Freight density calculator
Density in pounds per cubic foot for a pallet, crate or carton, with the NMFC band it falls in. The number that decides almost every LTL freight class.
Inputs
Result
Where it lands on the NMFC scale
Thirteen subprovisions, effective 19 July 2025.
| Sub | Density, lb per ft³ | Class |
|---|
The calculation
There are 1,728 cubic inches in a cubic foot, which is where the divisor comes from. Working in feet instead, multiply the three dimensions directly.
Measure the space, not the box
Density for freight purposes is about the trailer space the shipment consumes. That means the pallet deck underneath, any cartons hanging over the edge, and the air between the top of the load and nothing at all — because nothing else can be stacked there unless the load is stackable.
A common mistake is measuring the cartons and forgetting the pallet. A 48 × 40 pallet is about 5.5 inches tall on its own, so a 42-inch stack of cartons ships as a 48-inch unit. That difference moves 400 lb from 8.7 pcf to 7.5 pcf, which is the difference between class 100 and class 125.
Typical densities
Bagged insulation or empty plastic containers come in under 2 pcf and classify at 250 or 300. Furniture and most consumer goods land between 6 and 12. Paper, canned goods, tile and fasteners run 25 pcf and up, and anything over 50 now reaches class 50, the cheapest band on the scale.
Questions
How do I calculate freight density?
Multiply length by width by height in inches, divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet, then divide the total weight by that figure. A 48 by 40 by 48 inch pallet is 53.3 cubic feet; at 400 lb that is 7.5 lb per cubic foot.
What is a good freight density?
Higher is cheaper. Above 15 lb per cubic foot you are into the lower classes where rates are best, and at 50 and above you reach class 50. Under about 6 pcf the class rises quickly and so does the cost per pound.
Does the pallet count in the dimensions?
Yes. Measure the load as the carrier will: the pallet included, the height to the top of the tallest carton, and any overhang counted in the length and width. The pallet alone adds about 5 to 6 inches of height.
How many cubic inches are in a cubic foot?
1,728, which is 12 cubed. That is why cubic feet is the inch measurements multiplied together and divided by 1,728.
Why does my carrier say a different density?
Almost always the measurements. Carriers run shipments through dimensioners that record the outside of the load including overhang and round up, so a pallet you called 48 by 40 can be recorded at 50 by 42 if cartons hang over the edge.
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