Freight Density Calculator
Freight density is a shipment's weight divided by its volume, expressed in pounds per cubic foot (PCF). Enter the outside dimensions and weight of each piece to calculate it. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
How freight density is calculated
volume_ft3 = length_in × width_in × height_in / 1728
density_pcf = total_weight_lb / total_volume_ft3Example. A pallet that measures 48 × 40 × 48 in and weighs 1,000 lb has a volume of 48 × 40 × 48 ÷ 1,728 = 53.33 ft³. Its density is 1,000 ÷ 53.33 = 18.75 PCF.
Shipments with more than one piece
Add the volumes, add the weights, then divide once. Averaging the density of each piece gives the wrong answer.
Example. One pallet of 48 × 40 × 48 in at 1,000 lb (18.75 PCF) plus two cartons of 24 × 24 × 24 in at 100 lb each (12.5 PCF) total 1,200 lb and 69.33 ft³. That is 17.31 PCF, not the 15.63 PCF you would get by averaging 18.75 and 12.5.
What to measure
Measure the longest, widest and tallest points of each piece, including the pallet and anything that overhangs it. Use the weight of the piece as it will ship. See how to measure a pallet.
Limits
This calculator reports a measurement. It does not assign or certify an NMFC freight class, it does not apply any carrier's measurement or rounding rules, and it makes no assumptions about how pieces are stacked or loaded. See freight density vs. freight class and the methodology.
Questions
What does PCF mean?
Pounds per cubic foot: the weight of a shipment in pounds divided by its volume in cubic feet.
Should the pallet be included?
Enter the dimensions and weight of each piece as it will be handed to the carrier, which normally includes the pallet and packaging.
Does density tell me my freight class?
Not by itself. Density is a measurement; freight class is a classification. Read freight density vs. freight class.