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Freight Density Calculator

Find the density of a pallet, crate or whole shipment in pounds per cubic foot, and the freight class that density gives on the NMFC density scale.

● Sources checked Oct 13, 20263 primary and carrier sourcesBy FreightClassCheck editorial team

Handling units

Are the sizes and weight with the pallet?

Measure and weigh each unit as it ships: pallet, overhang and wrap included.

01
in
in
in
lb
1009.4 pcf

Tip: Enter in the last Qty field adds a line. Numbers like 1,500 and 6.5 both work.

Freight densityExample · enter your pallet
NMFC class100
Density
9.38 lb/ft³
Cube
53.33 ft³
Weight
500 lb
Units
1

Where it sits on the density scale

9.4
40030025017512510092.5857065605550
light · costlyMarker: density in lb/ft³dense · cheap

0.63 lb/ft³ short of class 92.5.

48 in40 in48 in
Class 92.5 is within reach. It needs 34 lb more in the same size, or the same weight in a unit no taller than 45 in.

General NMFC density scale: 13 subs, introduced by Docket 2025-1 (July 19, 2025) and restated in Docket 2026-1. Some commodities keep their own NMFC class; check your item before you book.

The density formula

Density (lb/ft³) = weight (lb) ÷ (length × width × height in inches ÷ 1,728)

Measure the unit as it will ship, at its widest points, with the pallet and any overhang, and round each side up to the next inch so your figure is never under the carrier's. A 40 × 48 × 40 in pallet weighing 800 lb: 40 × 48 × 40 = 76,800 in³ = 44.4 ft³, and 800 ÷ 44.4 = 18 lb/ft³, class 70.

Density and freight class

Density (lb/ft³)Class
Less than 1400
1 to less than 2300
2 to less than 4250
4 to less than 6175
6 to less than 8125
8 to less than 10100
10 to less than 1292.5
12 to less than 1585
15 to less than 22.570
22.5 to less than 3065
30 to less than 3560
35 to less than 5055
50 or more50

The denser the freight, the lower its class and the less it costs per pound to ship. The freight class calculator uses the same math and also shows what it would take to reach the next class.

Getting density right

  • Measure every side at its extreme point; a box that bulges or hangs over the pallet edge counts at its widest.
  • Weigh the unit with the pallet, stretch wrap and corner boards.
  • For different units in one shipment, enter each one: the calculator shows each line’s density and class and the shipment’s average.

Questions

What is freight density?

Freight density is the weight of a shipping unit for the space it takes: pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³). Carriers use it because a trailer fills up by space as well as by weight, and the NMFC density scale turns it into a freight class.

How do I convert inches to cubic feet?

Multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 1,728, the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot. A 48 × 40 × 40 in pallet is 76,800 in³, or 44.4 ft³.

How do I calculate density in metric?

Divide the weight in kilograms by the volume in cubic meters to get kg/m³. One lb/ft³ is 16.02 kg/m³, so the class breaks of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 22.5, 30, 35 and 50 lb/ft³ are about 16, 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 240, 360, 481, 561 and 801 kg/m³. The calculator takes cm and kg and converts for you.

Do I include the pallet?

Yes. Density is figured for each handling unit as it is tendered: the pallet height counts in the height and the pallet weight in the weight.