Pallet Freight Class

Freight Density Calculator

Add every pallet in the shipment, mix sizes freely, and get the combined density in PCF with the matching LTL freight class that carriers bill on total density.

Shipment pallets

Auto-fills the Pallet 1 row: length and width always, tare weight only when the weight field is still empty
Pallet 1
Pallet length in inches including overhang
Pallet width in inches including overhang
Stacked height in inches from the floor to the top of the load
Gross weight in pounds including the pallet itself

This pallet density calculator is built for mixed loads: enter every handling unit on the bill and it totals volume and weight the way a carrier terminal does. As an ltl density calculator it prices the whole shipment on one combined PCF — a heavy Class 50 skid and three light carton pallets land on a single tier, not four.

How to calculate freight density correctly

  1. Measure each pallet at its extreme outer dimensions, overhang included.
  2. Enter the gross weight of each pallet, wooden skid included: a standard GMA pallet alone weighs about 40 pounds.
  3. Let the tool total the volumes and weights, then read the combined PCF against the freight class chart.

Remeasure, never trust the spec sheet. Nominal pallet sizes hide reality: wrap, strapping, corner boards and bulging cartons routinely add an inch per side. Since carriers scan extreme dimensions at the terminal, ship the larger honest number on the BOL to avoid a reclassification dispute later.

Because this works as a freight class density calculator as well as a freight class calculator—multiple pallets, one combined tier—the result is the figure a density calculator for freight shipments must show: the one the reweigh will confirm. That is what separates an ltl freight density calculator from a single-pallet toy, and why this is the density calculator freight desks keep bookmarked for mixed skids.

Frequently asked questions

How is density calculated for multiple pallets?

Add the cubic feet of every handling unit and the gross weight of every handling unit, then divide the total weight by the total volume. Carriers price a mixed shipment on this combined density, so one light pallet can pull the whole bill of lading into a higher class.

Do pallet dimensions include overhang?

Yes. Under NMFC Item 110 every dimension is measured at the extreme outer edge of the packaging or pallet, whichever protrudes further. Overhang inflates the measured volume, drops the PCF and raises the class.

Does the pallet itself count toward the weight?

It does. Enter the gross weight including the wooden skid: standard GMA pallets weigh about 40 pounds, half pallets about 22, and heavy drum pallets up to 50. The terminal scale weighs the entire handling unit.

What PCF range is considered dense freight?

Anything at or above 50 PCF is Class 50, the densest tier. Standard well-built palletized loads usually aim for the 15 to 22.5 PCF band, which is the Class 70 benchmark.