Retail, sport & outdoor/Density or item-specific
Bicycle freight class and NMFC guide
Bicycles ship assembled or boxed, and the two are very different handling units. A boxed bike is light for its cube; an assembled bike is awkward, fragile, and often high-value.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
MixedClassification basis
Density or item-specific
Typical packed density
4–8 lb/ft³
Wide estimate
Density-rated span
Class 100–175
Reclass risk
High
The commodity ships in several forms, is easy to under-measure, or changes cube sharply with assembly or packaging.
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 bicycles.
Bicycle density depends on whether the bike is boxed or assembled. A boxed bike is mostly air and frame; an assembled bike takes a full footprint and needs protection for the derailleur, brakes, and paint. Electric bikes add a battery, which can trigger hazmat rules. The class is usually moderate, but the handling and liability issues are significant. Measure the box or the assembled bike, and keep boxed and assembled shipments on separate lines.
Density or item-specific. Bicycles may be density-rated as boxed units, but assembled, electric, and high-value bikes can carry different 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 | Reference |
| 30 to under 35 lb/ft³ | 60 | Reference |
| 22.5 to under 30 lb/ft³ | 65 | Reference |
| 15 to under 22.5 lb/ft³ | 70 | Reference |
| 12 to under 15 lb/ft³ | 85 | Reference |
| 10 to under 12 lb/ft³ | 92.5 | Reference |
| 8 to under 10 lb/ft³ | 100 | Typical span |
| 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ | 125 | Typical span |
| 4 to under 6 lb/ft³ | 175 | Typical span |
| 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 bike box or assembled bike at its longest and tallest points.
- Use gross weight with the box, padding, and any pallet.
- Measure boxed and assembled bikes separately; do not average them into one line.
The formula
cube = L × W × H ÷ 1,728
density = gross lb ÷ cubeRound for display only. Compare the unrounded density to the scale boundary.
Oversize / bulky
Long, tall, or irregular handling units can affect stowability and linear feet.
Fragile
Needs securement, cushioning, or a damage-resistant loading position.
High value
Liability limits and securement matter as much as the class.
Pack it for the rating
Packaging changes the cube before it changes the class.
- Protect the frame, derailleur, and fork; a boxed bike still needs dropouts and spacers.
- Declare e-bike batteries and confirm carrier acceptance before booking.
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.
Bicycle parts and accessories
Motorcycles
Exercise bikes
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for boxed versus assembled bicycles.
- Confirm the battery status and hazmat rules for electric bikes.
- Photograph the box or assembled bike before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointBicycles, [boxed/assembled], [quantity] units, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per unit, [battery note if electric].
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Bicycles and the 2025 scale.
How are bicycles classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 4–8 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 100–175. 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 bicycles?
Density or item-specific. Bicycles may be density-rated as boxed units, but assembled, electric, and high-value bikes can carry different provisions.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for bicycles?
Confirm the item for boxed versus assembled bicycles. Confirm the battery status and hazmat rules for electric bikes. Photograph the box or assembled bike before pickup. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Retail, sport & outdoor
Toys
Toys are packaged for retail, which means colorful cartons, display units, and a lot of air. Density is usually low, and packaging variation is the main reclass risk.
Class 92.5–175Automotive
Auto parts
Auto parts range from dense brake rotors to bulky body panels. The class depends on the part, the packaging, and whether the shipment is new, used, or remanufactured.
Class 70–92.5Furniture & 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 175–250Automotive
Tires
Tires are bulky and awkward, and new, used, and baled tires can follow different classification paths. Density depends heavily on whether the tires are loose, stacked, banded, or baled.
Class 70–100Sources & 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.
- PHMSA — hazardous materials shipping
Federal hazmat rules that can override a density-based class.
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.