Metals & hardware/Density-rated
Fastener freight class and NMFC guide
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.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
DensityClassification basis
Density-rated
Typical packed density
100–250 lb/ft³
Tight estimate
Density-rated span
Class 50
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 fasteners.
Fasteners are dense because they are solid metal in small packages. The class usually lands in a favorable tier and does not move much with packaging. The risk is description quality: a BOL that says only hardware or parts can invite a reclass or a carrier question. Identify the fastener type, material, and packaging. Mixed kits with plastic bins or display packaging add cube and can lower density compared with a straight carton of bolts.
Density-rated. Metal fasteners are generally density-rated. Mixed hardware kits may need a more specific description.
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 | Typical span |
| 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 | 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 pallet or carton stack as tendered, including pails and bins.
- Use gross weight with packaging, pallets, and any display material.
- Measure mixed kits separately from bulk cartons; the densities are different.
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.
Pack it for the rating
Packaging changes the cube before it changes the class.
- Keep cartons dry and banded; small parts are easy to lose if a carton fails.
- Label the fastener type and material on the BOL, not just the carton count.
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.
Tools and hardware kits
Chain and cable
Machined parts
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for the specific fastener type and material.
- Ask whether mixed hardware kits need a separate description.
- Photograph the pallet and carton labels before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointFasteners, [type], [material], boxed, [quantity] cartons, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per pallet.
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Fasteners and the 2025 scale.
How are fasteners classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 100–250 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 50. 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 fasteners?
Density-rated. Metal fasteners are generally density-rated. Mixed hardware kits may need a more specific description.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for fasteners?
Confirm the item for the specific fastener type and material. Ask whether mixed hardware kits need a separate description. Photograph the pallet and carton labels 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
Aluminum extrusions
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.
Class 55–70Automotive
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 175–250Sources & 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.
- Estes — freight class and density calculator
Carrier measurement and density conventions 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.