 or more lb/ft³ | 50 | Reference |
| 35 to under 50 lb/ft³ | 55 | Typical span |
| 30 to under 35 lb/ft³ | 60 | Typical span |
| 22.5 to under 30 lb/ft³ | 65 | Typical span |
| 15 to under 22.5 lb/ft³ | 70 | Typical span |
| 12 to under 15 lb/ft³ | 85 | Reference |
| 10 to under 12 lb/ft³ | 92.5 | Reference |
| 8 to under 10 lb/ft³ | 100 | Reference |
| 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ | 125 | Reference |
| 4 to under 6 lb/ft³ | 175 | Reference |
| 2 to under 4 lb/ft³ | 250 | Reference |
| 1 to under 2 lb/ft³ | 300 | Reference |
| 0 to under 1 lb/ft³ | 400 | Reference |
Measure it right
The handling unit is the shipment.
Carriers measure what is tendered, not the product inside the box. Use the pallet, crate, or bundle as the handling unit and include everything that travels with it.
- Measure the bundle at its widest and tallest points, including wrap and end caps.
- Use gross weight with the bundle, spacers, and protective packaging.
- Confirm the length against the trailer and the carrier limit; long extrusions may need a flatbed.
The formula
cube = L × W × H ÷ 1,728
density = gross lb ÷ cubeRound for display only. Compare the unrounded density to the scale boundary.
Heavy / concentrated load
Weight distribution, axle limits, and lift equipment need a pre-booking check.
Oversize / bulky
Long, tall, or irregular handling units can affect stowability and linear feet.
Pack it for the rating
Packaging changes the cube before it changes the class.
- Interleave and wrap finished profiles to prevent rubbing and surface damage.
- Support long bundles along their length; unsupported overhang invites bending.
Don't confuse it with
Adjacent items, different answers.
The most expensive classification mistake is usually a description that sounds close but is not the item. Check these before you copy a description from another shipment.
Steel plate and bar
Aluminum sheet
Finished window frames
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for mill finish versus finished extrusions.
- Ask whether the carrier can handle the bundle length at both ends.
- Photograph the bundle ends and wrap before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointAluminum extrusions, [profile], bundled, [quantity] bundles, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per bundle.
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Aluminum extrusions and the 2025 scale.
How are aluminum extrusions classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 20–40 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 55–70. That is a planning span derived from the endpoints of the density estimate, not a promise that every shipment lands in every class. The NMFC item and the shipment as tendered control the final class.
What is the classification basis for aluminum extrusions?
Density-rated. Aluminum extrusions are generally density-rated. Finished or anodized profiles may carry extra packaging provisions.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for aluminum extrusions?
Confirm the item for mill finish versus finished extrusions. Ask whether the carrier can handle the bundle length at both ends. Photograph the bundle ends and wrap before pickup. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Metals & hardware
Steel plate & bar
Steel plate and bar are among the densest common freight commodities. Density is not the uncertainty; the form, dimensions, and securement are.
Class 50Metals & hardware
Fasteners
Fasteners are small, dense, and usually packed in cartons or pails on a pallet. Density is high and stable; the main risk is losing the specific item description in a generic hardware shipment.
Class 50Machinery & industrial
HVAC units
HVAC equipment is bulky, fragile, and often shipped on a skid or in a crate. The class depends on the unit type and how much packaging surrounds the coil and cabinet.
Class 85–125Furniture & fixtures
Mattresses
Mattresses are bulky and light for their cube, so packed density usually lands in the low single digits. Compression, pallet height, and overhang move the result more than the mattress type.
Class 175–250Sources & limits
What this page is, and what it is not.
This is an independent planning reference, not the NMFC and not a carrier classification. The typical density is an estimate. The class span is derived from the 2025 density scale. The NMFC item, the carrier tariff, and the shipment as tendered control the final rating.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11
- NMFTA — National Motor Freight Classification
The official classification system, its 18 classes, and the role of the NMFC item.
- NMFTA — 2025 NMFC changes
The July 19, 2025 effective date and the density-scale restructuring.
- NMFTA — ClassIT+
The licensed lookup for current NMFC item numbers and classification text.
- FedEx Freight — freight class calculator
Carrier class and density reference used to sanity-check the ranges.
Next step
Measure the load, then check the class.
Use the freight class calculator for a measured density, the pallet calculator for the finished handling unit, and the chart for the full 2025 reference.