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CBM calculator (cubic metres)
Add your cartons, crates or pallets in cm, mm, m or inches. You get the total volume in m³ and ft³, how much of a 20ft, 40ft or 40ft High Cube container it takes, and the chargeable weight for each transport mode.
Your cargo
- Row 12.400 m³
Results
Total volume
2.400 m³
84.8 ft³
Total weight
300 kg
20 pieces
Container fill by volume
- 20ft container (33.1 m³)7.3 %
- 40ft container (67.6 m³)3.6 %
- 40ft High Cube (76.0 m³)3.2 %
Only about 85–90 % of a container can be filled in practice (rule of thumb), so plan with headroom.
Chargeable weight
- Sea (LCL, W/M)1 m³ = 1,000 kg · Volumetric 2,400 kgW/M: 2.40 revenue tonnes2,400 kgby volume
- Road (groupage)1 m³ = 333 kg · Volumetric 799 kg799 kgby volume
- Aircm³ ÷ 6,000 · Volumetric 400 kg400 kgby volume
- Courier / expresscm³ ÷ 5,000 · Volumetric 480 kg480 kgby volume
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How it is calculated
CBM (cubic metre) is the volume of a shipment. Forwarders use it to quote sea and groupage freight and to check whether cargo fits a container.
Formula
- CBM = length (m) × width (m) × height (m) × quantity
- ft³ = CBM × 35.315
- chargeable weight = max(actual weight, CBM × volume factor)
- Measure the outer size of each package, including the pallet and any overhang.
- Volume factors: sea W/M 1,000 kg per m³, road 333 kg per m³, air 167 kg per m³ (cm³ ÷ 6,000), courier 200 kg per m³ (cm³ ÷ 5,000). Some carriers use other factors.
Worked example
- 20 cartons of 60 × 40 × 50 cm: 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.5 = 0.12 m³ each, 2.4 m³ in total (84.8 ft³).
- At 15 kg each the cartons weigh 300 kg. By air the volumetric weight is 2.4 × 166.7 = 400 kg, so 400 kg is charged.
- By sea (W/M) 2.4 m³ outweighs 0.3 t, so you pay for 2.4 revenue tonnes.
Questions and answers
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length × width × height in metres, then by the number of pieces. In centimetres, divide the product by 1,000,000: 120 × 80 × 150 cm = 1.44 m³.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft and a 40ft container?
A 20ft container has about 33 m³ inside, a 40ft about 67 m³ and a 40ft High Cube about 76 m³. Plan for 25–28, 55–58 and 65–68 m³ of real cargo.
What is W/M in sea freight?
Weight or measurement: LCL freight is charged per revenue tonne, which is either 1 m³ or 1,000 kg, whichever is larger for your shipment.
What is volumetric weight?
A weight derived from volume so light, bulky cargo pays for the space it uses. Air freight usually divides cm³ by 6,000, couriers by 5,000.
How do I convert CBM to cubic feet?
Multiply by 35.315. 1 m³ = 35.315 ft³; 1 ft³ = 0.0283 m³.
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