Flat-packed furniture pallet
Knocked-down tables and case goods
48 × 40 × 30 in
Packaged weight: 700 lb
- Cubic feet
- 33.33
- Density
- 21.00 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
Density-based
70
Furniture LTL Shipping Guide
Freight Class for Furniture
To estimate your shipment, use the Furniture Freight Class Calculator.
The Furniture 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.
Furniture density calculator
Calculate Your Furniture Freight Class
A boxed furniture shipment is preloaded as an example. Adjust the packaged dimensions or weight to calculate your furniture freight class.
Your result
Cubic feet
53.33
Density
9.38
lb/cu ft
Estimated freight class
100
This is an example density-based estimate. Update any field to calculate your shipment.
Furniture shipment examples
Furniture 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 furniture shipment.
Boxed dining-chair pallet
Uniform cartons with protective cushioning
48 × 40 × 48 in
Packaged weight: 500 lb
- Cubic feet
- 53.33
- Density
- 9.38 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
Density-based
100
Assembled sofa crate
Bulky upholstered furniture with low density
84 × 40 × 48 in
Packaged weight: 500 lb
- Cubic feet
- 93.33
- Density
- 5.36 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
Density-based
175
Furniture shipment comparison
Furniture Freight Class by Packaging Type
Furniture freight class can change substantially with assembly status, protective packaging, pallet efficiency, and stackability. Knocked-down furniture often ships more densely, while sofas, recliners, glass-top pieces, and fully assembled items can use much more cubic space per pound.
| Furniture shipment | Typical packaging | Density tendency | Stackability | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat-packed tables, desks, and case goods | Cartons secured to a pallet with edge and corner protection | Higher | Usually stackable | Knocked-down components use trailer space efficiently when cartons stay inside the pallet footprint. |
| Boxed dining chairs and small furniture | Individual cartons or grouped cartons on a pallet | Medium | Usually stackable | Uniform cartons may stack well, but void space and cushioning can reduce packaged density. |
| Assembled sofas, recliners, and upholstered furniture | Wrapped, corner-protected, and secured to a pallet or enclosed base | Lower | Often non-stackable | Large cubic volume, soft surfaces, and restricted top loading can increase trailer-space usage. |
| Glass, stone, antique, or high-value furniture | Custom crate with blocking, foam, and surface protection | Varies | Usually limited | Fragile materials, unusual shapes, and higher liability may require specialized handling and carrier review. |
Furniture shipping options
Choosing a Shipping Method for Furniture
The right service depends on packaged size, assembly status, stackability, finish protection, value, and handling needs.
| Furniture shipment | Common shipping option |
|---|---|
| Flat-packed furniture cartons on a standard pallet | Standard LTL |
| Boxed chairs, tables, or case goods on a reinforced pallet | LTL with handling and stackability review |
| Assembled sofas, recliners, or non-stackable furniture | Specialized LTL or furniture-delivery service |
| Oversized, antique, stone, glass, or high-value furniture | Crated LTL, partial truckload, or dedicated service |
Assembled, upholstered, fragile, high-value, or non-stackable furniture may need carrier review before booking.
Furniture Packaging, Stackability, and Damage Risk
Furniture Packaging
- Use double-wall cartons, rigid corner protection, and a pallet sized to the finished load.
- Immobilize drawers, doors, shelves, legs, cushions, and removable hardware.
- Protect finished wood, upholstery, glass, stone, and metal surfaces from abrasion and impact.
Furniture Stackability
- Uniform flat-packed cartons are generally easier to stack than assembled furniture.
- Only allow top loading when cartons, crates, or load-bearing frames can support freight above them.
- Treat sofas, recliners, glass-top pieces, and irregular assembled furniture as non-stackable when appropriate.
Furniture Fragility and Liability
- Protect glass, mirrors, stone, finished edges, upholstery, and decorative components.
- Use blocking and bracing to prevent shifting, tipping, drawer movement, and leg damage.
- Confirm declared value and coverage for antique, designer, custom, or difficult-to-replace furniture.
Before Requesting a Furniture Freight Quote
How to Measure a Packaged Furniture Shipment
- Measure after cartons, pallets, corner guards, wrap, cushioning, and crating are complete.
- Include pallet height, protective framing, feet, legs, cushions, handles, and any secured overhang.
- Measure to the longest, widest, and tallest packaged point, not just the furniture dimensions.
Furniture Freight Quote Checklist
- Measure the finished pallet, carton stack, or crate.
- Record the total packaged weight.
- State whether the finished shipment is stackable.
- Identify glass, stone, upholstery, antique finishes, or other fragile components.
- Include photos for assembled, high-value, irregular, or unusually packaged furniture.
Freight Planning Calculators
Calculate and Plan Your Furniture 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.