Commodity guide · tools

Freight class for tools

Packaged hand and power tools typically rate class 85 - 100 (8 - 15 pcf); dense palletized tooling can rate class 70 or better.

Why tools rate where they do

Tools are metal-dense but box-padded, which usually puts cased power tools and boxed hand tools in the 8 - 15 pcf range - class 100 up to class 85. Bare tooling, dies and fixtures on a skid are denser and often reach class 70 or lower.

Worked example. A pallet of boxed power tools: 48 × 40 × 42 in, 850 lb. That is 46.7 cu ft and 850 lb → 18.21 pcf → class 70. Run your own numbers →

Relevant class pages: class 85 · class 100 · class 70.

What moves the number

Packaging is the variable: retail clamshells and foam cases add cube quickly. If you ship distributor-style master cartons on a tight pallet, weigh and measure once - the density is usually better than the retail assumption.

Measure, don't assume. Since NMFC Docket 2025-1 (July 2025) most commodities class by measured density on a 13-band scale. The ranges above are typical, not guaranteed — your packaging decides your density. Calculate your actual class →

Related: the full class chart · density calculator · how NMFC codes work.