Dense resin or pellets
Bagged or boxed plastic resin on a pallet
48 × 40 × 42 in
Packaged weight: 2200 lb
- Cubic feet
- 46.67
- Density
- 47.14 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
55
55
Plastic LTL Shipping Guide
Freight Class for Plastic
To estimate your shipment, use the Plastic Freight Class Calculator.
The Plastic Freight Class Examples use the current 13-tier density scale, effective July 19, 2025, and range from Class 55 to 250.
These are density-based estimates.
Plastic density calculator
Calculate Your Plastic Freight Class
A palletized plastic shipment is preloaded as an example. Adjust the packaged dimensions or weight to calculate your plastic freight class.
Your result
Cubic feet
60.00
Density
20.00
lb/cu ft
Estimated freight class
70
This is an example density-based estimate. Update any field to calculate your shipment.
Plastic shipment examples
Plastic 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 all plastic shipments.
Molded plastic goods
Nested molded components in cartons
48 × 40 × 60 in
Packaged weight: 1150 lb
- Cubic feet
- 66.67
- Density
- 17.25 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
70
70
Bulky foam plastics
Low-density plastic foam products
72 × 48 × 72 in
Packaged weight: 500 lb
- Cubic feet
- 144.00
- Density
- 3.47 lb/cu ft
Estimated class
250
250
Plastic shipment comparison
Plastic Freight Class by Shipment Type
Plastic shipments vary from very dense resin pellets and sheet stock to low-density molded housings, empty containers, and foam products. The finished cube, nesting efficiency, wall thickness, surface finish, and stackability determine the shipment profile.
| Plastic shipment | Typical packaging | Density tendency | Stackability | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic resin or pellets | Bags, gaylords, or drums | Very high | Usually stackable | Protect liners and prevent contamination. |
| Plastic sheets or panels | Flat bundles on pallets | High | Usually stackable | Protect faces and unsupported edges. |
| Molded plastic goods | Cartons, bins, or custom skids | Medium | Limited | Nest parts and prevent distortion. |
| Foam or hollow plastic items | Large cartons or wrapped bundles | Low | Limited | Avoid compression and top loading. |
plastic shipping options
Choosing a Shipping Method for Plastic
The right service depends on plastic size, packaging, stackability, and handling needs.
| Plastic shipment | Common shipping option |
|---|---|
| Bags or gaylords of resin | Standard LTL |
| Sheet and panel bundles | Standard or protected LTL |
| Molded plastic goods | LTL with packaging review |
| Bulky foam or hollow products | Volume LTL or dedicated service |
Large, irregular, non-stackable, unusually valuable, or specially handled plastic shipments may need carrier review before booking.
Plastic Packaging, Stackability, and Damage Risk
Plastic Packaging
- Use sealed bags, lined gaylords, cartons, bins, or wrapped sheet bundles appropriate to the resin or finished part.
- Separate polished, clear, painted, or textured surfaces with film, foam, paper, or dividers to prevent abrasion.
- Support large panels and molded parts so banding, heat, and uneven pallet pressure do not cause warping.
Plastic Stackability
- Dense resin bags and square cartons may stack when pallet patterns and compression strength are verified.
- Sheet bundles can accept top load only when fully supported and protected by rigid top boards.
- Treat hollow molded items, foam plastics, thin-wall parts, and irregular bundles as limited-stack or non-stackable.
Plastic Surface, Distortion, Contamination, and Heat Protection
- Prevent bag puncture, pellet contamination, sheet scratching, molded-part distortion, cracking, and stress whitening.
- Protect clear surfaces, thin walls, snap features, bosses, threads, and heat-sensitive shapes from pressure and impact.
- Document resin type, grade, color, dimensions, nesting orientation, finish requirements, and temperature limits.
Before Requesting a Plastic Freight Quote
How to Measure a Packaged Plastic Shipment
- Measure after all bags, cartons, bins, panels, pallets, top boards, and protective films are installed.
- Include nested-part projections, sheet edge guards, gaylord bulges, foam overhang, and pallet caps.
- Use the total packaged weight of plastic, packaging, pallet, and securement.
Plastic Freight Quote Checklist
- Measure the finished resin pallet, sheet bundle, molded-part carton group, or foam-product load.
- Record the total packaged weight of the complete plastic shipment, including bins, gaylords, and pallets.
- State whether the load is uniformly stackable or contains thin-wall, hollow, foam, or heat-sensitive parts requiring limited stack.
- Include photos of bag liners, sheet faces, molded features, carton interiors, top boards, and pallet securement.
- Confirm contamination control, temperature limits, clamp restrictions, liftgate, and appointment requirements.
Freight Planning Calculators
Calculate and Plan Your Plastic 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.