How much does it cost to ship a pallet?
Most single pallets ship by LTL for $255 to $525, all-in. Here is what moves your price inside that range, and how to get an exact number.
The short answer
One pallet shipped LTL usually costs $255 to $525 all-in, with a median of about $360. That comes from 49,449 single-pallet shipments paid between September 2025 and August 2026, published by GetLTLRates. Those prices include fuel and accessorials, and they are the middle half of what shippers actually paid, not list rates.
That is a wide range because a pallet is not a fixed product. Distance, weight, freight class, and the services you need at each end all move the price.
Prices by weight and distance
The same data set, split by how heavy the pallet is and how far it travels:
| Shipment | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 lb, within one state | $165 to $325 | $235 |
| 500 to 999 lb, regional | $260 to $560 | $370 |
| 500 to 999 lb, cross-country | $365 to $780 | $530 |
Typical range is the middle 50 percent of paid rates. Source: GetLTLRates, September 2025 to August 2026. Use these to budget, not as a quote.
Prices by freight class
Freight class is a number from 50 to 500 that carriers use to price LTL. Denser freight gets a lower class and usually a lower price. For pallets between 500 and 999 lb, the median paid rate climbs fast as class goes up:
| Freight class | Median paid, 500 to 999 lb |
|---|---|
| 50 to 65 (dense) | $285 |
| 70 to 92.5 | $350 |
| 100 to 125 | $400 |
| 150 and up (light, bulky) | $610 |
Most freight now gets its class from density, the pounds per cubic foot. Our guide to freight class after the NMFC changes walks through the math with an example.
What sets your price
- The lane. Pickup and delivery ZIP codes set the base rate. Longer lanes and lanes off a carrier's main network cost more.
- Weight. LTL is priced per hundred pounds, so heavier pallets cost more in total but often less per pound.
- Freight class. Light, bulky freight takes up trailer space without adding weight, so it rates higher.
- Fuel surcharge. A percentage on top of the base rate that moves with diesel prices.
- Accessorials. Any service beyond a dock-to-dock move. These are the charges most likely to surprise you.
The fees that change the total
If either end has no loading dock, or the address is a home, expect extra charges. Typical 2026 ranges published by freight brokers:
| Service | When you need it | Typical charge |
|---|---|---|
| Liftgate | No loading dock at pickup or delivery | $75 to $200 |
| Residential | Pickup or delivery at a home | $80 to $175 |
| Limited access | Schools, churches, farms, storage units, construction sites | $100 to $250 |
Declare these when you quote. A liftgate the driver has to provide without notice is billed after delivery, usually at the carrier's full rate. A home delivery that needs a liftgate can add a few hundred dollars on its own.
Rates are going up
Carriers raise rates every year through a general rate increase. Old Dominion's 4.9 percent increase took effect October 5, 2026. Accessorial fees have been rising faster than base rates, with 2026 fee tables up roughly 8 to 12 percent over 2025, according to an industry tracker. Older price guides will read low.
How to get an exact price
- Measure the pallet the way it ships. Length, width, and height with the pallet and wrap included. Round up to the next inch.
- Weigh it. Round up to the next pound. Guessing low is the most common reason a bill goes up later.
- Check both ends. Is there a loading dock? Is either address a home or a limited access location?
- Quote with all of it. A quote is only as accurate as what goes into it.
Anvil works out the freight class from your size and weight, asks about each end in plain language, and lists every charge before you book.