LTL freight class calculator

Enter your shipment's dimensions and weight to get the density and a suggested NMFC freight class from 50 to 500. It runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere, and no account is needed.

How freight class is calculated

For less-than-truckload freight, carriers price shipments using an NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) class. Density — pounds per cubic foot — is the biggest driver of that class. The math is:

• Cubic feet per unit = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 1728
• Total cubic feet = cubic feet per unit × number of handling units
• Density (PCF) = total weight ÷ total cubic feet

Higher density means a lower class and a lower rate. For example, two pallets at 48 × 40 × 48 in weighing 900 lb total work out to about 8.44 lb/ft³, which falls in the "8 to under 9" band and suggests class 110.

Density-to-class reference

Density (lb/ft³)	Suggested class
50 and over	50
35 to under 50	55
30 to under 35	60
22.5 to under 30	65
15 to under 22.5	70
13.5 to under 15	77.5
12 to under 13.5	85
10.5 to under 12	92.5
9 to under 10.5	100
8 to under 9	110
7 to under 8	125
6 to under 7	150
5 to under 6	175
4 to under 5	200
3 to under 4	250
2 to under 3	300
1 to under 2	400
Under 1	500

Why freight class matters on your BOL

Freight class appears in the Carrier Information section of a bill of lading and directly affects the rate you are quoted. Getting it wrong causes re-classification and re-billing after the fact — an unwelcome surprise on a shipment you thought was priced. That is why our free VICS BOL generator builds this same density calculation right into the commodities step, so the class on your BOL is grounded in the actual shipment.

New to the paperwork? Read bill of lading explained for the fundamentals, or what a VICS bill of lading is if you ship into big-box retail.