CBM calculator. Volume and chargeable weight.
CBM (cubic metres) is the volume of a shipment: length × width × height of each carton, times the number of cartons, in metres. Enter your carton lines and this calculator gives total CBM, cubic feet, air and courier chargeable weight, sea LCL revenue tons and container fill.
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Three steps. One clear answer.
- 01
Choose centimetres or inches and kilograms or pounds.
- 02
Add one line per carton size with its dimensions, carton count and gross weight.
- 03
Read total CBM, chargeable weights by mode and how much of each container you fill.
CBM = length × width × height (in metres) × number of cartons; 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 m³ = 35.315 cubic feet, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. Air freight uses the IATA volumetric factor of 6,000 cm³ per kg (1 m³ = 166.67 kg); courier and express services use 5,000 cm³ per kg (1 m³ = 200 kg). Chargeable weight is the greater of actual and volumetric weight, rounded up to the next 0.5 kg. Sea LCL is charged per revenue ton (W/M): the greater of cubic metres and metric tonnes. Container fill uses practical loadable volumes of about 28 m³ (20′), 58 m³ (40′) and 68 m³ (40′ HC).
Results are estimates to support your decisions. For binding figures, ask our team or your customs broker.
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Straight answers.
Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot.
anirudh@sourcesquid.coHow do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length × width × height of one carton in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. A 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton is 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 m³, so 120 of them are 11.52 m³.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft and a 40ft container?
A 20′ has about 33 m³ inside and a 40′ HC about 76 m³, but real loads with cartons usually reach about 28 m³ in a 20′, 58 m³ in a 40′ and 68 m³ in a 40′ HC.
What is chargeable weight in air freight?
It is the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight. For air cargo, volumetric weight is the volume in cm³ divided by 6,000, so 1 m³ is charged as at least 166.67 kg.
What does W/M mean for LCL?
Weight or measure: the forwarder charges per revenue ton, which is the greater of the volume in cubic metres and the weight in metric tonnes. A 3 m³ shipment weighing 1,800 kg is charged as 3 RT.
Why do courier companies use 5,000 instead of 6,000?
Express and courier services price by space more tightly, so they divide cm³ by 5,000. The same carton therefore has a higher volumetric weight by courier than by air cargo.
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