Freight Class Density Calculator

Work out freight class density instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Freight Class Density Calculator

Freight class in the North American LTL system is driven primarily by density in pounds per cubic foot: dense freight is cheap to move per pound and gets a low class number, while light bulky freight occupies trailer space and gets a high one.

Formula

Freight density

density = weight / volume; class bands run from 50 (over 50 pcf) to 400 (under 1 pcf)

Worked example

With the default values below, Freight Class Density Calculator returns Density of 242.42. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Shipment weight: 320 kg
Length: 120 cm
Width: 100 cm
Height: 110 cm

Results

Density: 242.42 kg/m³
Density: 15.13 lb/ft³
Estimated freight class: Class 85-100
Volume: 1.32 m³

Step by step

1Values used
2Freight density
3Density= 242.42 kg/m³
4Density= 15.13 lb/ft³
5Estimated freight class= Class 85-100
6Volume= 1.32 m³

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is density the only factor?

No. Stowability, handling difficulty and liability also matter. A dense but hazardous or fragile item can be rated higher than density alone suggests.

What is NMFC?

The National Motor Freight Classification, which assigns each commodity a class. Density-based rating applies where a commodity has a density-scaled item number.