What is freight class 175?
4 to under 6 lb/ft³ — sub-provision 4 of the NMFC density scale.
A shipment rates class 175 when its density falls in that band. On a standard 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet (53.3 ft³) that is roughly 213 to 320 lb . Density is total weight divided by total cubic feet, including the pallet.
Class 175 in the density scale
| Sub | Density | Class | Pallet weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 – 4 lb/ft³ | 250 | 107 – 213 lb |
| 4 | 4 – 6 lb/ft³ | 175 ← this class | 213 – 320 lb |
| 5 | 6 – 8 lb/ft³ | 125 | 320 – 427 lb |
Bounds are inclusive at the bottom and exclusive at the top ("X but less than Y"). Pallet weights assume a standard 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet at 53.3 ft³.
How to move out of class 175
To reach class 125 (cheaper): get density to 6 lb/ft³ or above — about 320 lb on a standard pallet. Either add weight in the same cube, or shrink the cube at the same weight: tighter stacking, no pallet overhang, disassembly.
You slip to class 250 (dearer) if density falls below 4 lb/ft³ — under about 213 lb on the same pallet. Oversized cartons, void fill and pallet overhang are what usually cause this, not the goods themselves.
What typically ships at class 175
- Assembled upholstered furniture
- Clothing and apparel
- Couches and stuffed seating
- Light retail fixtures
Examples are illustrative of typical density, not classification rulings. A commodity's actual class comes from its NMFC item; density decides it only where that item is density-based.
The class 175 mistake worth knowing
Class 175 (4 to under 6 lb/ft³) is where assembled furniture lives, and it is the class with the biggest available saving: knocking the same furniture down to flat-pack routinely lifts density above 8 lb/ft³ and moves it to 100 — three bands cheaper.
Measure your actual shipment with the freight class calculator — it applies the July 19, 2025 scale and shows how far you are from the next class in both directions.