What is freight class 65?
22.5 to under 30 lb/ft³ — sub-provision 10 of the NMFC density scale.
A shipment rates class 65 when its density falls in that band. On a standard 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet (53.3 ft³) that is roughly 1,200 to 1,600 lb . Density is total weight divided by total cubic feet, including the pallet.
Class 65 in the density scale
| Sub | Density | Class | Pallet weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 15 – 22.5 lb/ft³ | 70 | 800 – 1,200 lb |
| 10 | 22.5 – 30 lb/ft³ | 65 ← this class | 1,200 – 1,600 lb |
| 11 | 30 – 35 lb/ft³ | 60 | 1,600 – 1,867 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 65
To reach class 60 (cheaper): get density to 30 lb/ft³ or above — about 1,600 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 70 (dearer) if density falls below 22.5 lb/ft³ — under about 1,200 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 65
- Automotive parts and accessories
- Bottled beverages
- Books and printed matter
- Boxed hardware
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 65 mistake worth knowing
Class 65 spans 22.5 to under 30 lb/ft³ — the range most palletised consumer goods actually land in. If a carrier reclassed you UP from 65, the usual cause is pallet overhang inflating the cube, not the weight being wrong.
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.