Paper & packaging/Density-rated
Paper towel and tissue freight class and NMFC guide
Paper towels and tissue are extremely light for their cube. The class is usually expensive, and compression, baling, and packaging are the only meaningful levers.
Reviewed November 11, 2026 · Reference 2026.11 · Estimate, not a classification
At a glance
DensityClassification basis
Density-rated
Typical packed density
1–4 lb/ft³
Planning estimate
Density-rated span
Class 175–300
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 paper towels & tissue.
Paper towels and tissue are mostly air. A loose pallet of rolls can sit in the lightest density tiers; a compressed bale or a tightly packed carton can move several tiers. The product is also moisture-sensitive, so wrap and trailer condition matter. The class is usually high, and the difference between a loose pallet and a compressed bale can be significant. Measure the bale or carton, not the individual roll.
Density-rated. Paper towels and tissue are generally density-rated. The bale or carton 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 | 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 | Typical span |
| 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 bale or carton at its widest point; compressed bales bulge.
- Use gross weight with wrap, bands, and pallet.
- Measure loose rolls and compressed bales 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.
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.
- Keep the product dry and wrapped; wet tissue is a total loss.
- Band or wrap loose rolls so they do not migrate in transit.
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.
Printing paper
Facial tissue
Corrugated boxes
Before you book
Make the rating defensible.
- Confirm the item for the specific tissue or towel product.
- Ask whether the carrier rates the bale or the pallet.
- Photograph the wrap and bale before pickup.
BOL description template
Starting pointPaper towels, [quantity] rolls per bale, [number] bales, [gross weight] lb gross, [length x width x height] in per bale, keep dry.
Add the confirmed NMFC item number before you tender the shipment. The template describes the freight; it is not a classification.
Common questions
Paper towels & tissue and the 2025 scale.
How are paper towels & tissue classified for LTL freight?
At an estimated packed density of 1–4 lb/ft³, the 2025 density scale spans Class 175–300. 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 paper towels & tissue?
Density-rated. Paper towels and tissue are generally density-rated. The bale or carton is the handling unit.
How do I confirm the NMFC item for paper towels & tissue?
Confirm the item for the specific tissue or towel product. Ask whether the carrier rates the bale or the pallet. Photograph the wrap and bale before pickup. Confirm the current item in ClassIT+ or with the carrier before booking.
Related commodities
Keep the comparison close.
Paper & packaging
Printing paper
Printing paper is dense, heavy, and moisture-sensitive. The class is stable; the handling unit, skid height, and protection from water are the practical variables.
Class 50–55Paper & packaging
Corrugated boxes (KD)
Knocked-down corrugated boxes are light and bulky, and they nest into bundles that can be much denser than the cartons they become. Bundling is the density lever.
Class 100–175Plastics & 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.
- 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.