What class 400 means
Class 400 is the most expensive class on the scale, for the lightest freight. 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.
Denser freight, from 1 lb/ft³, is class 300. The freight class chart shows all 13 bands.
Pallet weights for class 400
The weight a standard 48 × 40 in pallet must have, at each height with the pallet included, to measure as class 400.
| Height (with pallet) | Cube | Weight for class 400 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 26.7 ft³ | under 26.6 lb |
| 36 in | 40 ft³ | under 40 lb |
| 48 in | 53.3 ft³ | under 53.3 lb |
| 60 in | 66.7 ft³ | under 66.6 lb |
| 72 in | 80 ft³ | under 80 lb |
Weights include the pallet. A weight shown is always inside the class; at the upper limit the next cheaper class begins.
An empty wooden 48 × 40 pallet already weighs about 55 lb, so a palletized load this light is rare. Class 400 is mostly large, very light articles shipped loose or in crates, where every inch of their outside dimensions counts.
Getting from class 400 to class 300
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 30 lb unit in the calculator is 48 in tall; restacked to 27 in or less at the same weight, it reaches class 300. The calculator's suggestions show the same for your own freight.
Class 400 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 400 freight?
On the NMFC density scale, freight whose density is less than 1 lb/ft³. It is the most expensive class on the scale, for the lightest freight. Commodities whose NMFC item follows the density scale take class 400 when they measure in this band; items with a fixed class keep their own.
What density is freight class 400?
less than 1 lb/ft³, which is less than 16 kg/m³. Density is the weight in pounds divided by the cubic feet of the handling unit, pallet included.
How much does a class 400 pallet weigh?
A 48 × 40 in pallet stacked 48 in high, pallet included, is class 400 at under 53.3 lb. Taller or shorter pallets shift the range; the table above lists each height.
Is class 300 cheaper than class 400?
Yes. A lower class number means a lower rate per hundred pounds, and class 300 is the next step down from class 400. Freight reaches it at 1 lb/ft³ or more.