What is freight class 70?
15 to under 22.5 lb/ft³ — sub-provision 9 of the NMFC density scale.
A shipment rates class 70 when its density falls in that band. On a standard 48 × 40 × 48 in pallet (53.3 ft³) that is roughly 800 to 1,200 lb . Density is total weight divided by total cubic feet, including the pallet.
Class 70 in the density scale
| Sub | Density | Class | Pallet weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 12 – 15 lb/ft³ | 85 | 640 – 800 lb |
| 9 | 15 – 22.5 lb/ft³ | 70 ← this class | 800 – 1,200 lb |
| 10 | 22.5 – 30 lb/ft³ | 65 | 1,200 – 1,600 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 70
To reach class 65 (cheaper): get density to 22.5 lb/ft³ or above — about 1,200 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 85 (dearer) if density falls below 15 lb/ft³ — under about 800 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 70
- Car engines and transmissions
- Packaged food items
- Machinery on skids
- Auto parts, bulk
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 70 mistake worth knowing
Class 70 is the widest density band in the whole scale — 15 all the way to under 22.5 lb/ft³. That width is why so much freight lands here, and why a shipment can gain or lose considerable weight without changing class at all.
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.