Freight Class for Furniture
Furniture is light for its size, so under the 2025 density-based scale it usually classes high — and ships expensive. Most packaged furniture lands between class 100 and class 175, but the real number is set entirely by the piece’s density. Here’s the typical range, the math, and the exact class one click away.
The short answer
Typical packaged furniture runs about 4–9 PCF, which maps to roughly class 100–175 on the 2025 NMFTA scale. Worked example — a boxed 6-drawer dresser, 60×22×34 in at 150 lb:
60×22×34 ÷ 1,728 = 25.97 ft³ → 150 ÷ 25.97 = 5.78 PCF → Class 175
Why furniture classes the way it does
Furniture is the textbook “light and bulky” commodity: a lot of cubic feet for relatively little weight. Because the 2025 NMFTA scale rates most freight on density (pounds per cubic foot), that low density pushes furniture toward the higher, pricier end of the class scale.
The spread is wide, though. A tightly boxed case good — a dresser, a nightstand, a table with legs off — packs denser and can land around class 150–175. A bulky upholstered piece full of air, like a sectional or a mattress-in-a-frame, can climb to class 250–400. Assembled vs. knocked-down and the box dimensions change the answer, which is why you calculate rather than guess.
How to calculate it for your shipment
Multiply your packed length, width, and height in inches, divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet, then divide the weight by that volume for density in pounds per cubic foot (PCF). Map the PCF to the class on the NMFTA scale. The Freight Density Calculator does it in one step; the Target Class Calculator runs it backward to find the weight that would hit a class you’re aiming for. Prefer a lookup? The density-to-freight-class chart lists every class and its PCF band.
Get the class right the first time
Because the 2025 scale rates on density, sloppy dimensions are what get furniture reclassed and back-billed. Measure to the farthest points on the packed piece, weigh it on a certified scale, and calculate the density before pickup — don’t eyeball the class. For the full picture of how density-based classification works, start with the freight class guide, and see why freight gets reclassed if a carrier disputes your number. Freight class is set by the NMFTA; look up your specific NMFC item with the NMFTA.
Frequently asked
What is the freight class for furniture?
It depends on density. Under the 2025 density-based scale, most packaged furniture falls between class 100 and class 175 because it is light for its size. A boxed 6-drawer dresser at about 5.8 PCF classes at 175, for example. Bulky upholstered pieces with lots of air can climb to class 250–400. Calculate the exact class from your piece’s weight and packed dimensions.
How do I calculate freight class for furniture?
Multiply the packed length, width, and height in inches and divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Divide the weight in pounds by that volume to get density in pounds per cubic foot (PCF), then map the PCF to a class on the NMFTA scale. The Freight Density Calculator does this for you.
Why is furniture so expensive to ship LTL?
Furniture takes up a lot of trailer space for its weight, so it classes high, and higher classes carry higher rates. Fragile, hard-to-stack pieces can also draw handling or protection surcharges. Packing a piece more compactly raises its density and can lower its class.
Does assembled vs. boxed furniture change the class?
Yes. Class is driven by the shipment’s density, and packaging changes both weight and dimensions. A knocked-down, tightly boxed piece is denser (lower class) than the same item shipped fully assembled with air around it (higher class).