LTL Freight Class Calculator

Density— lb/ft³
Class— class number, no unit

Height includes the pallet. Enter the outside dimensions and the total loaded weight of one handling unit.

Three pallet sizes, computed on this page

Pick one to load it into the fields above. Every figure in the row is calculated when the page loads, not typed in.

Which single input moves the class the most

Change one field at a time against whatever is currently in the calculator above, and the arithmetic shows why. Adding an inch to a side cuts density by that inch's share of the side; adding ten pounds adds that weight's share of the load.

Change one fieldNew densityChangeClass

Where these breakpoints come from

Every density range below is copied from NMFTA's published standard density breaks, not from a carrier page or a second-hand chart.

Density (lb/ft³)Class

Source: NMFTA, “Decoding Density: The Freight Factor You Can’t Afford to Overlook”, posted June 19, 2025, listing the 13-subprovision standard scale (Sub 1 to Sub 13); cross-checked the same day against NMFTA, “How Much Density Margin Does Your Packaging Need?”, posted October 22, 2026, which repeats the 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 22.5 lb/ft³ thresholds as Class 125, 100, 92.5, 85, 70 and 65. Density sets class only for density-based NMFC items: the applicable item number and its provisions still decide the class, which is the same limit NMFTA states on its own density calculator.

What this calculator does not do

It does not pick your NMFC item, quote a rate, or decide whether a load qualifies for a service. Density is one input to class-based LTL pricing; the lane, weight, tariff and accessorial terms decide the rest. If you want the density number on its own, the freight density calculator stops at pounds per cubic foot. If you want to see where a density lands across the whole table, the freight class chart lays the classes out side by side.

Volume · ft³—
Density · lb/ft³—
Suggested class—

Inspect the arithmetic

LTL density suggestion only; verify the commodity class and rating terms before booking.

Check the LTL class input before you compare rates

LTL means less than truckload: freight shares trailer space rather than reserving an entire vehicle. It serves loads that do not fit ordinary parcel handling but do not need a full truck. This calculator prepares the density part of that shipment description. It does not turn measurements into a transportation charge, select a carrier, or decide whether a load qualifies for a particular service.

Why the class belongs in a rate request

Class is an input to class-based LTL pricing. Changing it can change the rate applied to the same freight, so leaving it unconfirmed can make two quotations difficult to compare. It does not determine the entire bill by itself: the lane, weight, service requirements, tariff, and commercial terms also matter. A full truckload request focuses on the vehicle and movement being purchased; a parcel shipment follows the selected parcel service's rating rules. An LTL density class should not be transferred into either workflow as though it were a universal shipping price.

Calculate separate pallets, then inspect the combined figure

Set the quantity to the actual number of pallets. Each row takes its own outside length, width, total loaded height, and loaded weight. A taller second pallet therefore contributes more volume even if its footprint matches the first. The calculation adds the individual cubic footages and weights, then divides those totals. It never multiplies one pallet's dimensions by the count while silently assuming all the other pallets are identical.

For example, a 36 by 36 by 48 inch pallet weighing 540 pounds occupies 36 cubic feet and has density 15.00 pounds per cubic foot, suggesting class 70 on this scale. Add a 24 by 24 by 36 inch pallet weighing 90 pounds: its volume is 12 cubic feet. Together the example loads weigh 630 pounds, occupy 48 cubic feet, and average 13.12 pounds per cubic foot when truncated for display. Their combined density suggests class 85.

Mixed loads still need a classification decision

The combined result describes the arithmetic of shared volume, not permission to merge different commodity classes on a bill of lading. Keep separate goods descriptions and applicable classes where required. Density alone does not assess special handling, stowability, or liability. Use the expanded calculations to verify the measurements, then confirm the correct classification and rating treatment for the actual LTL load. Carrier LTL guidance provides context for the service distinction.