palletsizes

Freight class calculator (density-based estimate)

Updated 9 Nov 2026 · Written by PalletSizes.com editorial

Enter a shipment’s size and weight to get its volume, density and the class that density falls into on the scale below. It is a density-only estimate.

Unverified source

Class bands per dtsone.com summary of NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective 2025-07-19, accessed 2026-11-09; not checked against the NMFTA publication. Later dockets (2025-2, 2026-1) may have revised the scale. Confirm with your carrier or ClassIT+.

Row 1

Measure the loaded pallet at its widest points.
Whole number. Blank counts as 1.

Enter length, width, height and weight to see density and class.

How it works

Cubic feet for a row is length × width × height (in inches) × pieces ÷ 1,728. Centimetres are divided by 2.54 and kilograms by 0.45359237 first. Density is total weight in pounds divided by cubic feet, and the class comes from the scale below using the unrounded density; a density exactly on a lower bound belongs to the higher band. The shipment total adds the volume and weight of every row and uses the combined density.

Density bands used by the calculator (lb/ft³ to class)
Density, lb/ft³Class
under 1400
1 up to 2300
2 up to 4250
4 up to 6175
6 up to 8125
8 up to 10100
10 up to 1292.5
12 up to 1585
15 up to 22.570
22.5 up to 3065
30 up to 3560
35 up to 5055
50 or more50

The scale and its source are shown in the notice above. The effective date and docket are also given by NMFTA and Old Dominion Freight Line; neither lists the density thresholds.

Worked example

A load measuring 48 × 40 × 50 in and weighing 600 lb as one piece: 48 × 40 × 50 = 96,000 in³, divided by 1,728 gives 55.56 ft³. 600 lb ÷ 55.56 ft³ = 10.80 lb/ft³. On the scale shown above that falls in the band that gives class 92.5.

Common measuring mistakes

  • Measuring the goods instead of the loaded pallet. Measure at the widest points, including the pallet height and anything that overhangs.
  • Using the weight of one piece with several pieces. Enter the total weight for the row.
  • Assuming how your carrier rounds. Whether and how to round up to the next inch is carrier-specific: check your carrier.

Limits

Density is only one input to a freight class. The commodity’s NMFC item, handling, stowability and liability can change the class, and carriers apply their own rules. Treat the result as an estimate and confirm it in ClassIT+ or with your carrier before you ship. The scale used here comes from one secondary source and has not been checked against the NMFTA publication. For a reading guide to the scale, see the freight class chart. To measure a pallet load, use the pallet calculator, or see cubic feet and pallet weight. Pallet sizes: size table.

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