Estimate your freight class.
Freight class starts with density, and density starts with your dimensions and weight. Enter them below to get an estimated NMFC class off the standard 18-class density scale — then see exactly where you land on the full table. It is an estimate to plan with; our team confirms the class before your freight moves.
Density freight class estimator
Enter your shipment’s dimensions and weight. We calculate the density and map it to the standard NMFC class — and highlight your row in the table below.
Enter all four values to see your density and estimated freight class.
Density = weight ÷ (length × width × height ÷ 1,728). This is a density-only estimate — see the disclaimer below.
The 18 NMFC freight classes
Every LTL shipment is rated on this scale, from class 50 (dense, lowest cost) to class 500 (light or bulky, highest cost). Use the estimator above and your row highlights here.
| Class | Density (PCF) | Typical freight |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 lbs and above | Bricks, steel plate, dense machined parts |
| 55 | 35 – 50 | Cement, hardwood flooring, dense building materials |
| 60 | 30 – 35 | Car accessories, dense boxed parts, steel cable |
| 65 | 22.5 – 30 | Bottled beverages, books, car parts |
| 70 | 15 – 22.5 | Auto engines, packaged food, boxed goods |
| 77.5 | 13.5 – 15 | Tires, bathroom fixtures |
| 85 | 12 – 13.5 | Crated machinery, cast-iron stoves |
| 92.5 | 10.5 – 12 | Appliances, computers, monitors |
| 100 | 9 – 10.5 | Boat covers, car covers, canvas, wine cases |
| 110 | 8 – 9 | Cabinets, framed art, table saws |
| 125 | 7 – 8 | Small household appliances |
| 150 | 6 – 7 | Auto sheet metal, bookcases |
| 175 | 5 – 6 | Clothing, couches, stuffed furniture |
| 200 | 4 – 5 | Sheet-metal parts, aluminum tables, packaged mattresses |
| 250 | 3 – 4 | Bamboo furniture, mattresses & box springs, plasma TVs |
| 300 | 2 – 3 | Wood cabinets, tables, chairs, model boats |
| 400 | 1 – 2 | Deer antlers, light fixtures |
| 500 | Below 1 | Ping-pong balls, bags of gold dust, very light bulky goods |
What is an NMFC code?
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is the standardized system LTL carriers use to categorize freight. Published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, it groups thousands of commodities into 18 classes — from 50 to 500 — and assigns each an NMFC item number. That class, together with weight and lane, is what an LTL rate is built from.
Classification looks at four characteristics: density (weight per cubic foot), stowability (how easily it loads alongside other freight), handling (how much care it takes to move), and liability (its value and its risk of damage or theft). For most freight, density does the heavy lifting — which is why a density estimate gets you close. But the other three can move the final class up or down, and some commodities have a fixed NMFC class regardless of density.
That is the honest limit of any density-only estimator, including this one: it gives you a well-informed starting point, not the official classification. Getting the class wrong on the bill of lading leads to reclassification and a corrected — usually higher — invoice. So use the estimate to plan, and let our team confirm the NMFC class against the current classification before your freight ships.
Why freight class matters in LTL
In less-than-truckload shipping, many shippers share one trailer, so carriers need a fair, consistent way to price each shipment for the space and risk it brings. Freight class is that common language. A low class signals dense, durable, easy-to-handle freight that fills a trailer efficiently — so it costs less. A high class signals light, bulky or fragile freight that eats trailer space and takes extra care — so it costs more.
Getting your class right protects you two ways. It keeps your quotes accurate, so the rate you plan around is the rate you pay. And it prevents the reclassification fees that hit when a carrier inspects a shipment and finds the class on the paperwork does not match what is on the dock. A few minutes with the estimator and a confirmation from our team is far cheaper than a corrected invoice.
Know your class? Let’s price the lane.
Give us your class, weight and route and we’ll shop it across our 6,200+ carrier network for a competitive LTL rate — and confirm the classification so the number holds.