CBM Calculator — Calculate Cubic Meters for Shipping Cartons
CBM (Cubic Meter) is the universal unit for measuring freight volume in international shipping. Calculating total shipment CBM helps determine freight costs, container space requirements, and shipping mode choice (LCL vs. FCL).
What is CBM?
CBM (Cubic Meter) is the universal unit for measuring freight volume in international shipping. Calculating total shipment CBM helps determine freight costs, container space requirements, and shipping mode choice (LCL vs. FCL).
Formula
Dimensions in cm: CBM = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 1,000,000 × Quantity Dimensions in inches: CBM = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 61,023.74 × Quantity Dimensions in mm: CBM = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 1,000,000,000 × Quantity
How to Calculate
Multiply length, width, and height of one carton, convert to cubic meters using the divisor matching your measurement unit, then multiply by total carton count.
Example
100 cartons measuring 60 cm × 40 cm × 30 cm → (60×40×30 ÷ 1,000,000) × 100 = 0.072 × 100 = 7.2 CBM.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 20ft container holds ~28–30 CBM of usable space; a 40ft holds ~56–58 CBM; a 40ft High Cube holds ~65–68 CBM.