Freight class 70
A height change can move a class 70 load into class 85.
15 to under 22.5 lb/ft³
The lower boundary of 15 lb/ft³ is included. Exactly 22.5 lb/ft³ enters class 65.
2025 density scale. Item confirmation required.
Where this class 70 example sits
Toward class 85: 20 − 15 = 5 lb/ft³ above the cutoff. The lower edge remains included. Toward class 65: 22.5 − 20 = 2.5 lb/ft³ to the next boundary.
An 800 lb load with three recorded heights
Start with an 800 lb finished handling unit measuring 48 × 40 × 36 in. Its volume is exactly 40 ft³, so its density is 20 lb/ft³. That places it inside class 70, with room on both sides of the band.
Keep its footprint and gross weight fixed while increasing the recorded height to 48 in. Density becomes exactly 15 lb/ft³, still class 70. At 49 in, the result falls below 15 and becomes class 85. One height entry can therefore change the lookup even when the contents have not changed.
| Scenario | Quantity × L × W × H; weight per unit | Total volume | Density | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished unit at 36 in high | 1 × 48 × 40 × 36 in at 800 lb each | 40 ft³ | 20 lb/ft³ | 70 |
| At the 48 in boundary | 1 × 48 × 40 × 48 in at 800 lb each | 53.333 ft³ | 15 lb/ft³ | 70 |
| Remeasured at 49 in | 1 × 48 × 40 × 49 in at 800 lb each | 54.444 ft³ | 14.694 lb/ft³ | 85 |
Hypothetical measurements. Calculator Methodology.
Compare the measured scenarios
Unrounded density; rounded display labels.
Record the highest outside point
The example’s 48 in height has no mathematical margin above the lower density boundary. Measuring only the cartons while omitting a cap, wrapping, or the pallet can make the recorded unit shorter than the finished load.
At the original 20 lb/ft³, the next denser band starts at 22.5. With 800 lb unchanged, that would require at most 35.555… ft³, compared with the original 40 ft³. This is a dimensional comparison, not a reason to remove protective packaging.
From 20 to 22.5 lb/ft³: the height is 32 inches
The 36-inch original reaches class 65 at 32 inches if all 800 lb remain. Measuring 48 or 49 inches moves in the opposite direction, toward the lighter-density edge.
| Boundary density | Target volume | Total height | Class at boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 lb/ft³ | 35.556 ft³ | 32 in | 65 |
Arithmetic target; confirm safe packaging.
Questions before you ship
Does exactly 15 lb/ft³ count as class 70?
Yes on this 13-tier scale. Exactly 15 is the lower inclusive boundary of class 70. A value just below 15 belongs to class 85; exactly 22.5 enters class 65.
Related density bands
Sources
Reviewed 2026-10-25: NMFTA scale; effective July 19, 2025; packaging margin (2026).
Last updated