LTL vs FTL Shipping Cost Calculator

Below a certain weight, sharing a truck (LTL) is cheaper; above it, reserving the whole truck (FTL) wins. This finds your cost either way and the breakpoint.

Direct answer

What does this tool do?

LTL vs FTL Shipping Cost Calculator computes the result directly in your browser — Below a certain weight, sharing a truck (LTL) is cheaper; above it, reserving the whole truck (FTL) wins. This finds your cost either way and the breakpoint. Nothing you enter is uploaded or stored.

Shipment weight (lb)

LTL rate ($ per hundredweight (cwt))

FTL flat rate ($ per truckload)

LTL: less-than-truckload shares the trailer — you pay a rate per hundredweight (cwt) × (weight ÷ 100), plus accessorials (liftgate, residential, appointment, inside delivery). FTL: full-truckload reserves the whole trailer for a flat rate — cheaper per pound when you have enough weight to fill it. Breakpoint: FTL becomes cheaper when the flat rate is below the LTL charge, roughly above 10,000-15,000 lb depending on rates. Gotchas: LTL charges by weight class and adds reweigh fees; FTL has fuel surcharges and minimums. These are editable example rates — get real quotes.

How this calculator works

LTL cost = weight/100 lbs (hundredweight) x class rate + fuel surcharge + accessorials. FTL cost = flat lane rate. Break-even: your freight density and volume decide.

Worked example

6 pallets at 1,200 lb total usually prices cheaper LTL; 12+ pallets or a dedicated timeline usually flips to a full truck at a flat rate.

LTL versus FTL break-even: pallet count and density versus flat lane rate — LTL prices per hundredweight with class and accessorials; FTL is one flat rate: the crossover is volume.

FAQ

When is FTL cheaper than LTL?

Generally above 10,000-15,000 lb, when the flat truck rate beats the per-hundredweight LTL charge. The exact breakpoint depends on your rates — this calculator finds it.

What is an LTL accessorial?

Extra charges beyond the base rate: liftgate, residential delivery, inside delivery, appointment scheduling, and reweigh fees. They add up quickly — model them into the rate.

What weight class is my shipment?

LTL pricing uses NMFC classes (density-based, 50-500) that set the per-cwt rate. Higher density = lower class = cheaper rate. This calculator takes the resulting rate as input.

Figures are editable example defaults for modeling, not quotes or advice. Financial, tax, and medical outcomes vary with your situation — verify with a qualified professional (CFP, CPA, tax advisor, or veterinarian).

Where the crossover lands in dollars

Take a lane with an LTL rate of $28.50 per hundredweight (class 70) and a flat FTL rate of $1,150 on the same lane. First shipment: 6 pallets, 1,200 lb total. That is 12 cwt, so the base LTL charge is 12 x 28.50 = $342. Add two accessorials, a $45 liftgate and a $40 residential fee: $342 + $85 = $427. LTL wins by $723, and no flat truck rate on a normal lane comes close to beating it at this weight.

Now scale the same freight pattern up: 12 pallets, 4,800 lb, same class. That is 48 cwt, so 48 x 28.50 = $1,368 before accessorials. Even with zero accessorials the LTL bill exceeds the $1,150 flat rate, and with the same $85 of fees it reaches $1,453. The calculator shows the flip happened between 12 cwt and 48 cwt; you can bisect it: 40 cwt x 28.50 = $1,140, still under the flat rate, while 41 cwt x 28.50 = $1,168.50 crosses it. So on these numbers the break-even is about 4,100 lb, or roughly 10 pallets at 400 lb each.

Where the simple model breaks

The per-hundredweight input hides reclassification risk. A pallet quoted at class 70 but reweighed at 8 lb per cubic foot instead of 12 drops toward class 125, and the same $28.50 base can reprice at $40 or more per cwt. On the 4,800 lb example, 48 cwt at $40 is $1,920, a $552 jump from one reweigh, which is why carriers audit density and why the fee line in the calculator matters more as weight grows.

Volume rules also override the arithmetic. Many tariffs cap LTL at 6 linear feet or about 6 to 8 pallets regardless of weight; beyond that the quote becomes a volume-LTL or partial-truckload quote with its own rate scale, usually 10 to 30 percent below standard per-cwt pricing but with 2 to 5 business day transit instead of 1 to 2. And a $1,150 flat FTL rate assumes the truck is full; a dedicated 10-pallet move often quotes closer to $1,600 because the carrier prices the empty space. Check whether your flat rate is for a full trailer or just the lane.