Compressed apparel cartons
Dense folded garments in uniform cartons
48 × 40 × 36 in
Packaged weight: 800 lb
- Cubic feet
- 40.00
- Density
- 20.00 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
70
70
Clothing and Apparel LTL Shipping Guide
Freight Class for Clothing and Apparel
To estimate your shipment, use the Clothing Freight Class Calculator.
The Clothing Freight Class Examples use the current 13-tier density scale, effective July 19, 2025, and range from Class 70 to 175.
These are density-based estimates.
Clothing density calculator
Calculate Your Clothing Freight Class
A standard apparel pallet is preloaded as an example. Adjust the packaged dimensions or weight to calculate your clothing freight class.
Your result
Cubic feet
53.33
Density
10.03
lb/cu ft
Estimated freight class
92.5
This is an example density-based estimate. Update any field to calculate your shipment.
Clothing shipment examples
Clothing Freight Class Examples
These examples use packaged outside dimensions and the site’s density-to-class chart. They are examples only, not fixed classes for every clothing shipment.
Standard apparel pallet
Mixed clothing cartons on a standard pallet
48 × 40 × 48 in
Packaged weight: 535 lb
- Cubic feet
- 53.33
- Density
- 10.03 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
92.5
92.5
Hanging garment shipment
Garment-on-hanger cartons with lower density
48 × 48 × 72 in
Packaged weight: 500 lb
- Cubic feet
- 96.00
- Density
- 5.21 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
175
175
Clothing shipment comparison
Clothing Freight Class by Packaging Type
Clothing freight class can change substantially with carton compression, hanging versus folded presentation, pallet height, mixed-SKU packing, and stackability. Dense compressed cartons often produce lower density-based estimates, while hanging garments and loosely filled cartons use more trailer space per pound.
| Clothing shipment | Typical packaging | Density tendency | Stackability | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compressed folded apparel | Tightly packed cartons secured to a standard pallet | Higher | Usually stackable | Compression and uniform cartons can create efficient pallet density when the load remains stable. |
| Standard boxed clothing and footwear | Retail cartons or master cartons stretch-wrapped to a pallet | Medium | Usually stackable | Carton fill, footwear boxes, void space, and mixed sizes can materially change density. |
| Hanging garments | Garment-on-hanger cartons, wardrobe cartons, or rolling garment racks | Lower | Often limited | Hanging presentation preserves garments but typically increases cubic volume and handling sensitivity. |
| Mixed retail apparel pallet | Mixed cartons, bags, accessories, and footwear on one pallet | Varies | Limited when uneven | Uneven carton sizes, overhang, soft packs, and mixed products can reduce stability and stackability. |
Clothing shipping options
Choosing a Shipping Method for Clothing
The right service depends on pallet count, carton uniformity, hanging versus folded presentation, value, moisture protection, delivery requirements, and whether the load is stackable.
| Clothing shipment | Common shipping option |
|---|---|
| Uniform compressed apparel cartons on pallets | Standard LTL |
| Boxed clothing, footwear, and accessories | Standard LTL with value and handling review |
| Hanging garments or rolling garment racks | Specialized LTL, retail distribution, or dedicated service |
| High-value branded goods or large retail replenishment loads | Sealed LTL, partial truckload, or dedicated service |
High-value, hanging, moisture-sensitive, irregular, or non-stackable apparel shipments may need carrier review, appointment delivery, and added security controls.
Clothing Packaging, Stackability, and Damage Risk
Clothing Packaging
- Use clean, dry, crush-resistant cartons sized to minimize void space without damaging garments.
- Line or bag apparel when moisture, dust, color transfer, or contamination is a concern.
- Keep cartons within the pallet footprint and use corner boards, stretch wrap, and top protection.
Clothing Stackability
- Uniform, fully filled cartons generally stack better than soft packs or mixed carton sizes.
- Avoid excessive pallet height and reinforce lower cartons when top loading is expected.
- Treat hanging garments, rolling racks, unstable mixed pallets, and overhanging loads as limited or non-stackable.
Clothing Security and Liability
- Protect branded apparel, footwear, accessories, and seasonal merchandise from theft and tampering.
- Use sealed cartons, opaque wrap, accurate carton counts, and documented pallet condition.
- Confirm declared value, cargo coverage, and delivery controls for high-value or difficult-to-replace inventory.
Before Requesting a Clothing Freight Quote
How to Measure a Packaged Clothing Shipment
- Measure after cartons are palletized, wrapped, capped, and secured.
- Include the pallet, corner boards, top caps, garment racks, and any overhang.
- Measure to the longest, widest, and tallest packaged point, including bowed cartons or protruding wrap.
Clothing Freight Quote Checklist
- Measure the finished pallet, carton stack, garment carton, or rack.
- Record the total packaged weight and carton count.
- State whether the shipment is stackable and whether top loading is allowed.
- Identify hanging garments, soft packs, footwear, accessories, and mixed retail goods.
- Confirm declared value and any security, seal, appointment, or proof-of-delivery requirements.
- Confirm liftgate, loading-dock, inside-delivery, residential-delivery, or retail appointment needs.
Freight Planning Calculators
Calculate and Plan Your Clothing Shipment
Use the freight class, density, pallet, and linear-feet calculators to plan your packaged LTL shipment.
Freight Class Calculator
Estimate freight class from packaged dimensions, weight, and density.
Freight Density Calculator
Calculate cubic feet and pounds per cubic foot for packaged freight.
Pallet Freight Calculator
Plan pallet dimensions, shipment weight, density, and configuration.
Freight Linear Feet Calculator
Estimate trailer-space usage for pallets and non-stackable freight.
Freight classes shown on this page are density-based estimates for shipment planning. Actual classification may also depend on value, handling requirements, liability, stowability, dimensions, and other commodity-specific factors. Confirm the final freight class with your carrier, broker, or official NMFC resources before shipping. NMFC® is a registered trademark of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. FreightClassCalculator.tools is an independent calculator and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by NMFTA.