How does density map to NMFC freight class?
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) sorts LTL freight into 18 classes, from 50 to 500, primarily by density in pounds per cubic foot (PCF): a shipment above 50 PCF is class 50, the cheapest to ship, and a shipment under 1 PCF is class 500, the most expensive. The table below is the exact density-to-class scale implemented in ClassYourFreight's own Freight Class Calculator and Density Calculator. It reflects the density method only; some commodities carry a specific NMFC item number that overrides density, which a carrier can confirm.
| Class | Density (PCF) | Example commodities |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50+ | Steel ingots, dense metal parts, bricks |
| 55 | 35 to 50 | Cement, 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 | Boxed food, wood furniture, auto parts, tools |
| 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 parts, aircraft parts |
| 250 | 3 to 4 | Bamboo furniture, mattresses |
| 300 | 2 to 3 | Wood cabinets, tables |
| 400 | 1 to 2 | Deer antlers, ping pong balls |
| 500 | Under 1 | Gold dust, bags of air, very light insulation |
How this table was built
These density breakpoints are the same constants coded into this site's calculator JavaScript, the classFor() function shared by the Freight Class and Density calculator pages, not a separate estimate written up after the fact. They implement the density-based general commodity scale published in the National Motor Freight Classification, the classification standard for less-than-truckload freight in the United States. The NMFC is administered by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), a nonprofit membership association of motor carriers that publishes and updates the classification annually.
Class assignment is not density alone. Stowability, handling difficulty and liability can move a specific commodity's actual class away from the density-only figure, and thousands of commodities carry a fixed NMFC item number that overrides density entirely. Treat this table, like the calculators, as a reliable starting point to confirm with your carrier or the published NMFC manual, not a substitute for either.
Things to know before citing this table
This page tracks the calculator constants, not a standalone research finding, so cite the underlying NMFC standard and the NMFTA alongside it rather than this page alone. The commodity examples in the right-hand column are illustrative, not an exhaustive list of everything that falls in a given class.
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