Freight Class Calculator

You can use this freight class calculator to quickly and easily determine the freight class for a given shipment; simply input the total weight and dimensions of the item you wish to ship.

Please note that the estimated freight class used in this calculator is determined according to the density of the shipment and not the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) code or commodity value.

Freight Class & Density Calculator

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How to Calculate Freight Class

In the United States, cargo is assigned a freight class according to the NMFC.

To determine the freight class for a given package, you need to measure the volume and weight of the shipment. These dimensions can be used to compute the density from the freight class chart provided below.

To calculate the volume of the shipment, multiply the width by the length and height. If your measurements are in feet, you would be able to compute the cubic footage for the package:

Volume = Length * Width * Height

If you have the measurements in inches, simply divide them by 1728 to convert the volume into cubic feet.

Once you have the cubic footage, divide the weight (in pounds) by the volume (cubic feet), and this will enable you to determine the density:

Density = Weight / Volume

For instance, let's say we have a shipment with dimensions of 48″ x 40″ x 28″ and a weight of 200 pounds.

Volume = (48 * 40 * 28) / 1728

= 53760 in³ / 1728

= 31.111 ft³

Density = 200 / 31.111

= 6.429 lb/ft³

As such, the density of the pallet would be 6.429 pounds per cubic foot and the freight class would be 150.

Freight Class Factors

Freight class is predominantly determined by density; i.e., the amount of space that the item will take up and its weight. However, three additional characteristics can influence the freight class of a shipment.

  1. Stowability: If an item is difficult to store, is very heavy, or contains hazardous material or substances, it will be allocated a higher freight class.
  2. Handling: If the item requires special handling, it may be allocated a higher class.
  3. Liability: If the item contains perishable goods or can easily be damaged, it may be allocated a higher freight class.
Freight Class Chart
Estimated Class Freight Density (lb/ft³)
Class 50 50 +
Class 55 35 – 50
Class 60 30 – 35
Class 65 22.5 – 30
Class 70 15 – 22.5
Class 77.5 13.5 – 15
Class 85 12 – 13.5
Class 92.5 10.5 – 12
Class 100 9 – 10.5
Class 110 8 – 9
Class 125 7 – 8
Class 150 6 – 7
Class 175 5 – 6
Class 200 4 – 5
Class 250 3 – 4
Class 300 2 – 3
Class 400 1 – 2
Class 500 < 1

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