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CBM Calculator

CBM Calculator & How to Calculate CBM

CBM (cubic meter) is the volume of your cargo. Enter length, width and height below to get CBM instantly, and see roughly how many pieces fit in a 20ft, 40ft or 40ft HC container.

CBM Calculator

Enter one item's dimensions and quantity. Results update as you type.

0.000CBM (total) 0.000 CBM each
20ft
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40ft
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40ft HC
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※ Piece counts assume ~90% usable volume and are rough estimates. For an exact plan, use the loading calculator.

CBM Formula

One multiplication once units match

CBM = Length(m) × Width(m) × Height(m)

The key is to convert everything to meters. If your dimensions are in cm, divide each side by 100 first, then multiply. For multiple pieces, multiply the per-piece CBM by quantity.

Example — a 60 × 40 × 40 cm box, 50 pcs
Each: 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 CBM
Total: 0.096 × 50 = 4.8 CBM

What is CBM?

Cubic meter

CBM stands for Cubic Meter, a unit of volume. One CBM is a cube measuring 1m × 1m × 1m. In shipping, CBM is the basis for ocean freight pricing and for working out how many units fit in a container. For reference, a 20ft holds ~33 CBM, a 40ft ~67.5 CBM and a 40ft HC ~76 CBM — see the container dimensions guide.

Volumetric weight

Pricing light, bulky cargo

Light but bulky cargo is priced on volumetric weight rather than actual weight. Air freight typically multiplies CBM by 167; ocean LCL treats 1 CBM as 1 ton (revenue ton) and charges on whichever is greater. So knowing your CBM also tells you which basis your freight will be billed on.

Which dimensions to measure

The most common mistake in a CBM calculation is entering the product dimensions. Shipping works from the final outer packing: carton walls, protective material, wrapping, and the pallet underneath if the cargo travels palletised.

Catalogue figures and the physical article do not always agree either. When quantities are high, or when the shipment only just fits, it is worth measuring one unit rather than trusting the spec sheet. Two centimetres per carton across fifty cartons is a whole row.

Loading several cargo types?

For multiple items or a real container load plan with a 3D layout, use the web calculator — enter dimensions and it builds the plan automatically.

Open the Loading Simulator

FAQ

Common questions about CBM

How do I calculate CBM?

Multiply length (m) × width (m) × height (m). If dimensions are in cm, divide each by 100 first. Example: 60 × 40 × 40 cm → 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 CBM.

What does CBM mean?

Cubic Meter — a unit of volume. One CBM equals one cubic meter (1m × 1m × 1m), used for freight pricing and container capacity.

How many kg is 1 CBM?

CBM is volume, so it has no fixed weight. In ocean LCL, 1 CBM is conventionally treated as 1 ton (revenue ton) and compared against actual weight.