Apparel & textiles/Density-rated
Boxed clothing freight class and NMFC guide
Boxed clothing is light for its cube unless it is compressed or densely packed. Carton size, fold method, and the number of units per carton drive the density.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
DensityClassification basis
Density-rated
Typical packed density
5–10 lb/ft³
Planning estimate
Density-rated span
Class 92.5–175
Reclass risk
Medium
Density can move with packaging, case count, or pallet pattern, so a second measurement may land in another band.
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 boxed clothing.
Boxed clothing density depends on how much air is left in the carton. Folded garments in a tight carton are denser than loosely packed or individually bagged items. Poly bags add cube, and retail-ready packaging adds more. The same style can ship as a master carton, a display carton, or a compressed bale, and each measures differently. Use the carton count and the packed dimensions, not the garment count alone.
Density-rated. Boxed apparel is generally density-rated. Hanging garments and fabric rolls are different handling units.
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 | Typical span |
| 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 master carton or pallet as packed, including poly bags and dividers.
- Use gross weight with cartons, bags, and pallet.
- Measure retail-ready and bulk cartons separately.
The formula
cube = L × W × H ÷ 1,728
density = gross lb ÷ cubeRound for display only. Compare the unrounded density to the scale boundary.
Moisture-sensitive
Needs wrap, desiccant, or a dry loading position to avoid a damage claim.
Pack it for the rating
Packaging changes the cube before it changes the class.
- Keep cartons dry; apparel is prone to moisture stains and mildew.
- Compression saves cube but can wrinkle the product; follow the vendor limits.
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.
Clothing on hangers
Fabric rolls
Footwear
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for folded versus hanging apparel.
- Ask whether retail-ready packaging changes the description.
- Photograph the cartons and pallet before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointClothing, folded and boxed, [quantity] cartons, [units per carton] units per carton, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per carton.
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Boxed clothing and the 2025 scale.
How are boxed clothing classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 5–10 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 92.5–175. 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 boxed clothing?
Density-rated. Boxed apparel is generally density-rated. Hanging garments and fabric rolls are different handling units.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for boxed clothing?
Confirm the item for folded versus hanging apparel. Ask whether retail-ready packaging changes the description. Photograph the cartons and pallet before pickup. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Apparel & textiles
Clothing on hangers
Clothing on hangers needs a garment box or rack, which adds cube without much weight. That packaging usually pushes the shipment into a lighter, more expensive class.
Class 175–250Apparel & textiles
Fabric rolls
Fabric rolls are denser than finished clothing and usually easier to rate. Roll diameter, length, and the way the rolls are racked or stacked decide the handling unit.
Class 70–100Retail, 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 92.5–175Furniture & 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.