What is freight class 60?
30 to under 35 lb/ft³ — sub-provision 11 of the NMFC density scale.
A shipment rates class 60 when its density falls in that band. On a standard 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet (53.3 ft³) that is roughly 1,600 to 1,867 lb . Density is total weight divided by total cubic feet, including the pallet.
Class 60 in the density scale
| Sub | Density | Class | Pallet weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 22.5 – 30 lb/ft³ | 65 | 1,200 – 1,600 lb |
| 11 | 30 – 35 lb/ft³ | 60 ← this class | 1,600 – 1,867 lb |
| 12 | 35 – 50 lb/ft³ | 55 | 1,867 – 2,667 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 60
To reach class 55 (cheaper): get density to 35 lb/ft³ or above — about 1,867 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 65 (dearer) if density falls below 30 lb/ft³ — under about 1,600 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 60
- Car accessories in cartons
- Steel cable and wire rope
- Machinery parts, crated
- Canned goods
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 60 mistake worth knowing
Class 60 is a narrow band — 30 to under 35 lb/ft³, only five points wide. Small measurement errors move you out of it in either direction, so round dimensions UP and weigh the loaded pallet rather than estimating.
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.