What class 250 means
Class 250 is step 3 of 13, counting from the most expensive class (400) to the cheapest (50). LTL carriers price freight per hundred pounds, and the class sets the rate: the lower the number, the less each pound costs. Density decides the class for every commodity whose NMFC item follows the density scale, which Dockets 2025-1 and 2026-1 extended to many more items.
Lighter freight for its size, under 2 lb/ft³, is class 300. Denser freight, from 4 lb/ft³, is class 175. The freight class chart shows all 13 bands.
Pallet weights for class 250
The weight a standard 48 × 40 in pallet must have, at each height with the pallet included, to measure as class 250.
| Height (with pallet) | Cube | Weight for class 250 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 26.7 ft³ | 53.4 to under 106.6 lb |
| 36 in | 40 ft³ | 80 to under 160 lb |
| 48 in | 53.3 ft³ | 106.7 to under 213.3 lb |
| 60 in | 66.7 ft³ | 133.4 to under 266.6 lb |
| 72 in | 80 ft³ | 160 to under 320 lb |
Weights include the pallet. A weight shown is always inside the class; at the upper limit the next cheaper class begins.
Getting from class 250 to class 175
Class is worked out per handling unit from its outside dimensions, so the same goods packed shorter and tighter can ship a class lower. The 160 lb pallet in the calculator is 48 in tall; restacked to 36 in or less at the same weight, it reaches class 175. The calculator's suggestions show the same for your own freight.
Class 250 and the 2025 scale change
This band did not change with Docket 2025-1: the scale is the same as before for freight under 30 lb/ft³. What changed for many shippers is that more commodities now follow the density scale instead of a fixed class. The background is in NMFC density changes 2025–2026.
Large, light shipments
Freight this light fills a trailer long before it fills the weight limit, so some carriers price big shipments by space instead. Pitt Ohio, for example, applies a minimum charge to shipments averaging under 6 lb/ft³ that need 750 ft³ or more of trailer space. Other carriers' rules differ; ask for a volume quote.
Measuring it right
Measure each handling unit at its longest and widest points, overhang included, and weigh it with the pallet. Some carriers bill tall freight as if it were taller: XPO treats an article 75 in or taller as 96 in high, which lowers its density and can raise its class. If a carrier measures a different density at the dock, it can reclass the shipment; see reclass and reweigh fees.
Questions
What is class 250 freight?
On the NMFC density scale, freight whose density is 2 to less than 4 lb/ft³. It is step 3 of 13, counting from the most expensive class (400) to the cheapest (50). Commodities whose NMFC item follows the density scale take class 250 when they measure in this band; items with a fixed class keep their own.
What density is freight class 250?
2 to less than 4 lb/ft³, which is 32 to less than 64 kg/m³. Density is the weight in pounds divided by the cubic feet of the handling unit, pallet included.
How much does a class 250 pallet weigh?
A 48 × 40 in pallet stacked 48 in high, pallet included, is class 250 at 106.7 to under 213.3 lb. Taller or shorter pallets shift the range; the table above lists each height.
Is class 175 cheaper than class 250?
Yes. A lower class number means a lower rate per hundred pounds, and class 175 is the next step down from class 250. Freight reaches it at 4 lb/ft³ or more.