Free Tool
CBM Calculator
Calculate cubic meters (CBM) for shipping. Get volumetric weight for air and ocean freight, and see how many units fit in standard shipping containers. Supports metric and imperial units.
How to use: Enter your package dimensions and quantity in metric or imperial units. The calculator returns cubic meters, volumetric weight for air and ocean freight, and how many units fit in standard containers.
How to calculate CBM for shipping
CBM stands for cubic meters. It is the standard unit of volume used in international shipping to determine how much space cargo occupies. To calculate CBM: multiply length x width x height in centimeters and divide by 1,000,000. For measurements in inches, divide by 61,023.7 instead.
For shipments with multiple identical units, calculate the CBM for one unit and multiply by the quantity. For mixed-size shipments, calculate each size separately and add the CBM values together.
Volumetric weight explained
Carriers charge based on whichever is higher: actual weight or volumetric weight. For air freight, volumetric weight is calculated by multiplying CBM by 167. For ocean freight, it is CBM multiplied by 1,000. This means a large, lightweight shipment may cost more than its actual weight suggests because it takes up valuable cargo space.
Container capacity reference
A standard 20-foot shipping container has an internal volume of approximately 33.2 cubic meters. A 40-foot container holds about 67.7 CBM, and a 40-foot high-cube container offers 76.3 CBM. In practice, you should plan for 80-85% utilization due to packing gaps, pallet overhang, and door clearance requirements.
CBM calculator FAQ
How do you calculate CBM for shipping?
Multiply length × width × height in centimeters and divide by 1,000,000. For inches, divide by 61,023.7. For multiple units, multiply CBM per unit by quantity.
What is volumetric weight in shipping?
Volumetric weight accounts for package size in pricing. For air freight, multiply CBM by 167 (kg). For ocean freight, multiply CBM by 1,000 (kg). Carriers charge the higher of actual or volumetric weight.
How many CBM fit in a shipping container?
A 20ft container holds ~33 CBM, a 40ft holds ~67 CBM, and a 40ft high-cube holds ~76 CBM. Plan for 80-85% usable capacity.
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