What is freight class 400?
under 1 lb/ft³ — sub-provision 1 of the NMFC density scale.
A shipment rates class 400 when its density falls in that band. On a standard 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet (53.3 ft³) that is roughly 0 to 53 lb . Density is total weight divided by total cubic feet, including the pallet.
Class 400 in the density scale
| Sub | Density | Class | Pallet weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | under 1 lb/ft³ | 400 ← this class | 0 – 53 lb |
| 2 | 1 – 2 lb/ft³ | 300 | 53 – 107 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 400
To reach class 300 (cheaper): get density to 1 lb/ft³ or above — about 53 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.
There is nothing dearer from density. Class 400 is the highest the density scale produces; lighter freight still rates 400.
What typically ships at class 400
- Deer antlers
- Unpacked furniture frames
- Very large hollow items
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 400 mistake worth knowing
Class 400 is the highest class the density scale can produce — anything under 1 lb/ft³ lands here, with no floor beneath it. Under the pre-2025 table these shipments could reach 500; they now stop at 400 no matter how light they are.
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.