CBM Calculator

Carton size × quantity → total cubic meters, the container it fits, and air-freight chargeable weight. The CBM formula is shown as you type. Inputs stay in the URL — bookmark your shipment.

L × W × H of one outer carton.

For air chargeable weight (actual vs volumetric).

Total volume

12.000 CBM0.1200 × 100

Single carton0.1200 CBM
Smallest container that fits20' GP · 43%

// CBM formula

CBM = (L×W×H cm) ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.1200

total = 0.1200 × 100 = 12.000 CBM

CBM tells you the volume. It does not tell you if the boxes actually fit.

Two shipments with the same CBM can load very differently — orientation, stacking and weight limits decide the real container fill. Load it in 3D to see the true utilization.

Load it in the container calculator
Method: CBM = L×W×H in meters (cm ÷ 1,000,000, inches ÷ 61,024). Container usable volumes are planning figures — 20GP ~28, 40GP ~58, 40HQ ~68 CBM — real fill is lower once orientation and weight limits apply. Air chargeable weight uses the IATA 1 CBM ≈ 167 kg rule; some express carriers use 200 kg/CBM. Confirm rates with your forwarder.

How to calculate CBM

CBM (cubic meters) is the volume of your cargo — the number sea and air freight are priced on. It is a one-line formula, with one thing people get wrong: the units.

  1. 1. Multiply L × W × H of one carton

    Use the outer carton size, not the product. Keep all three in the same unit.

  2. 2. Convert to cubic meters

    If you measured in cm, divide by 1,000,000. In inches, divide by 61,024. In meters already, you are done. A 60×40×50 cm carton = 120,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.12 CBM.

  3. 3. Multiply by quantity for total CBM

    Total CBM = single-carton CBM × number of cartons. 0.12 × 100 = 12 CBM — which fits comfortably in a 20GP (≈28 usable CBM).

  4. 4. For air, compare with volumetric weight

    Air freight bills the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric ≈ CBM × 167 kg. 12 CBM ≈ 2,000 kg volumetric — if the cargo weighs less than that, you pay on volume.

Measured inTo get CBM
cmL × W × H ÷ 1,000,000
mL × W × H (no conversion)
inchL × W × H ÷ 61,024
ftL × W × H × 0.0283