What Is Freight Class 125 in LTL Shipping?
Freight Class 125 is a density tier used for qualifying packaged LTL shipments that measure 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ on the current 13-tier freight class chart . It sits between Class 100, which covers 8 to under 10 lb/ft³, and Class 175, which covers 4 to under 6 lb/ft³.
- What Class 125 means here: a finished shipment whose density falls within the 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ tier can produce a Class 125 estimate under the current density scale.
- Where the boundaries sit: 8 lb/ft³ enters Class 100, while anything below 6 lb/ft³ moves into the Class 175 density band.
- Why weight alone is not enough: density compares total packaged weight with the cubic space occupied by the finished shipment.
Freight Class 125 Density Calculation
For Class 125, the target density band is 6 to under 8 lb/ft³. Use the finished shipment size and packaged weight to see whether the load stays inside that band or crosses into Class 100 or Class 175.
Measure the package that will actually occupy trailer space
For the Class 125 example, the finished handling unit is 48 × 40 × 48 in. Measure to the outermost packaged points, because even a few extra inches of height or overhang can push a shipment near the 6 lb/ft³ lower boundary.
Worked Calculation
Dimensions
48 × 40 × 48 = 92,160 in³
Cubic Feet
92,160 ÷ 1,728 = 53.33 ft³
Density
400 ÷ 53.33 = 7.50 lb/ft³
Estimated Class
125
Class 125 Density Boundaries
Class 100
8 to <10
lb/ft³
Class 125
6 to <8
lb/ft³
Class 175
4 to <6
lb/ft³
What the Class 125 boundaries mean for this 53.33 ft³ pallet
At this exact volume, 320 lb produces 6.00 lb/ft³, the lower edge of Class 125. A packaged weight of about 426.67 lb reaches 8.00 lb/ft³ and enters Class 100. That makes the 400 lb example comfortably Class 125 rather than a boundary case.
Freight Class 125 Examples
Shipment examplesThese examples show how different packaged dimensions and weights can produce a Class 125 density estimate.
Click for full size
Flagship example
Palletized Small Appliances
A finished pallet of boxed small appliances using the same dimensions shown in the primary visual.
48 × 40 × 48 in · 400 lb
7.50 lb/ft³
Estimated Class 125
Controlled example
Boxed Consumer Goods
The same 48 × 40 footprint with a slightly shorter finished height and lower weight can remain comfortably inside Class 125.
48 × 40 × 42 in · 350 lb
7.50 lb/ft³
Estimated Class 125
Boundary example
At the Class 125 Lower Boundary
This example lands exactly at 6.00 lb/ft³, the lower boundary of the Class 125 density tier.
48 × 40 × 48 in · 320 lb
6.00 lb/ft³
Estimated Class 125
Freight Class 125 Calculator
The calculator is preloaded with the 48 × 40 × 48 in, 400 lb Class 125 example above. Change any dimension or the weight to see how density and estimated class change.
When does this example move out of Class 125?
Toward Class 175
At the same 53.33 ft³ volume, dropping below 320 lb lowers density below 6 lb/ft³ and moves the estimate into the Class 175 band.
Toward Class 100
At the same 53.33 ft³ volume, reaching about 426.67 lb raises density to 8 lb/ft³ and moves the estimate into the Class 100 band.
Freight Class 125 Comparisons
Compare Class 125 with nearby density tiers. Higher density generally leads to a lower class number, while lower density generally leads to a higher class number.
Click for full size
Class 100 vs 125
Class 100 covers 8 to under 10 lb/ft³. Class 125 begins below that boundary and covers 6 to under 8 lb/ft³.
Class 125 vs 175
Class 125 covers 6 to under 8 lb/ft³. Below 6 lb/ft³, the current density scale moves to Class 175.
What about Class 150?
Class 150 exists in the broader freight-class system, but it is not one of the current 13 tiers in the full-scale density table. On that density scale, the next lower-density tier after Class 125 is Class 175.
Handling, Stowability & Liability for Class 125
A shipment can land in the 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ Class 125 band and still behave very differently in an LTL network. For palletized appliances, consumer goods, cabinets, and light fixtures, the way the freight is packaged can affect how easily it is handled, stacked, and loaded.
- Stable handling: A centered, banded 400 lb appliance pallet may be straightforward to move, while loose cartons, top-heavy stacking, or limited fork access can require different handling.
