What Is Freight Density?
Freight density measures how compact a shipment is, expressed as mass per unit volume. In North America, the standard unit is pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³ or PCF). In international metric logistics, density is expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).
Unit Conversion: PCF to kg/m³
To convert between imperial and metric density:
* 1 lb/ft³ = 16.0185 kg/m³
* 1 kg/m³ = 0.0624 lb/ft³
For example, a density of 10 PCF corresponds to approximately 160.2 kg/m³.
Why Higher Density Means Lower Freight Rates
In freight rating, higher density generally earns a lower numerical class (e.g., Class 50 vs Class 400). Lower freight classes have significantly lower base shipping rates per hundredweight (cwt). Shippers who eliminate excess void space and increase packaging density save substantial freight costs.