Freight density
Also called: density, pounds per cubic foot, pcf
Freight density is the weight of a shipment divided by the volume it occupies, measured at its outside dimensions with the pallet included. In the US it is given in pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and is the main factor in most LTL freight classes.
In depth: Freight class and density: how to classify a pallet shipment
Density is what LTL carriers mostly care about: light, bulky freight takes space that could hold paying weight.
How to calculate it
- Measure the handling unit at its longest, widest and tallest points, pallet included.
- Volume (ft³) = length × width × height in inches ÷ 1,728.
- Density (pcf) = total weight in lb, pallet included ÷ volume in ft³.
Worked example
| Value | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Handling unit | 48 × 40 × 50 in | 1219 × 1016 × 1270 mm |
| Volume | 55.6 ft³ | 1.57 m³ |
| Weight | 1,000 lb | 454 kg |
| Density | 18.0 pcf | 288 kg/m³ |
The density then maps to a class on the NMFC density scale. Under the scale introduced in 2025, freight of 50 pcf and over rates class 50, and 35 to under 50 pcf rates class 55. See freight class for the rest.
Why it matters for pallets
- A taller pallet adds volume without product.
- A heavier pallet adds weight; it raises density but also raises the billed weight.
- Overhang enlarges the measured dimensions.
- Loads that do not use the full footprint still bill at the pallet's footprint.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Give the pallet's overall height and weight, so the shipping team can calculate density for each product. For custom pallets, a lower height can be worth more in freight than it costs in material.
Common confusions
Freight density is not the density of the product or the material. It is the whole shipment's weight over its outside volume.
Related
- GlossaryWhat is freight class?Freight class is a rating from 50 to 500 in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) that US LTL carriers use to price shipments. Since the NMFC's 2025 overhaul, many commodities are classed by density on a 13-level scale, where denser freight gets a lower, cheaper class.
- GlossaryLTL (less-than-truckload)LTL (less-than-truckload) is freight too small to fill a trailer, shipped alongside other shippers' loads and moved through carrier terminals. It is priced by weight, distance, freight class and accessorial services, so pallet size and density affect the cost.
- GuidesFreight class and density: how to classify a pallet shipmentFreight density is the shipment's weight in pounds divided by its volume in cubic feet, measured at the outside of the loaded pallet. On the NMFC 13-tier scale, effective July 19, 2025, density maps to classes from 50 (50 lb/ft³ or more) to 400 (under 1 lb/ft³). Some items keep their own class, so check the NMFC item.
- GlossaryLoad overhangLoad overhang is any part of a unit load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet's top deck. Unsupported case edges lose compression strength, get damaged in handling, and increase the measured size of the shipment.
- GlossaryCube utilizationCube utilization is the share of the available volume, in a pallet footprint up to its height limit, a trailer or a container, that is actually filled with product. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
More in Loading and shipping
- GlossaryColumn stackingColumn stacking is a stacking pattern where every case sits directly on top of the case below, with corners and walls aligned through the full height of the load. It keeps the most compression strength but is less stable than interlocking.
- GlossaryFloor loadingFloor loading is shipping cases or bags stacked directly on the floor of a trailer or container, without pallets. It fits more product in the vehicle but must be loaded and unloaded by hand or with special equipment. The term is also used for the load a floor can bear per unit area.
- GlossaryFTL (full truckload)FTL (full truckload) is a shipment that uses a dedicated trailer from origin to destination, with no terminal handling. A 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked, subject to the legal weight limit.
- GlossaryInterlocking stackingInterlocking stacking is a stacking pattern where alternate layers are rotated or shifted so each case bridges the joints between cases in the layer below, like bricks in a wall. It ties the load together but reduces compression strength compared with column stacking.
- GlossaryLoad barA load bar is an adjustable steel or aluminum bar fixed across the inside of a trailer or container, either wedged between the walls or locked into wall track, to keep pallets from sliding during transit. Horizontal decking beams also let a second tier of pallets be carried.
- GlossaryPallet positionA pallet position is the space for one pallet: a floor spot in a trailer or container, or a slot in a warehouse rack. Carriers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) often count capacity and charge storage by pallet position.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 278 words.