Plastics & chemicals/Density or item-specific
Paint freight class and NMFC guide
Paint is dense and often regulated. The class is usually favorable, but the hazmat status of the paint and any solvents can decide the carrier and the paperwork.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
MixedClassification basis
Density or item-specific
Typical packed density
40–60 lb/ft³
Tight estimate
Density-rated span
Class 50–55
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 paint.
Paint density is driven by the pigment and the liquid carrier. Water-based latex is dense but usually not hazardous; solvent-based paint, aerosols, and some additives can be regulated. The packaging matters because cans can leak or dent, and a pallet of paint is heavy enough to need lift equipment. The BOL needs the correct product description and hazmat information when it applies. A generic paint description is not enough.
Density or item-specific. Paint may be density-rated, but solvent-based paints, aerosols, and some additives can be regulated hazmat.
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 | Typical span |
| 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 as loaded, including cans, cartons, and spill containment.
- Use gross weight with paint, cans, cartons, and pallet.
- Confirm the weight per pallet against the carrier and lift limits.
The formula
cube = L × W × H ÷ 1,728
density = gross lb ÷ cubeRound for display only. Compare the unrounded density to the scale boundary.
Possible hazmat
Regulated articles or residues can require papers, placards, or a specialty carrier.
Fragile
Needs securement, cushioning, or a damage-resistant loading position.
Pack it for the rating
Packaging changes the cube before it changes the class.
- Keep cans upright and contained; a leaking pallet can contaminate the trailer.
- Declare solvent-based or aerosol products and provide the required papers.
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.
Paint thinner and solvents
Aerosol coatings
Powder coatings
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for the specific paint or coating.
- Confirm the hazmat classification and carrier acceptance.
- Photograph the pallet, labels, and containment before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointPaint, [type], [quantity] cans per pallet, [number] pallets, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per pallet, [hazmat description if applicable].
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Paint and the 2025 scale.
How are paint classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 40–60 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 50–55. 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 paint?
Density or item-specific. Paint may be density-rated, but solvent-based paints, aerosols, and some additives can be regulated hazmat.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for paint?
Confirm the item for the specific paint or coating. Confirm the hazmat classification and carrier acceptance. Photograph the pallet, labels, and containment before pickup. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Plastics & chemicals
Plastic resin
Plastic resin ships as dense pellets in bags, boxes, or bulk containers. Density is high and stable, and the main variables are packaging, moisture protection, and unloading equipment.
Class 55–60Automotive
Lead-acid batteries
Lead-acid batteries are dense and potentially regulated. The class is only part of the story: acid, venting, and hazardous-materials rules can decide whether the shipment moves at all.
Class 50–55Plastics & chemicals
Foam products
Foam is one of the lightest freight commodities. Density depends almost entirely on compression and packaging, and the class can move several tiers with a tighter bundle.
Class 250–300Furniture & 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.
- 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.