All 18 classes at a glance
| Class | Density (PCF) | Typical goods |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50+ | Dense metals, steel parts, heavy castings |
| 55 | 35 to 50 | Bricks, mortar, hardwood flooring |
| 60 | 30 to 35 | Car parts, motors, small engines |
| 65 | 22.5 to 30 | Auto accessories, canned beverages |
| 70 | 15 to 22.5 | Auto parts, food, tools, bottled goods |
| 77.5 | 13.5 to 15 | Tires, bathroom fixtures, tubing |
| 85 | 12 to 13.5 | Crated machinery, transmissions |
| 92.5 | 10.5 to 12 | Computers, monitors, refrigerators |
| 100 | 9 to 10.5 | Boat covers, furniture, wine in cases |
| 110 | 8 to 9 | Cabinets, framed artwork |
| 125 | 7 to 8 | Small appliances, plastic pipe |
| 150 | 6 to 7 | Auto sheet metal, folded clothing |
| 175 | 5 to 6 | Copiers, furniture pieces |
| 200 | 4 to 5 | Sheet metal, aircraft parts, large cabinets |
| 250 | 3 to 4 | Bamboo furniture, mattresses |
| 300 | 2 to 3 | Wood tables, unassembled cabinets |
| 400 | 1 to 2 | Ping pong balls, large plastic toys |
| 500 | Under 1 | Gold dust, bags of air, very light insulation |
Most everyday commercial shipments land somewhere between class 70 and class 150. The extremes, class 50 and class 500, are rare in general LTL freight and show up mostly in specialty commodities.
The formula behind every row
Calculate density in PCF (weight divided by cubic feet) and find the row that covers your number. That row is your class. A 400 lb shipment in 53.33 cubic feet works out to 7.5 PCF, which lands in the 7 to 8 PCF row, class 125. If your commodity has a specific NMFC item number, check its sub-classes too, since they can assign a different class than the density table alone would give you.
Cost differences between classes
On a typical LTL lane, moving from class 50 to class 100 can triple or quadruple the rate per hundred pounds. Between class 50 and class 300, the multiplier can exceed 10x. For any shipper moving volume, accurate classification and packaging that increases density are among the most direct cost levers available, more direct than negotiating a better carrier discount in most cases.
Where this chart comes from
The density bands above are the same 18 breakpoints coded into this site's own calculators, matching the density-based general commodity scale published in the National Motor Freight Classification. The commodity examples are illustrative only. A carrier confirming a specific NMFC item number can assign a class that differs from the density row shown here, particularly for fragile, hazardous or oddly shaped freight.
Run your own numbers
Enter weight and dimensions to see the density-based class and a rough LTL cost side by side.