How to use the CBM calculator
- Pick your units and enter the carton's length, width and height.
- Set the quantity of cartons to get the total shipment volume.
- Read the CBM and chargeable weight — useful for sea (LCL) and air freight quotes.
Container capacities and chargeable-weight rules vary by carrier and service. Use this as a planning estimate and confirm with your freight forwarder.
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Frequently asked questions
What is CBM?
CBM (cubic metres) is the volume a shipment occupies: length × width × height in metres. Freight is often priced by CBM, so it's key for sea and air freight quotes.
How do I calculate CBM?
Convert each dimension to metres, then multiply: length × width × height. For a 40×30×20 cm box that's 0.4 × 0.3 × 0.2 = 0.024 m³. Multiply by quantity for the total.
How do I convert CBM to chargeable weight?
Air freight commonly uses 1 CBM = 167 kg. So a 0.024 m³ box ≈ 4 kg volumetric. Sea freight (LCL) is usually billed per CBM directly.
How many CBM fit in a container?
Roughly 28 m³ in a 20ft container and 58 m³ in a 40ft container of usable space — use the total CBM to estimate how many units fit.