Apparel & textiles/Density-rated
Fabric roll freight class and NMFC guide
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.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
DensityClassification basis
Density-rated
Typical packed density
8–15 lb/ft³
Planning estimate
Density-rated span
Class 70–100
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 fabric rolls.
Fabric rolls are denser than boxed clothing because the material is wound tightly. Density is fairly stable, but the roll dimensions matter: a long roll may need a rack or a specialized trailer position. Rolls that are stacked on their sides can deform, so some shippers use a rack or a pallet with cradles. That packaging changes the cube. Measure the roll or rack as tendered, not the loose fabric.
Density-rated. Roll goods are generally density-rated. The roll or pallet is the handling unit.
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 | Typical span |
| 12 to under 15 lb/ft³ | 85 | Typical span |
| 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 | 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 roll diameter and length, including any core or wrap.
- Use gross weight with cores, wrap, and pallets or cradles.
- Confirm the roll length against the trailer and the carrier limit.
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.
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.
- Wrap rolls to protect against moisture and dirt.
- Support rolls along their length so they do not sag or deform.
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
Carpet and rugs
Paper rolls
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for the specific fabric or roll type.
- Ask whether the carrier can handle the roll length and weight.
- Photograph the rolls and wrap before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointFabric rolls, [fabric type], [quantity] rolls, [gross weight] lb gross, [diameter x length] in per roll, wrapped.
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Fabric rolls and the 2025 scale.
How are fabric rolls classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 8–15 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 70–100. 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 fabric rolls?
Density-rated. Roll goods are generally density-rated. The roll or pallet is the handling unit.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for fabric rolls?
Confirm the item for the specific fabric or roll type. Ask whether the carrier can handle the roll length and weight. Photograph the rolls and wrap before pickup. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Apparel & textiles
Boxed clothing
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.
Class 92.5–175Apparel & 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 175–250Furniture & 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.
- 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.