What's your
freight class?
Enter weight and dimensions — get the density and NMFC freight class you need for an accurate LTL shipping quote.
Density = weight ÷ cubic feet, where cubic feet = (L × W × H) ÷ 1,728. Final NMFC class may also depend on stowability, handling, and liability.
Quote LTL freight with confidence.
Alogix stores freight class, dimensions, and NMFC details on every load so your quotes and BOLs stay accurate and dispute-free.
What is freight class?
Freight class is a standardized classification system created by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) to price less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments fairly and consistently. Every commodity is assigned one of 18 classes ranging from 50 (dense, durable, easy to handle — the cheapest) to 500 (light, bulky, fragile, or hard to handle — the most expensive). The class drives the base rate a carrier quotes, so getting it right is essential for accurate pricing and for avoiding reclassification fees when the carrier reweighs and remeasures your freight.
How freight class is calculated
For most commodities, freight class is driven by density — pounds per cubic foot. You calculate the cubic feet of your shipment (length × width × height in inches, divided by 1,728), then divide the weight by that volume to get density. Denser freight gets a lower class number and a lower rate. The 18 standard classes run from 50 up through 500. Beyond density, the NMFC also factors stowability, ease of handling, and liability (value and fragility), but density is the primary driver for the vast majority of shipments. The table below maps density ranges to their corresponding class.
| Density (lbs/ft³) | Freight Class |
|---|---|
| 50 and up | 50 |
| 35 – 50 | 55 |
| 30 – 35 | 60 |
| 22.5 – 30 | 65 |
| 15 – 22.5 | 70 |
| 13.5 – 15 | 77.5 |
| 12 – 13.5 | 85 |
| 10.5 – 12 | 92.5 |
| 9 – 10.5 | 100 |
| 8 – 9 | 110 |
| 7 – 8 | 125 |
| 6 – 7 | 150 |
| 5 – 6 | 175 |
| 4 – 5 | 200 |
| 3 – 4 | 250 |
| 2 – 3 | 300 |
| 1 – 2 | 400 |
| Less than 1 | 500 |
Why freight class matters for LTL shipping
Freight class directly determines what you pay. Quote a class that is too low and the carrier will reweigh, remeasure, reclassify, and bill you the difference — often with an adjustment fee on top. Quote too high and you overpay on every shipment. Accurate class also keeps your bills of lading clean, speeds up the claims process if freight is damaged, and prevents the back-and-forth disputes that delay payment. For shippers moving regular LTL freight, locking in the correct density-based class on each commodity is one of the highest-leverage things you can do to control transportation spend.