Furniture & fixtures/Density-rated
Mattress freight class and NMFC guide
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.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
DensityClassification basis
Density-rated
Typical packed density
2–4 lb/ft³
Planning estimate
Density-rated span
Class 175–250
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 mattresses.
Packed density is mostly a function of compression and pallet height. A loose stack traps air, so the same weight occupies more cube and lands in a lighter, more expensive class. A compressed, tightly wrapped load removes that air and can move several tiers. Overhang and a tall pallet add cube without adding weight, which pushes the result back toward the lighter end. Measure the load you will actually tender, not the best-case stack.
Density-rated. Bedding is generally density-rated. The handling unit, not the mattress label, is what gets measured.
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 | Reference |
| 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ | 125 | Reference |
| 4 to under 6 lb/ft³ | 175 | Typical span |
| 2 to under 4 lb/ft³ | 250 | Typical span |
| 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 full pallet: mattress stack, pallet deck, wrap, and the widest overhang.
- Use gross weight, including the pallet, straps, and any protective wrap.
- Measure each handling unit separately if the pallets are built differently.
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.
High value
Liability limits and securement matter as much as the class.
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.
- Compression and a tight wrap are the biggest density levers. A loose stack can double the cube for the same weight.
- Bag or wrap the load so a dry van does not turn a clean mattress into a damage claim.
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.
Box springs and foundations
Bed frames and headboards
Mattress toppers and pads
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the current NMFC item for the specific mattress type and packaging.
- Ask the carrier whether the shipment is rated on the pallet or on individual pieces.
- Photograph the pallet, wrap, and overhang before pickup for a reclass dispute.
BOL description template
Starting pointMattresses, compressed and palletized, [quantity] units, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per handling unit.
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Mattresses and the 2025 scale.
How are mattresses classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 2–4 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 175–250. 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 mattresses?
Density-rated. Bedding is generally density-rated. The handling unit, not the mattress label, is what gets measured.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for mattresses?
Confirm the current NMFC item for the specific mattress type and packaging. Ask the carrier whether the shipment is rated on the pallet or on individual pieces. Photograph the pallet, wrap, and overhang before pickup for a reclass dispute. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Furniture & fixtures
Sofas & sectionals
Upholstered seating is bulky and easy to under-measure. A sofa that ships assembled, knocked down, or as a modular sectional can land in different density bands.
Class 125–175Furniture & fixtures
Bookcases
Bookcases are light for their height and easy to tip. The density question is usually about packaging and whether the unit ships assembled, flat-packed, or with glass shelves.
Class 100–175Furniture & fixtures
Wood cabinets
Cabinets are dense for furniture but awkward to pack. Assembled cabinets, flat-pack cabinets, and vanity tops can follow different density paths and different NMFC items.
Class 100–175Automotive
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.
- 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.