13 bands · effective 2025-07-19

Freight class chart

The density-to-class table carriers rate against today, plus the legacy numbers that are not part of it. If you have a chart with 18 rows pinned above your desk, it is not the NMFC density scale.

Density-to-class chart

Find your density in pounds per cubic foot, read across for the class. Bands are inclusive at the lower number and exclusive at the upper: exactly 15.00 pcf is class 70, not 85.

SubDensity (lb per cu ft)TypicallyClass
1350 or greaterBricks, steel bar, dense castings50
1235 – 50Tile, cement bags, canned goods55
1130 – 35Books, hardwood flooring, batteries60
1022.5 – 30Bottled drinks, car parts, packaged food65
915 – 22.5Machined parts, small appliances, paint70
812 – 15Crated machinery, boxed hardware85
710 – 12Assembled furniture parts, computers92.5
68 – 10Cabinets, wine cases, packaged tools100
56 – 8Boxed clothing, small household goods125
44 – 6Assembled furniture, garments on hangers175
32 – 4Mattresses, plastic parts, light fixtures250
21 – 2Foam, empty containers, inflatables300
1Less than 1Bagged insulation, ping-pong balls400

The “typically” column is illustrative. It is a sense-check, not a classification. Any specific commodity classes by its own NMFC item.

Calculate your density and class →

What changed in July 2025

NMFC Docket 2025-1 took effect on 19 July 2025 and expanded the density scale from 11 sub-provisions to 13. In NMFTA’s own description: sub 11 was narrowed to densities of 30 but less than 35 pcf at class 60; a new sub 12 covers 35 but less than 50 pcf at class 55; and a new sub 13 covers 50 pcf or greater at class 50.

The practical effect is at the dense end. Freight over 30 pcf previously bottomed out at class 60 no matter how dense it was; heavy, compact shipments can now reach class 55 or 50 and rate cheaper.

Docket 2026-1 followed on 6 February 2026, cancelling further legacy items and continuing the move to density.

Classes that are not on the density scale

These five numbers turn up constantly in older charts and in free calculators, but no band of the current scale produces them:

ClassObsolete guideline bandCurrent class for that density
77.513.5 – 15 pcf85
1108 – 9 pcf100
1506 – 7 pcf125
2004 – 5 pcf175
500under 1 pcf400

They still exist as class numbers and can appear against specific NMFC items. What they are not is the output of a density calculation. A calculator returning class 500 for very light freight, or 77.5 for something around 13 pcf, is reading an obsolete chart — we tested the free calculators and several still do.

The four factors behind a class

Density is the loudest of four, not the only one.

  • Density — how much trailer space the weight occupies. Drives the scale above.
  • Stowability — whether it stacks and loads next to other freight. Oversized, hazardous or non-stackable items cost space a carrier cannot resell.
  • Handling — whether standard equipment moves it without special care.
  • Liability — value, fragility and theft risk, which set the carrier's exposure per pound.
Read the chart as a starting point. For commodities that classify by density it gives you the answer. For everything else it gives you the number your carrier will argue from. Confirm the NMFC item before the BOL goes out.