- Efficient stowage: A square, stackable 48 × 40 in pallet is easier to load efficiently than an overhanging cabinet or a non-stackable fixture. Two shipments can have the same Class 125 density and still use trailer space very differently.
- Damage exposure: Finished surfaces, glass, and protruding hardware may need extra protection. That added packaging can increase the shipment’s size and lower its density.
Class 125 planning point: Record stackability, pallet stability, fork access, and any required clearance before the shipment is tendered.
How Packaging Can Move a Shipment Out of Class 125
Class 125 has a relatively narrow 6 to under 8 lb/ft³ density band. For the 400 lb example on this page, the product can stay identical while changes to the finished package move the shipment into another density tier.
- Extra top protection or a taller crate increases occupied cubic volume.
- Pallet overhang, spacer blocks, or protective framing can increase the outside dimensions used for density.
- Non-stackable freight may use trailer space less efficiently even when its measured density does not change.
48 in finished height
48 × 40 × 48 in
400 lb · 53.33 ft³
7.50 lb/ft³
Estimated Class 125
Same 400 lb weight
61 in finished height
48 × 40 × 61 in
400 lb · 67.78 ft³
5.90 lb/ft³
Estimated Class 175
Boundary check: At a height of 60 in, the 400 lb shipment is exactly 6.00 lb/ft³ and remains on the Class 125 boundary. Increasing the height to 61 in drops density to about 5.90 lb/ft³ and moves the density-based estimate to Class 175
Avoiding a Class 125 Reclassification
Class 125 sits between two clear density boundaries, so the important question is not simply “Did I measure it?” but “How much room do I have before this shipment crosses 6 or 8 lb/ft³?”
For the 48 × 40 × 48 in example
The 53.33 ft³ pallet stays in Class 125 from 320 lb up to, but not including, about 426.67 lb. The 400 lb example therefore has roughly 26.67 lb of room before reaching the 8 lb/ft³ Class 100 boundary.
If the packaging changes
Recalculate from the new finished outside dimensions rather than carrying the old class forward. A taller crate, protective frame, or overhang can lower density even when the scale weight does not change.
- Save the finished measurements used for the quote, especially when density is close to 6 or 8 lb/ft³.
- Match the weight to the shipping unit—including the pallet, wrap, blocking, and protective packaging actually tendered.
- Re-run the calculator after repacking instead of assuming the previous Class 125 estimate still applies.
What Is the NMFC Code for Freight Class 125?
Freight Class 125 is not an NMFC item number. An NMFC item number identifies a commodity or provision; Class 125 is a possible classification result for a qualifying shipment.
- No universal Class 125 code: the class does not map to one NMFC item number.
- NMFC items are commodity-specific: they identify particular commodities and applicable provisions.
- Different goods can share the same result: unrelated shipment types may all calculate to Class 125 when their finished density and applicable provisions support it.
Official proprietary NMFC item numbers are not reproduced on this page.
Is Freight Class 125 Hazmat?
No—Class 125 by itself does not mean a shipment is hazardous. Freight class and hazardous-material status answer different questions.
That distinction matters because examples such as small appliances, kitchen equipment, or consumer goods can contain very different materials. Two shipments can both calculate to 7.50 lb/ft³ and Class 125 while only one is regulated as hazardous material.
- Freight class asks how the finished shipment is classified for LTL rating, including density and applicable provisions.
- Hazmat rules ask what material is being transported and whether its quantity, packaging, marks, labels, shipping description, and documentation trigger hazardous-material requirements.
Does FedEx® Freight Use Class 125?
Class 125 can appear on an LTL quote when the shipment is rated under freight-class rules and the applicable classification supports that result. The important part is that “125” should describe the shipment as tendered—not an older measurement or a product label.
- Example check: 48 × 40 × 48 in and 400 lb gives 7.50 lb/ft³, which falls inside the current Class 125 density band.
- After inspection: a carrier remeasure, reweigh, or classification review can change the billed class if the tendered shipment differs from the information used for the quote.
Continue Planning Your LTL Shipment
Use the full freight class, density, pallet, and linear-feet tools for the next stage of shipment planning.
Freight Class Calculator
Estimate class from finished packaged dimensions, weight, and density.
Freight Density Calculator
Calculate cubic feet and pounds per cubic foot.
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.
Class 125 Visual References
Use these supporting freight-density and measurement references while reviewing Class 85.
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 applicable commodity-specific provisions. 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.