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CBM Calculator
Calculate the cubic meters (CBM) of your cartons for sea, air or road freight. Add one or more carton sizes, and see total volume, cubic feet, how many cartons fit in a 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube container and the chargeable weight carriers will bill.
Last updated:
Carton size
Optional, for chargeable weight.
Off = 'this side up' for container fit.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the CBM Calculator
- Choose your units for dimensions and weight.
- Enter carton length, width, height, the number of cartons and weight per carton.
- Add other carton sizes one per line if the shipment is mixed.
- Press Calculate CBM to get total volume and chargeable weights.
- Check the container table to see cartons per container and how many containers you need.
CBM formula and conversions
- CBM per carton = L (m) × W (m) × H (m) = L (cm) × W (cm) × H (cm) ÷ 1,000,000
- Inches: L × W × H (in) ÷ 61,023.7 = CBM
- Total CBM = CBM per carton × number of cartons
- Cubic feet = CBM × 35.3147
Example: 250 cartons of 60 × 40 × 35 cm, 12 kg each: 0.084 m³ × 250 = 21 CBM (741.6 ft³), 3,000 kg. Sea LCL bills 21 RT; air would bill 3,500 kg volumetric.
Shipping container dimensions
| Container | Internal L × W × H | Volume | Practical load | Typical max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard (20GP) | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 33.2 m³ | 25–28 CBM | ~28,200 kg |
| 40ft standard (40GP) | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 67.7 m³ | 55–58 CBM | ~26,700 kg |
| 40ft high cube (40HC) | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | 76.3 m³ | 65–68 CBM | ~26,500 kg |
Door openings are smaller than the interior (about 2.34 m wide and 2.28 m high, 2.58 m for high cube), and road weight limits in many countries are lower than the container's rated payload.
Chargeable weight ratios
| Mode | Volumetric rule | kg per CBM |
|---|---|---|
| Sea LCL | W/M: greater of CBM or tonnes | 1,000 |
| Road / truck | Common ratio (varies by country) | 333 |
| Air freight (IATA) | L × W × H cm ÷ 6,000 | 166.67 |
| Express courier | L × W × H cm ÷ 5,000 | 200 |
Tip: measure the outside of the carton, round up to the nearest centimeter, and include pallets (a standard 120 × 80 cm or 48 × 40 in pallet adds height and volume) because forwarders bill on outer dimensions.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate CBM?
CBM = length × width × height in meters × number of cartons. A 60 × 40 × 35 cm carton is 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.35 = 0.084 m³, so 250 cartons are 21 CBM. From centimeters, divide L × W × H by 1,000,000.
How do I convert CBM to cubic feet?
Multiply by 35.3147. One cubic meter is 35.31 cubic feet; to go from inches, cubic inches ÷ 61,024 gives CBM.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?
A 20ft standard container has about 33 m³ of internal space, but realistic loads are 25–28 CBM. A 40ft holds about 67 m³ (55–58 CBM loaded) and a 40ft high cube about 76 m³ (65–68 CBM loaded).
What is chargeable weight in sea freight?
LCL sea freight is charged per revenue ton (W/M): the greater of the volume in CBM or the weight in metric tons. So 3 CBM weighing 1,200 kg is billed as 3 RT, while 3 CBM weighing 4,000 kg is billed as 4 RT.
How is air freight chargeable weight calculated?
Airlines use a volumetric factor of 6,000 cm³ per kg (IATA), which equals 166.67 kg per CBM. The chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Express couriers usually divide by 5,000 instead.
When is a full container cheaper than LCL?
As a rule of thumb, once a shipment is around 13–15 CBM, a 20ft FCL often costs about the same as LCL and is faster to handle. Ask your forwarder for both quotes.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.
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